The Little Red Balloon

Books Editor Martin Doyle talks to Darran Anderson about his memoir of growing up in Troubles-torn Derry, Inventory: A River, A City, A Family. They discuss the book's themes of family, history and memory, its inspiration found in the ideas of Georges Perec, and how it relates to ... Show More

Welcome to The Irish Times Books Podcast. In this latest episode, Martin Doyle talk to The Irish Times’s two regular crime fiction reviewers, Declan Burke and Declan Hughes, both acclaimed crime writers themselves, about their favourite crime fiction of 2019. So get your pen and ... Show More

On the eve of this weekend’s Echoes festival in Dalkey, celebrating Maeve Binchy and Irish writing, its programmer, author Henrietta McKervey, and Maeve’s widower, Gordon Snell, join me to talk about the thinking behind the festival and the many ways in which Maeve’s memory is be ... Show More

Ella Standage, first prize winner in the 2017 Tower Poetry competition, reads her poem rosetta. 

Title: The BalloonLevel: Beginner (A1)#Story : It’s Lily’s birthday, and she is enjoying her party with a shiny red balloon tied to her wrist. But when the balloon accidentally comes untied and floats away, Lily is heartbroken. With her friend Max’s help, they chase after the bal ... Show More

Flora Barber, commended prize winner in the 2017 Tower Poetry competition, reads her poem Snowdrops. 

Title: Bella’s Big Balloon RideLevel: Beginner (A1)#Story : Bella, a curious little bunny, discovers a bright red balloon in the meadow. She ties it around her waist and begins a magical journey, floating above the meadow and forest. Along the way, she waves to her friends—Sammy ... Show More

Title: The Big Balloon RideLevel: Beginner (A1)#Story : Bella, a curious little bunny, discovers a bright red balloon in the meadow. She ties it around her waist and begins a magical journey, floating above the meadow and forest. Along the way, she waves to her friends—Sammy the ... Show More

Poetry reading 

Poetry reading 

Sofia Al-Hussaini, commended prize winner in the 2017 Tower Poetry competition, reads her poem The Millstone. 

Annie Fan, second prize winner in the 2017 Tower Poetry competition, reads her poem Qianling Stele. 

<p>Kid's story.</p>