Here, (in no particular order) are some of the reasons I loved last week’s Rolling Sun Festival in Westport.

1. Westport is an amazing place. There’s a lovely town for strolling around, and if you feel like travelling, there are all kinds of beautiful places within a few miles. There’s Croagh Patrick, and Westport House and gazillions of stunning beaches.

2. Austin and his wonderful committee organised everything brilliantly, and events went like clockwork. (Once I got used to the fact that Westport Time is  slightly different to that of the rest of the world (!).) All the guests were treated like royalty, and while I’m not a Princess, it’s nice to pretend sometimes.

3. I stayed in the lovely Clew Bay Hotel, where Maria and her team couldn’t do enough to make sure we had everything we needed. The homemade granola at breakfast was delicious, and they even gave me some to bring home with me.

4. We all live busy lives, and it can be hard to organise a crowd. Someone persuaded (begged? bullied?) a huge number of children and parents to come to Westport library to listen to me, which is flattering. Keith and the library staff did a great job of setting up this event.

Thanks to 'a year of festivals in Ireland' for the photo

5. Writers probably spend more time than is healthy, alone in hotel bedrooms. In Westport, the team organised a lovely joint dinner for the committee and guests. It was nice to spend an evening in the company of Maeve Higgins, Cliodhna Ni Anluain, Kate Kerrigan and our charming Westport hosts. (And dinner in An Port Mor was delicious)

6. The Rolling Sun is a ‘quirky, boutique’ festival. (ie it’s small). That, in many ways is a good thing. I managed to go to all the events, and still had time to relax and enjoy the area.

Ireland is a great country for festivals, and I think The Rolling Sun is one to watch.