Spend St. Patrick’s Day with Colm Tóibín at the Boston Public Library

Colm Tóibín photo by Larry D. Moore via Wikimedia Commons

Whether you were a fan of the movie Brooklyn or couldn’t put down The Master, Colm Tóibín is undeniably one of Ireland’s greatest living authors. That means—short of getting sloshed later in the day—seeing him speak at the Boston Public Library is perhaps the best, most Irish thing you can do on St. Patrick’s Day.

Tóibín will give a free lecture Wednesday night at Boston College on the theme of “Writing and Violence” as part of the Lowell Humanities Series co-sponsored by Culture Ireland. Then on Thursday, conveniently March 17, St. Paddy’s Day, the author will take part in the BPL’s author talk series. Toibin will read from Brooklyn, his novel-turned-critically acclaimed film starring Saoirse Ronan, followed by a Q&A.

Pro tip if you go: How to Pronounce Colm Tóibín

Wednesday, March 16, 7 p.m., Gasson Hall, Room 100, at Boston College, bc.edu.

Thursday, March 17, 12-1:30 p.m., the Abbey Room at the Boston Public Library, 700 Boylston St., Boston, bpl.org.