The 3rd annual Circling the Square Festival comes back to The Source on the weekend of 18th-20th October. The festival honours Thurles-born poet Dennis O'Driscoll and welcomes many of the the foremost poets from this country and beyond. Three main performances on Fri evening, Sat afternoon and Sat evening will intersperse powerful and inspiring poetry with magical music and song. The star-studded line up of poets includes Thomas McCarthy, Rita Ann Higgins, Annemarie Ní Churráin, Louis De Paor, Mark Roper, Anne Tannam, Thomas Lynch amongst others. All complemented by musicians and singers across several genres, including Gina Oberoi-Engela, Hugh Buckley, Lorcan Lyons, Ed Dwan Quartet. Eilish Hassett, Ceola and many more. The program will also feature a school seminar; and two poetry workshops for beginners and emerging poets. A chaired panel discussion: Finding the Words - What is Poetry Now? will interest many. Sunday will see a guided walk around Dennis O'Driscoll’s Thurles, and the festival will be wrapped up with a fun afternoon of poetry and music, including open mic poetry from emerging poets.