Attention, bookworms.

In Ballincollig, independent bookshop Leaf and Bower is getting ready to host what might just be the most charming literary event of the year: The Tiniest Book Festival in Ireland, taking place on Sunday, May 24th.

At just 45 square metres, Leaf and Bower isn’t your typical festival venue.

Co-founder Fiona Farrell has built something special here over the past two and a half years: a space that’s as much community hub as it is bookshop. In that short time, it’s become a real fixture for local readers in Ballincollig, with the shop longlisted for the An Post Bookshop of the Year award for two years running.

Despite its size, the festival line-up is anything but modest. Writers including Patrick Holloway, Shane Lehane, Lynda Marron, and Catherine Kirwan are all taking part, alongside a wide range of voices spanning crime, poetry, history, and children’s literature.

Here’s a look at the schedule:

 

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Families will also be well looked after, with children’s author Leona Forde bringing younger readers into the fold — proving that literary festivals don’t need to be big to be inclusive.

The programme has been carefully shaped to suit all ages, reflecting the ethos of the shop itself: everyone is welcome (tickets here), and everyone has a seat (even if you might have to shuffle a little to make space).