We are delighted to announce the next in our Kildare Reads series, which is presented by Kildare Readers Festival in association with the Irish Writers Centre. This will be a conversation between renowned singer-songwriter Declan O'Rourke and former RTÉ presenter and broadcaster Flor MacCarthy.

Declan O'Rourke has turned to the pen alone to give us the 'Pawn Broker's Reward' and 'Whisper of Oblivion', the first two books of his trilogy set in the famine years. Starting with the early months of the famine these books tell the story of Pádraig and Cáil Ua Buachalla. Based on real lives and events these books capture the early months of the Great Hunger.

Flor MacCarthy is a political presenter and broadcaster who has worked with RTE and Oireachtas TV. She has interviewed politicians and academics and acted as a consultant for several international human rights organisations. She has a passion for history and arts. The Presidents' Letters, her first book, is a homage to the art of letter writing and was nominated for the An Post Irish Book Awards. Declan's book is based in Cork and Flor is originally from Cork. We feel these two people will find plenty to talk about!