The 2021 Irish Times Summer Nights online festival takes place from the end of June, with a host of high-profile guests including writers, politicians, and actors in conversation with Irish Times journalists.

The festival takes place over four evenings from Monday, June 28th, to Thursday, July 1st.

The final line-up has now been revealed. The guests for the festival’s opening night are CNN correspondent Donie O’Sullivan, economist and Irish Times columnist David McWilliams, and Moone Boy and Bridesmaids actor Chris O’Dowd.

Among those on the bill for the festival are actor Cillian Murphy, Women’s Six Nations star Linda Djougang, author Roddy Doyle, and singer Chris de Burgh, who will be in conversation with Ross O’Carroll-Kelly creator Paul Howard.

The festival will also feature an interview with Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who will discuss her thoughts on a united Ireland with Irish Times columnist Kathy Sheridan.

International guests for the series include Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maureen Dowd, novelist Elif Shafak, feminist writer Mona Eltahawy, and former British prime minister Gordon Brown, who will talk with Fintan O’Toole about the most pressing issues facing the world.

Among the other hosts are Irish Times writers and editors Jennifer O’Connell, Róisín Ingle, Hugh Linehan, Sorcha Pollak and Patrick Freyne.