JUNE
2011 In celebration of Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, The Contemporary Music Centre has launched a new literary music trail which uncovers the connections between Irish writers and composers, the parade will lead you along the literary parade in St Patrick's Park, participants can venture on to the extended trail acorss South Georgian Dublin. More information can be obtained at www.cmc.ie/musictrail

JUNE
2011

A cultural evening of music, theatre, poetry and stand up performance supported by leading Irish talent including Pat Boran, Mary Coughlan, John Lonergan, Paula Meehan, Kevin McAleer, Colm Ó Snodaigh (Kila), Silver Stars (Brokentalkers Production).  The evening will be presented by Theo Dorgan and Caitriona Crowe.This unique event promises to be entertaining, poignant and thought provoking.  It will be held in the intimate surroundings of the Pepper Canister, Mount St Crescent, Dublin 2 (off Merrion Square) from 8pm-10pm on Sunday evening June 26^th 2011.Tickets are €25 each.  For more information, please check http://www.oneinfour.ie/help-us/raise-money/

JUNE
2011 Booking is now open for this conference, taking place on 14-15th October 2011. The conference celebrates the bicentenary of the founding of the Kildare Place Society and features talks on reading books of Hedge Schools, picture books of Pollard & CICE Collections, changing language in children's books, publications of Kildare Place Society and much more. For more information, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

JUNE
2011 The office of Dublin UNESCO City of Literature was saddened to hear of the death of Fred Hanna, one of Dublin's best known booksellers. His shop on Nassau Street was a magnet for book lovers for many years. May he rest in peace.

JUNE
2011

We are delighted to announce that the Dublin UNESCO City of Literature Show Garden has won two awards at the Bloom Garden Festival. The garden won best in its category (small gardens) and a Bloom silver medal for small gardens. 'River Run' was designed by Dublin City Council Parks and Landscape Services to honour Dublin's designation as a UNESCO City of Literature. Congratulations to all involved!

JUNE
2011 DublinSwell: Words and Voices from the City of Literature will be broadcast on RTÉ Radio at 2pm on Monday 6th June.

JUNE
2011 This year the festival takes place from September 1st to 11th. The festival will open with a fabulous event on Thursday September 1st, with Canadian novelist, Michael Ondaatje, best known for his Booker prize winning novel, The English Patient, reading at the Pavilion. He will read from his new novel The Cat's Table. For more information, www.mountainstosea.ie

MAY
2011

Glasnevin Museum is hosting a range of Bloomsday celebrations for 2011, starting at 11.30am on June 16th with an interpretation of the Hades chapter of Ulysses on the cemetery grounds, followed by a lunchtime concert in the Tower Cafe by Joyce inspired music by Michael Holohan and Brian Dunning. In the afternoon at 2.30pm, there will be a Literary tour of Glasnevin Cemetery. This tour costs €6, or coupled with a visit to Glasnevin Museum, €10. For those who have to work on Bloomsday, this tour will be repeated on June 19th at 3.30pm.

MAY
2011 Bloomsday Festival 11th - 16th June has been announced, for details www.jamesjoyce.ie

MAY
2011 Come to Bloom 2011 and view Dublin UNESCO City of Literature Show Garden www.bloominthepark.ie Congratulations to Vanessa Burke who won the Bloom Competition.

MAY
2011 Molly McCloskey, Leo Cullen and Anne Havertywill read Tuesday 31st May at 7:30pm, Irish Writers Centre, 19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1 www.writerscenter.ie

MAY
2011 Congratulations to John Banville who won the Franz Kafka Prize,an international literary award presented in honour of Franz Kafka, the German language novelist.

MAY
2011
The Flying Book Club has responded to popular demand and is now offering One-Day Programmes for groups and Book-Clubs!We will tailor a great day out for you and your friends/members. Just tell us what author and which book you'd like to explore and we will design an exciting day of exploration, discussion, and much more. Break out of your normal book club routine and come and have a day out with us. We'll make it a memorable experience for you and your members. Check out our website www.flyingbookclub.ie for details of our Feel The Fear and Read it Anyway! sessions.These are designed to give readers a helping hand in tackling the often long avoided literary 'greats'. We begin with James Joyce's Ulysses . So come and take the plunge with us. We'll make it worth your while.The Low Down sessions do just that - give readers and theatre goers the low down on a book or play, helping both to get much more from each encounter with the work.We're beginning this series with the Low Down on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, and to celebrate both the City of Literature designation and Bloomsday we're also offering the Low Down on Joyce's Dubliners. 

