The World Book Festival, a three-day celebration in Cork of books and reading, got under way over the weekend. Internationally-known writers mixed with local artists, up-and-coming musicians and bookworms of all ages.
This year's festival, which began on Saturday and ends today, included a diverse line-up of writers, performers and events, including free readings and workshops by the 2005 winner of the Man Booker Prize, John Banville, RTÉ correspondent Richard Downes and cookbook author Clodagh McKenna.
There was also a late-night performance by the female barbershop quartet Be Natural and cultural presentations by members of Cork's immigrant community.
Festival-goers ambled down a row of booksellers' tents on Grand Parade and browsed through children's books, mystery novels and volumes on Irish history.
Further down the row, vendors pitched freshly-squeezed lemonade, handmade fudge and loaves of freshly-baked bread.
In a tent near the booksellers, writers of all kinds entertained the audience with lectures, readings and, in Ms McKenna's case, a hands-on cookery demonstration.
Using fresh produce from the English Market across the street, she shared her secrets for the perfect fresh spring salad and gave tips from her new book, The Irish Farmers Market Cookbook. It was her first visit to the event, which she described as a success.
"The festival is brilliant," she said. "And it's in a perfect location, because they can just walk across the street to the market and find all of the things I used in the demonstration."
Inside the city's Central Library, teenage musicians took to the stage, including 16-year-old Keeli Neenan, the winner of the Cork City Libraries Teen Singer/Songwriter competition held earlier in the week.
For Ms Neenan, whose first-place finish landed her a recording session, the book festival may very well have been an unexpected starting point for a musical career.
"It's amazing," said her friend, guitar-player Aisling O'Riordan (16).
"We didn't think the festival was going to be a big deal, but it is.
"There are people everywhere and there are things happening all through the night."