U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) (L) waits to be introduced during a rally against the Dakota Access Pipeline September 13, 2016 at Lafayette Square in Washington, DC. Activists held a rally calling on President Barack Obama to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Bernie Sanders is coming to Dublin for the first time next month, and will be in conversation with David McWilliams at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre.

In 'An Evening with Bernie Sanders', the longest-serving Independent in US congressional history, will explain his alternative vision for America as laid out in his best-selling book 'Our Revolution'.

His visit, on Sunday, June 4, is part of the Dalkey Book Festival 2017 and tickets for the event go on sale on Friday at 9am.

"It is an extraordinary privilege for the Dalkey Book Festival to host Bernie Sanders, we are truly delighted to bring him to Ireland for the first time," festival director Sian Smyth said.

"He is an iconic political figure of our time, a stunning orator and with such turmoil in the US and globally we are very much looking forward to hearing his thoughts and insights."

The festival's theme this year is 'empathy through storytelling' and top Irish and international names will speak and perform across four days from June 15 to 18.

Other highlights of the festival include Man Booker Prize winning author Marlon James, two-time Costa Award Winner Sebastian Barry, and Hyenoseo Lee who escaped from North Korea aged 17.

Colm Tóibín will speak on his latest novel, while Billy Bragg will talk about the Political Power of Music.

Irish Independent