’Tis the season to be jolly (and to deck the halls with boughs of holly). 

It’s also the time of year where it’s time to start thinking about Christmas shopping.  And if you’ve got a book lover on your Christmas list this year, we’ve got some good news: a number of prominent Irish authors are going to be holding a book signing this year.  They will be appearing at Gifted – The Contemporary Craft and Design Fair at the RDS, which is taking place from December 4 to December 8. Yes, Booker prize winner Anne Enright, TV personality Lucy Kennedy and former Mrs Brown’s Boys star Rory Cowan are among those who will be signing their books in the lead up to the festive season.  [caption id="attachment_490525" align="alignnone" width="1638"] Rory Cowan[/caption] Leading independent bookseller Dubray will host an array of the country’s leading writers at the fair, which will attract an expected 45,000 visitors over five days. “It is a wonderful opportunity for the public to meet their favourite authors and get books signed by them,” said marketing manager at Dubray, Susan Walsh. “It is our first time at Gifted and we are thrilled to showcase the very best of new adult and children’s books from Irish authors and publishers.” Booker prize-winning author Anne Enright will attend on Friday December 6 at noon to sign copies of No Authority – a collection of her writings as the inaugural laureate for Irish Fiction. [caption id="attachment_490524" align="alignnone" width="1365"] Lucy Kennedy[/caption] Much loved At School Through the Fields author Alice Taylor will also attend on Friday at noon, signing her new book, As Time Goes By. TV’s Lucy Kennedy is set for noon on Wednesday December 4 and the host of Livin’ with Lucy on Virgin Media One will be signing her first children’s book, The Friendship Fairies. Paul Howard, creator of the Ross O’Carroll Kelly series, will have the public chuckling on Thursday December 5 at noon, when he will be signing his signing his latest bestseller, Schmidt Happens. [caption id="attachment_490526" align="alignnone" width="1363"] Anne Enright[/caption] One of Ireland’s most lauded authors, Kevin Barry will attend on Saturday December 7 at noon to sign his new bestseller, Night Boat to Tangier – selected by Dubray staff as one of their 2019 books of the year. Award-winning food writer Susan Jane White will host a book signing and tasting later on Saturday at 2pm. Susan is bringing some tasty treats for her fans to enjoy as she signs her new bestseller, Clever Batch. Sunday December 8 sees Rory Cowan, best known for his role as Rory Brown in Mrs Brown’s Boys, attend at noon to sign his laugh out loud memoir, Mrs Cowan’s Boy. Celebrating the best in contemporary Irish design and artisan food, Gifted at the RDS is home to over 500 stands packed with original gifts.