We are delighted that ‘An Post Irish Book Awards’ Book of the Year winner Donal Ryan will speak at the festival opening about Heart, Be at Peace, his award winning novel. This will be followed with music by talented Limerick Opera Singer Sarah Ellen Murphy, accompanied by pianist Irina Dernova.
Donal Ryan, from Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, has published seven number one-bestselling novels and a short story collection. He has won several awards for his fiction, including the European Union Prize for Literature, the Guardian First Book Award and six Irish Book Awards, and has been shortlisted for several more, including the Costa/Nero Book Award and the Dublin International Literary Award. He was nominated for the Booker Prize in 2013 for his debut novel, The Spinning Heart, and again in 2018, for his fourth novel, From A Low and Quiet Sea. The Spinning Heart was voted Irish Book of the Decade in 2016. In 2021 Donal became the first Irish writer to be awarded the Jean Monnet Prize for European Literature. His work has been adapted for stage and screen and translated into over twenty languages. Donal has lectured in Creative Writing at the University of Limerick since 2014 and lives in Castletroy with his wife Anne Marie and their two children.
Contralto Sarah-Ellen Murphy is from Limerick, Ireland. She studied with Olive Cowpar and Owen Gilhooly. She holds a Bachelor of Education Degree with music from Mary Immaculate College. She achieved an honours diploma in singing from the London College of Music and Media. As a soloist she is much in demand across the country including performances with Limerick Choral Union, Ancór, Mary Immaculate College Choir, Galway Choral Association, Tipperary Chamber Choir, Kerry Chamber Choir, Carlow Choral Society, West Cork Choral Singers, Sing Ireland and The Fleischmann Choir. As mezzo/contralto soloist she has performed a wide range of oratorio and liturgical works by composers as diverse as Duruflé, Verdi, Mozart, Handel, Respighi, Vivaldi, Jenkins and Saint-Saëns. She also presented many lunchtime recitals in St. Mary’s Cathedral and in Mary Immaculate College.
Sarah-Ellen performs with Opera Workshop Limerick. She was part of the cast who devised No 2 Pery Square and performed in Off Tuskar by Fiona Linnane. She performed in the ensemble devised productions of The Countess’ Salon, The Countess’ Legacy, Twisted Tales and The Trouble with Virtue.
Other opera performances include leading roles in Yeoman of the Guard, The Irish Ring, and The World of Gilbert and Sullivan with Gaudeamus Productions; Mrs. Noye in Benjamin Britten’s Noye’s Fludde; Maurya in Riders to the Sea by Vaughan Williams and the title role in The Medium by Gian-Carlo Menotti for the Opera Castalia Festival in Kilkenny. She also performed with The Limerick Opera Festival.
Sarah-Ellen recorded the album ‘Cantabile’ with pianist Dearbhla Collins. It was made possible through the Individual Artists Bursary Awards scheme run by Limerick City & County Council Arts Department and with the generous support of the University Concert Hall, Limerick.
Composer Fiona Linnane and writer Mary Coll collaborated on Songs from Kate O’ Brien for Sarah-Ellen. This song cycle was premièred at the Kate O’Brien weekend in 2012. Sarah-Ellen is delighted to be performing them again at the 2025 festival.
Irina Dernova is a collaborative pianist and accompanist, working with choirs, musicians and singers in Limerick and Clare. For a number of years she is an official accompanist of Feile Luimni, Limerick Opera Festival and Limerick Choral Festival. Irina works with many opera singers, including Limerick’s own Eve Stafford, Catherine O’Carroll, Lorraine Galvin, and most recently with Sarah-Ellen Murphy and Emma English, performing many songs by Fiona Linnane, a Limerick composer. Irina has performed with International soloists David Howes, Owen Gilhooly- Miles, Gavan Ring, Dean Power, Majella Cullagh and performed opera arias and songs from Great Irish Songbook by contemporary composer J. Hurley with tenor Dean Power as part of 2025 Ennis Choral Festival Gala Concert. Over the years Irina has performed with many professional and community choirs, including Limerick Chamber Choir, Limerick Choral Union, Cantare, Aoide , MIC Community Choir, and has done recitals in St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick and MIC Spring Recital series.
Run times may vary by up to 15 minutes as they can be affected by intervals and delays.
* Concession tickets are available for students, seniors and unwaged purchases.
69 O’Connell St, Limerick, V94 FK0H
Walking:
Starting at the Brown Thomas store, continue walking straight up O’Connell St. After the Mallow St junction, Belltable is on the left-hand side of the road, in the middle of the block.
Public Transport:
From the bus stop on Sarsfield Street, take the 304 as far as the O’Connell Monument, O’Connell St. Continue back towards the city centre, Belltable is on the right-hand side of the road, in the middle of the block.
Parking:
Belltable is situated in the city centre and encourages patrons to walk where possible.
For those who can’t walk and need to drive there is only on street parking.
Belltable will open from 9am on both Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd of the festival.
Tickets can be booked online at www.limetreebelltable.ie. Links to which can be found on this site.
Weekend Pass €130/€100. Individual Sessions €15/€12. Heaney in Translation €20/€18.
Tickets may be purchased at the door for individual sessions, while tickets are still available.
Please note that ticket capacity is limited at all events, tickets will be issued on a first come first served basis. Please allow time to purchase tickets on the door as no latecomers will be permitted once an event commences.
Belltable is fully accessible.
Wheelchair spaces: We strongly advise that, should you require a wheelchair space, you contact our Box Office staff on (061) 953400 as early as possible.
Accessible Toilets: Belltable has one accessible toilet in the main foyer area next to the bar.
Guide/Assistance Dogs are welcome in both our venues.
Baby Changing Facilities: We have baby changing facilities in the accessible toilets in Belltable.
The Belltable cafe will be open on Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 2pm, serving coffee, tea etc.
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