CAROLINE WALSHwith a round-up of weekly news and events from the literary world...

Literary events continue to run free in Dublin

Literary events continue to grow at a rate of knots, particularly the less formal ones. Young Hearts Run Free is a series run by Siobhán Kane, who sets two subjects and then invites people from all fields – politics, sport, arts – to read for up to half an hour on either or both. There is also a musical performance, and it's all topped off with tea and cake. Boxing and life's struggle are the themes for the event tomorrow, featuring readings by the short-story writer Claire Keegan, author of Antarcticaand Walk the Blue Fields,and by the Joycean scholar Sen David Norris.

Music will be by David Turpin ( The Sweet Used-To-Be; Haunted!). It's all happening at 2pm at the Unitarian Church on St Stephen's Green in Dublin; admission is €10, with proceeds going to the Simon Community. Melancholy and the promise of more are the themes for the event on Sunday, September 26th, with readings by Kevin Barry and Adrian Crowley. Details from youngheartsrunfree@gmail.com

Also in Dublin tomorrow, there's another outing of The Chair, the reading series organised by Luke Sheehan, who says they are for "Ireland's writing elites as well as numerous gifted tyros". This time the theme is Irish history. Readers include Angus Mitchell, who will be talking about Irish history as it is practised now; Michael Lillis, former diplomat and author (with Ronan Fanning) of The Lives of Eliza Lynch: Scandal and Courage, who will speak on the poet Ó Raghallaigh; and the writer Ronan Sheehan, who will be talking about Robert Emmet. There will also be music. The venue is Hello Operator, on Rutland Place, opposite the Gate Theatre, at 7.45pm. The suggested donation is €4. Contact thebrazenchair@gmail.com.

A summer series of autobiographical readings

The writer Brian Dillon, whose first book was the memoir In the Dark Room, takes part in a summer reading series organised by Some Blind Alleys tonight in Dublin on the topic of issues in contemporary autobiography. Dillon, also the author of Tormented Hope: Nine Hypochrondriac Lives, will talk about the subject of art in autobiography, focusing on autobiography as self-portrait in his own work and in literary masterworks. He will be followed by five short readings by up-and-coming autobiographical writers. It's at the Joinery in Stoneybatter, Dublin 7, at 7pm; admission is €5, to include wine. Bookings on thejoinery@gmail.com. See someblindalleys.com.

Ranelagh relishes Cronin collection

Anthony Cronin's new poetry collection, The Fall,will be feted on his home terrain, in Ranelagh, Dublin 6, on July 14th with music from Donal Lunny and Jimmy MacCarthy. The three are linked via a song MacCarthy has written, What We Came Here For, based on Cronin's memoir Dead as Doornails. This is part of an album produced by Lunny and scheduled for release later this year. Hailing Cronin as an inspirational figure to generations of Irish writers, the poet Michael O'Loughlin, reviewing The Fallin The Irish Times,called the collection superb. This one-off event is organised by Ranelagh Arts at Scoil Bhríde on Oakley Road at 8.15pm, with a wine reception at 7.30pm. Tickets, which cost €10, are available at Ranelagh Arts Shop, 26 Ranelagh, and at Grogans Bar, South William Street, Dublin 2. 085-7437212 or info@ranelagharts.com.

Kingsolver with Kilroy in Kingstown

Barbara Kingsolver, who won this year's Orange Prize for Fiction for her novel The Lacuna, is reading in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Library Voices Series on Monday, July 19th at the Pavilion theatre. Afterwards she will be in conversation with the Irish novelist Claire Kilroy. Tickets €10 from 01-2312929.