MAY
2011

National Library of Ireland will give a free tour on its architecture and history on Saturday 4 June at 2.30pm. Further information can be obtained from  01 6030200 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MAY
2011 Dublin Contemporary tickets are now on sale, find more information about the exhibition and booking on http://www.dublincontemporary.ie 

MAY
2011

**Reader in Residence Vacancy***

Dublin City Libraries and the Home School Community Liaison Scheme wish to appoint a Reader-in -Residence.

The reader-in-residence will deliver a programme of activities designed to instil in young children an appreciation of reading and, at the same time, to give their parents/guardians an awareness of the positive value of literacy in their children’s development. The programme will include opportunities for parents and children to explore and enjoy reading and other literacy activities together.

The successful applicant will be based in two defined areas of Dublin inner city. They will have excellent interpersonal skills, experience of working with children and families and an ability to think creatively. A clear appreciation of the role books and reading play in the development of children and the enrichment of families in our society is also desirable. A flexible commitment of a minimum of 20 hours a week is required.

Further details are available on request from: Alastair Smeaton, Dublin City Libraries, 138 -144 Pearse St., Dublin 2 or by email from This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

CVs should be submitted to the above address, not later than 5.00 pm on Friday 3^rd June 2011. Shortlisting will apply.

This initiative is funded by the Dublin UNESCO City of Literature Office.

MAY
2011

The Flying Book Club has responded to popular demand and is now offering one-day programmes for groups and book clubs.

A great day out will be tailored for you and your friends, all you have to do is tell them what author and which book you would like to explore and they will design an exciting day of exploration, discussion and more.

To contact The Flying Book Club telephone: 083 4288286 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

The Flying Book Club have also planned The Fear and Read It Anyway! and The Low Down series for the coming months.

The Fear and Read It Anyway! series is designed to give readers a helping hand in tackling the often long avoided literary greats. The series will begin with James Joyce's Ulysses.

The Low Down series give readers and theatre goers the low down on a book or play, helping both to get much more from each encounter with the work. The series will begin with George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and to celebrate Dublin's designation as a City of Literature and Bloomsday they are also offering the Low Down on James Joyce's Dubliners.

 

To check out details of these exciting events go to www.flyingbookclub.ie

 

MAY
2011

Congratulations to Bisto Book Award 2011 winners:

• The Bisto Book of the Year Award - Chris Haughton for A Bit Lost
• The Eilís Dillon Award - Chris Haughton for A Bit Lost
• The Honour Award for Fiction - Sheena Wilkinson for Taking Flight
• The Honour Award for Illustration - Caitríona Hastings and Andrew Whitson for Mac Rí Éireann
• The Special Judges Award - Oliver Jeffers for Heart and the Bottle

The Bisto Children's Book of the Year Awards are the leading annual children's book awards in Ireland which is now in its 21st year.

MAY
2011 Congratulations to Mr. Jimi McDonnell who won the Dublin One City One Book Short Story Competition with this story, Coole. Jimi's story was chosen by author Joseph O'Connor and can be read here.

MAY
2011

Irish playwright Miriam Gallagher premieres her play Lessons with Chopin at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. For more information on Edinburgh Fringe Festival, visit http://www.edfringe.com/

MAY
2011 Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council invites applications for a writer in residence for the period September 2011 to September 2012.The residency is envisaged as a part-time position which will allow time both for the writer’s own work in addition to engagement and interaction with both the general public and more specifically with those with an interest in writing themselves.The closing date for receipt of applications is 12 noon on Wednesday 15 June 2011. For a detailed brief please contact Oonagh Brennan, Senior Executive Librarian, Culture & Marketing at E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or T: 01-214 7971

MAY
2011 Due to popular demand, Phil Lynott Exhibition will run until June 12th, the exhibition commemorates his 25th anniversary and takes place in St. Stephens Green Shopping Centre, Dublin 2.

MAY
2011

All are welcome to the discussion Exploiting Writers, Exploiting Tourism on Monday May 9th at 7:30pm. The talk will focus on a national strategy for liteature. It will be chaired by Jack Harte adn guest speakers will include Michael O'Brien, Micheál de Mórdha and Conor Kostick. Irish Writers Centre, 19 Parnell Square North, Dublin 1. For further information, please call 01 872 1302 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MAY
2011

Everyone is welcome to Dr Brena Flanagan's, prize winning American author, free creative writng master class "When Spirits Inspire Fiction" on Friday May 6th at 2:30pm. To book a place please call 01 872 1302 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Dr. Flanagan will read from a selection of her works on Friday May 6th at 6pm. Irish Writers' Centre, 19 Parnell Square North, Dublin 1

MAY
2011 Earlsfort Terrace has been announced as the main exhibition space for  Dublin Contemporary. The exhibition "Terrible Beauty: Art, Crisis, Change & The Office of Non-Compliance" takes its inspiration from W. B. Yeat's  Easter 1916. For more information on the festival, visit http://www.dublincontemporary.ie/index.php/home

MAY
2011

Each Tuesday 2.30pm FREE

Discover Your National Library

Free public tour 2/3 Kildare St: Tuesdays at 2.30pm starting 3 May.

