Pleasant surprise on day three of Mayo's Wild Atlantic Words Festival

The third day of the Wild Atlantic Words Festival in Castlebar attracted large crowds to the Festival Dome located beside Bridge St. Bar, off Main Street.

There was a pleasant surprise when local author Sally Rooney, currently in the international news following the launch of her very successful new book, Intermezzo, turned up, unscheduled, to recite a poem during the open mic 'A Poem and a Pint' event hosted by Ken Armstrong.

Sally is a wonderful supporter of the festival and she will read from her new book on Friday evening at 7.30 p.m.

Another highlight last night was the launch of the book 'Wake of the Whale' by Alice Kinsella and Daniel Wade, both of whom performed readings from their captivating, genre-bending book on whaling in Mayo.

Tonight at the festival sees the launch of Hayley Kilgallon's book, Unladylike - a history of ladies Gaelic football, at 7 p.m.

It will be followed, at 8 p.m., by the launch of Kevin McDonald's book, A Life Less Ordinary.