Celebrating John Broderick: An Exploration of Queer Writing in Ireland
Hosted by Catherine Prasifka, with guests Sean Hewitt, Annemarie Ni Churreain, Kit Fryatt and Dr. Michael Cronin.
Working from his hometown of Athlone, John Broderick wrote openly about homosexuality, incarceration and the Catholic Church throughout the 1960s and 1970s. Two of his novels subsequently banned in Ireland upon their release. In the decades that followed, Broderick’s works fell into relative obscurity.
Over the past number of years, there has been a resurgence of interest in the quiet radicalism of Broderick’s writing. Now, Lilliput Press, with the support of the Arts Council and Westmeath County Council, has published new editions of three of John Broderick’s masterpieces; The Waking of Willie Ryan, The Pilgrimmage, and An Apology for Roses.
These new editions feature introductions from Colm Tóibín, Nicole Flattery and Seán Hewitt. They offer modern readers the perfect place to start in rediscovering one of Ireland’s most underrated writers.
To celebrate the launch of the new editions, Lilliput Press and Westmeath County Council Arts Office will be hosting an event in Irish Writers Centre on Thursday 25th June from 6.30pm-8.30pm. The event celebrates Broderick’s contributions to queer writing in Ireland, and will showcase readings from some of the foremost LGBT+ writers working in Ireland today. Hosted by 2025/2026 John Broderick Writer-in-Residence Catherine Prasifka, with guests Seán Hewitt, Annemarie Ní Churreáin, Kit Fryatt and Dr. Michael Cronin.
Wine and refreshments will be served on the evening.