 

Each Thursday in May 2.30pm FREE

Bealtaine at the NLI

Guided tour of the Yeats exhibition.

 

Saturday 7 May 2.30pm FREE

Tour of the National Library of Ireland

Learn about NLI’s history and architecture on this guided tour.

 

Tuesday 10 May 2pm FREE

Bealtaine at the NLI

Memories into memoir

Learn how to creatively translate your life experience into memoir at this interactive lecture and discussion with Irene Graham. Places are free but must be booked in advance. To book, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

Wednesday 11 May 11am FREE

Bealtaine at the NLI

Introduction to the National Library of Ireland

Want to know how to use NLI? Join us for this information session and learn how to get a Reader’s Ticket, how to search the catalogues, how to order materials and much more.

 

Wednesday 11 May 7pm FREE

NLI Society Lecture

Sean Keating in context

Dr Eimear O’Connor – TCD

 

Wednesday 18 May 11am FREE

Bealtaine at the NLI

Introduction to the National Library of Ireland

Want to know how to use NLI? Join us for this information session and learn how to get a Reader’s Ticket, how to search the catalogues, how to order materials and much more.

 

Thursday 19 May 11am-12.30pm FREE

Caring for your personal collection

Join a member of the Library’s Conservation team for this workshop. Learn how we care for our collections and pick up some tips for looking after your own. Places are limited and must be booked in advance. To book, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 

Tuesday 31 May 8pm FREE

Bealtaine at the NLI

The Wild Bees’ Nest Concert

Led by artists Michael Fortune and Aileen Lambert, this event is the culmination of a research project involving a group of traditional singers from all over Ireland. To book, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 For more information, please contact 01 6030200 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MAY
2011

Congratulations to Dubliner John Curran who has won the Agatha Awards Best Non Fiction for his book, Agatha Christie's Secret Notebooks: 50 Years of Mysteries in the Making

MAY
2011

Larkin Hedge School has an exciting line up of events in venues citywide including:

Writers in Song - May 5th 8:30-11:30pm

The Flowing Tide, Abbey Street, Dublin 1

Barry Gleeson sings Dublin songs to celebrate Dublin's designation as a City of Literature.

City of Words - May 6th 7:30-9:30pm

Teachers' Club, 36 Parnell Square West, Dublin 1

Poet Gerard Smyth focuses on the peotry inspired by his native city.

An Góilín Singers Club - May 6th 10pm

Songs from Niamh Parson at Góilín Singers Club

May Days - May 7th 11am-12:45pm

Liberty Hall Centre for The Performing Arts, Eden Quay, Dublin 1

A musical celebration of the origins of May Day, including performances by Nóra Geraghty and Tony Murphy.

The Power of Song - May 7th 1:45-3:30pm

Liberty Hall Centre for The Performing Arts, Eden Quay, Dublin 1

Bard, Tommy Sands leads an informal singing session.

The Music of Pádraig Ó Caoimh - May 7th 3:45-5:30pm

Liberty Hall Centre for The Performing Arts, Eden Quay, Dublin 1

Broadcaster and piper, Peter Browne brings the life of Pádraig Ó Caoimh to life with recordings and anecdotes.

A Toast to May - May 7th 7:15

Liberty Hall Centre for The Performing Arts, Eden Quay, Dublin 1

Wine reception followed by Song for the Green Crow, an evening of  music and drama commemorating Sean O'Casey.

The Liberty Session - May 7th 9:15pm

Liberty Hall Centre for The Performing Arts, Eden Quay, Dublin 1

Closing concert featuring The People's College Choir and Cathal McConnell.

 

 

APRIL
2011

Every Tuesday, from the 26^th of April until the 2^nd of June at 7:30pm. This series features some of Irelands greatest writing talents including John Connolly, Dermot Bolger and Jennifer Johnston and many more. These readings will travel nationwide in the coming year. More information can be found on   http://www.writerscentre.ie/html/events/peregrinereadings2011.html . Enquiries can be made to Tel:01 8721302 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   Website: http://www.writerscentre.ie/ Irish Writers Centre, 19 Parnell Square, Dublin 1.

