Win tickets to Dalkey Book Festival and an overnight stay.

Enjoy unmissable conversations with literary legends and world-leading thinkers at this year’s Dalkey Book Festival, which takes place from Thursday, June 12th to Sunday, June 15th.

101 writers in 84 events over 4 days including Michael Lewis, Elif Shafak, Colum McCann, Paul Muldoon, Steven Pinker, John Banville, Charlie Mackesy, Lionel Shriver, Neil Jordan, Katja Hoyer, Roddy Doyle, Joseph O’Connor, Donal Ryan, David McWilliams, Merve Emre, Joseph O’Neill, Elaine Feeney, James Shapiro, Wendy Erskine, Fintan O’Toole, Paul Howard, Kevin Barry, Rebecca Goldstein, Ed Luce, Simon Kuper, Robert Shrimsley, Mariella Frostrup, Carlo Gébler, Hallie Rubenhold, Diarmaid Ferriter, Jennifer O’Connell, Gordon D’Arcy and many more.

Established in 2010, the Dalkey Book Festival has played host to some of the greatest authors and thinkers from around the world. Recognised for its celebration of diverse themes and ideas, the festival explores the worlds of literature, science, history, economics, current affairs, politics, art, comedy and global trends. Its unique vibe and eclectic mix of guest speakers have made it one of Ireland’s most loved cultural events. The 2025 Dalkey Book Festival features over 80 events and runs from 12th to 15th June.

For your chance to win, simply fill in the form below. Good luck!

Terms & Condition

1. The promotion is open to residents of Ireland aged 18 years or over except employees of the Promoter, their families, agents or anyone professionally connected with the promotion.
2. A valid entry consists of a correct answer entered in the form above, accompanied by the entrant’s name, email address and a phone number.
3. No applications from agents, third parties, organised groups or applications automatically generated by computer will be accepted. No incomplete, illegible, or corrupted entries will be accepted. No entries not in accordance with the entry instructions will be accepted.
4. The Promotion will run from 23/04/2025 to midnight on 11/05/2025 inclusive.
5. All entries must be received by the Promoter by no later than midnight on the Closing Date. All competition entries received after the Closing Date are automatically disqualified.
6. Promotion limited to one entry per person. No entrant will win more than one prize.
7. By submitting an entry to the Promoter, you are agreeing to be bound by these terms and conditions.
8. It is the responsibility of You, the entrant, to provide correct, up-to-date details when entering the promotion and on acceptance of the prize. The Promoter cannot be held responsible for winners failing to supply accurate information which affects prize acceptance or delivery of their prize
9. Responsibility will not be accepted for entries lost, damaged, delayed or prevented as a result of any event beyond the Promoter’s control including, but not limited to, user error and any network, computer, hardware or software failures of any kind. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt. Entries will become the property of the Promoter.
10. The prize is one pair of tickets to three events at the Dalkey Book Festival, and a one night bed and breakfast stay for two at Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney, lunch or dinner at Grapevine and lunch or dinner at DeVilles in Dalkey. There will be one winner.
11. All prizes will be subject to any additional terms and conditions of the supplier of the prize to the Promoter. The tickets are non-transferable, not for re-sale and cannot be exchanged for cash. The hotel stay, restaurant and events must all be booked by May 16th. Hotel stay is available for Friday, June 13th or Saturday, June 14th June only and must be booked in advance. Lunch and dinner prizes are available for Friday, June 13th or Saturday, June 14th June only and must be booked in advance. No Photography, Recording, Live Streaming or Videotaping is permitted. Ticket holders may not record or broadcast audio or video of sessions of the event. All tickets are General Admission. Seating will be randomly allocated and operates on a first come, first served basis. Competition does not include tickets for workshops or children’s events. Dalkey Book Festival reserves the right to refuse entry. Venue Owner reserves the right without refund or compensation to refuse admission to any persons whose conduct is disorderly or unbecoming. Latecomers cannot be admitted until a suitable break during the event. Dalkey Book Festival may add, withdraw or substitute speakers and/or vary advertised programmes, event times, seating arrangements and audience capacity without prior notice. Ticketholders will be notified by email of any changes to the programme, so please ensure your email address is correctly entered at time of entering. Dalkey Book Festival/Venue Owner may use the ticket holder’s image or likeness in any live or recorded video display, photograph or picture or online. Dalkey Book Festival/Venue Owner may postpone, cancel, interrupt or stop the event due to adverse weather, dangerous situations, or any other causes beyond reasonable control. The Ticket Holder agrees to submit to any search for any prohibited items including but not limited to weapons, controlled, dangerous and illegal substances and recording devices. The Ticket Holder voluntarily assumes all risk and danger incidental to the event whether occurring prior to, during or subsequent to the actual event, including any death, personal injury, loss, damage or liability.
12. The Promoter shall not be liable for any loss, including, without limitation, indirect, special or consequential loss, or loss of profits, damage or consequential damage of any nature in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise caused by the acceptance of the terms and conditions or in connection with the prize, save for any liability which cannot be excluded by law.
13. In the event of unforeseen circumstances the Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prize for an alternative of equal or greater value.
14. The winners will be notified by email. The winner must claim the prize within 30 days of the notification. If the prize is unclaimed after this time, it will lapse and the Promoter reserves the right to offer the unclaimed prize to a substitute winner selected in accordance with the Promotion rules.
15. Where a winner has successfully claimed the prize, the Promoter shall dispatch, or arrange to dispatch, the prize to the winner at the earliest opportunity. Nothing in these Terms and Conditions shall be interpreted as placing an obligation on the Promoter to dispatch, or arrange to dispatch, the prize within a specified period of time.
16. The Promoters’ decision is final and binding in all matters and no correspondence will be entered into.
17. The winners’ details (name and county) will be made available on The Irish Times website.
18. The winner may be required to participate in unpaid publicity arising from this promotion.
19. The Promoter will only process your personal information as set out in https://www.irishtimes.com/policy-and-terms/privacy-policy and as set out in these terms and conditions.
20. Prizes are non transferrable and cannot be exchanged for cash.
21. These terms and conditions shall be governed by Irish law and the Courts of the Republic of Ireland shall have exclusive jurisdiction.
22. Promoter and Data Controller: The Irish Times DAC, The Irish Times Building, P.O. Box 74, 24 - 28 Tara Street, Dublin 2.
23. The Promoter reserves the right to hold void, suspend, cancel or amend the Promotion where it becomes necessary to do so.