About Us
The New Era
Since its inception, we've hosted engaging events – from workshops to meet-and-greets with established authors – fostering creativity and expression among teenagers. The festival enables youth to engage in play, creation, and celebration of literature every year, with 15 dedicated co-organisers overseeing program development to ensure a truly youth-led experience.
A History
Established as the first festival of its kind in Europe, in 2017
The Lit Young Writers' Festival started with a vision to bring young people together through literature, no matter where they were at.
A brainchild of Waterford Youth Arts Creative Writing teacher Eimear Cheasty and a rambunctious bunch of young adults in her class, The Lit has been internationally lauded for its innovative structure as a youth-led celebration of literature.
With a mission to train the next generation of artistic curators, The Lit has brought award-winning and internationally known writers and creatives to Ireland's South East.
The festival has also acted as a launch pad for young creatives looking to get a foothold in their artistic careers.
Our Lasting Impact
Through our festival, we inspire thousands of young individuals, encouraging them to express themselves through writing and literature.
We're keen to support young people as they transition from enthusiasts to artists to programmers, and keep the links between those young people who helped build the programme to our new cohort of co-organisers.