APRIL
2011 10 novels have been shortlisted for the International IMPAC DUBLIN Literary Award, from a total of 162 novels nominated by 166 public library systems in 126 cities worldwide. For the first time, the shortlist includes novels by three Irish authors; Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann, Brooklyn by Colm Toibín and Love and Summer by William Trevor. The International IMPAC DUBLIN Literary Award is worth €100,000 and is the world’s most prestigious literary prize nominated by public libraries world-wide. The winner will be announced on 15th June. 

APRIL
2011 Dublin James Joyce Summer School will take place from 3 July 2011 to 9 July 2011. A week of lectures, seminars and workshops focusing on the work Joyce and its social and cultural contexts.  This Summer School is co-organised by University College Dublin, Boston College-Ireland,the James Joyce Centre and the National Library of Ireland.  Lectures take place in Newman House, UCD, 85-86 St Stephen's Green. For more information, please go to joycesummerschool

APRIL
2011

APRIL
2011

There will be a free tour every Wednesday at 1pm on The Life of WB Yeats on Wednesday. The tour will last 30 minutes. For further information please visit www.nli.ie

APRIL
2011 Congratulations to Dublin writers Emma Donoghue and Joseph O'Connor, author of Ghost Light, this years Dublin One City One Book 2011 who have been shortlisted for Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award 2011. Winners will be announced on June 1st at the opening of Listowel Writers' Week 2011. Further information www.writersweek.ie

APRIL
2011

See Picture of Dorian Gray at Bewleys from Tuesday April 5^th to Saturday April 23^rd 2011 Ticket for show, dinner, desert and coffee: €35 (Tuesday & Wednesday), €40 (Thursday – Saturday)Performed as Dinner Theatre with food served at 7.15pm at James Joyce Tea Room, Bewleys off Grafton St, Dublin 2.Bookings:http://www.bewleyscafetheatre.com or 087 3587010

APRIL
2011 Congratulations to Joseph O'Connor who was elected to Aosdána.  Aosdána was established by the Arts Council in 1981 to honour artists whose work has made an outstanding contribution to the arts in Ireland.

APRIL
2011

April 1st celebrated Brian O'Nolan, better known as Flann O'Brien at Palace Bar,Dublin 2. A capacity crowd listened to readings from O'Brien's work including his long-running Irish Times column, Cruiskeen. Mylesday 2012 will surely be an even greater success! Trinity College Dublin will mark the centenary of O'Brien's birth on October 14-15 2011with the Flann100 Conference, more information can be found at flann100.wordpress.com

APRIL
2011

Tonight, listen to Dr P. J. Mathews who invites us into the poetic world of John Millington Synge. To book a place, call 01 674 4806/4873 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   The lecture takes place on 4/04/2011 at 6pm at Dublin City Library & Archive, 138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2.

MARCH
2011 Tickets on sale at www.abbeytheatre.ie or 01 878 7222. An exciting public reading of Synge's last play, the cast will include Helen Norton Geraldine Plunket, Charlie Bonner,Andrew Bennett,Barry Barnes,Gemma Reeves,Peter Campion, Eamon Owens and Conor MacNeill. Tickets selling fast!

 

MARCH
2011

Nobel prize winner, Seamus Heaney has won the Irish Times Poetry Now Award for Human Chain,his 12th collection of poems.

Heaney also won the award for District and Circle , his previous collection, published in 2006. Other past winners include Sinead Morrissey for Through the Square Window, Derek Mahon, twice, for Life on Earth and for Harbour Lights , Harry Clifton for Secular Eden: Paris Notebooks 1994-2004, and Dorothy Molloy, who won posthumously in the first year of the prize for her debut collection Hare Soup. 

MARCH
2011

This years exhibition displays a literary theme with works which feature writers and their work. The exhibition takes place at Concourse, County Hall, Dun Laoghaire form Sunday 3rd April - 17th April (Open 10am-5pm;Sat/Sun:10am-5pm).

MARCH
2011 Great news everyone - DublinSwell is completely sold out!  Looking forward to seeing everyone for a great night!

