The Lit is coming – here's what my year's been like!
We got talking to Lit Coordinator and D&D expert Gray Kennedy Rowe about their experience as a coordinator in 2026.
This year I joined the Lit as a co-organiser despite my general anxious disposition. Joining, to me, felt like an opportunity to really solidify the efforts I was already making to be more confident in myself. I had been a part of the Book Club since it started in September and had so much fun, and it is still something I look forward to each month. So when I heard about the chance to become a co-organiser in March I mulled it over for a week. I had filled out the application and changed it around about three times before I finally sent it. When I heard back in April I had half-forgotten about it, or had just shoved it so far out of my mind that it was a bit of a surprise.
Being split into groups to work on something does help break the ice, you don’t have time to worry about whether they like you or not, you just are working together now.
I’ve never been great at mingling but from going to the Lit festival before and then book club too there were a handful of people that I knew. Not to mention the people I recognised from my time in Waterford Youth Arts back in 3rd year. But in truth, it didn’t matter that I didn’t know a majority of the people there. Being split into groups to work on something does help break the ice, you don’t have time to worry about whether they like you or not, you just are working together now.
The pitching and the work we have done so far has already made an impact. Our place as co-organisers is far from tokenistic, we truly get to build this festival. I think that it is what makes the Lit Festival so unique, it is catered to young people because it’s made by us. And giving us a way to be able to directly be involved with it is so important. This is the type of experience which can be really hard to come by, anywhere else. And no matter what
Our place as co-organisers is far from tokenistic, we truly get to build this festival.
In the end, I probably didn’t need to be such a perfectionist in the beginning. But it has overall been a wonderful experience so far and it’s only been about two months. Everybody has been so kind and accommodating. While it can be a lot to take in at first everyone is so helpful and wants you to feel welcome and competent in your own abilities. Everyone genuinely has so much that they can offer, no matter their age and the Lit Festival has really helped solidify that for me.
I for one, cannot wait for October!
Gray is the brains behind our newest event "The Lit does D&D" – a free event in Waterford City Library on Saturday 10th October from 2pm-5pm. You can find out more about the event by clicking the button below.
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