MARCH
2011

All are welcome to a lecture by Professor Christopher Ridgway on the subject ‘Representing the Historic House in the 21st century: New Perspectives in England, Ireland and Scotland" at National Library of Ireland on 29th March at 7pm. Professor Ridgway is curator of Castle Howard and Adjunct Professor at the History Department at NUI Maynooth. This is the final lecture in the series of events associated with our photographic exhibition Power and Privilege: Photographs of the Big House in Ireland, 1858-1922. For more information, Tel: 01 603 02 00 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text53249 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MARCH
2011 Celebrate Dublin’s distinction as a UNESCO City of Literature, with an overnight stay in Brooks Hotel located in the fashionable heart of Dublin city. During your stay, enjoy a Tour of the Old Library and the Book of Kells at Trinity College. This package also includes a €15 voucher to spend in Dubray Books on Grafton Street. See http://www.avvio.com/hotels/Brooks_Hotel/bookings/client.php?formname=searchspecials&mode=group&group=Special+Offers#ipulsestart for more details. Offer valid: 04/03/2011 - 01/10/2011

MARCH
2011 To celebrate Dublin as UNESCO City of Literature and in association with St. Patrick's Festival, Dublin writer Roddy Doyle has written a short story "Brilliant" . This story, packed with adventure, tension, comedy and optimism can be downloaded here, just click on Brilliant 

FEBRUARY
2011

Seven Towers Agency and DIT Kevin Street Library have an exciting and packed programme for Library Ireland week in Off The Street

 

The highlight of the week is an exhibition combining the visual art of Colm Desmond and the literary art of Oran Ryan. The exhibition will be launched on Monday 7th March at 6pm with a reading from Oran Ryan, and will run all week as a backdrop to:

 

Tuesday 8th March 6:30pm

A reading and open mic evening with Ross Hattaway, Eamonn Lynskey,  Karl Parkinson and Raven

 

Wednesday 9th March 6pm

A reading by veteran broadcaster and writer Steve Conway

 

Thursday 10th March 6:30pm

A reading by bilingual poet and winner of the Oireachtas medal for poetry in Irish, Greagir O Duill

 

Friday 11th March 6pm

A reading from Oran Ryan and a chance to discuss the exhibited work with Colm Desmond

 

For further information please go to www.seventowers.ie

FEBRUARY
2011

The National Library of Ireland has just announced its programme of events for March. All events are free of charge and booking where required is noted on the individual event.  For enquiries please call 01 6030200 (ask for the Education & Outreach department) or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Wednesday 2 March 1pm - Free of Charge - Every Wednesday

The Life of WB Yeats

Join our tour-guide for a brief lunch-time tour of our award winning Yeats exhibition. This 30 minute tour will introduce you to WB Yeats - the man & the poet.

 

Saturday 5  March 2:30pm - Free of Charge

Tour of the National Library

Celebrate 120 years of the National Library's history and architecture with a guided tour of the building.

 

Tuesday 8 March 2:30pm - Free of Charge

Curator Tour

Alice Milligan and the Irish Cultural Revival

Join curator Dr Catherine Morris on a guided tour of the Alice Milligan exhibition in Discover Your National Libraryat 2/3 Kildare Street.

 

Wednesday 16 March 7pm - Free of Charge

The Wanderings of the The Battle of Moytirra

The Irish Texts Society Breandán Ó Buachalla Memorial Lecture

Dr John Carey of University College Cork

 

Friday 18th March 2:30pm - Free of Charge

Curator Tour

The Irish Texts Society

Join curator Dr Marc Caball on a guided tour of the exhibition at 2/3 Kildare Street.

 

Wednesday 23 March 7pm - Free of Charge

Death by a  Single Cut - the Guillotine and Capital Punishment in Modern France

National Library of Ireland Society Lecture

Professor Hugh Gough author of The Terror in the French Revolution

 

FEBRUARY
2011

All are welcome to a debate on Children's Literature, Classics and the City. The day will include a keynote lecture on Re-Editing the Children's Classics: Engaging Modern Children and Modern Adults's by Professor Peter Hunt. The debate will take place on Saturday 26th February at the Long Room Hub, Trinity College.  For a full programme and for registration details please visit www.isscl.com

FEBRUARY
2011

 

Waterford Writer's Weekend 2011 will take place from March 18th-20th and celebrates all things literary. The festival, formerly known as the Sean Dunne Writers' Festival, encompasses the Sean Dunne Young Writers Awards. This year's festival will feature a wide range of literary and artistic events, including readings, workshops, launches, exhibitions, music, awards, open mic sessions, children's storytime and lots more!

For more information go to www.waterfordwritersweekend.ie

FEBRUARY
2011 Seamus Heaney will celebrate Dublin UNESCO City of Literature with a host of other Dublin writers at DublinSwell - book your tickets now at www.tickets.ie/dublinswell!

FEBRUARY
2011 Congratulations to Colm Tóibín on winning the 2010 Irish Pen Award for Literature. The Irish Pen Award honours Irish born writers who have made an outstanding contribution to Irish Literature. The award is for a significant body of work written and produced over a number of years and is open to novelists, playwrights, poets, scriptwriters etc.

FEBRUARY
2011

Dublin UNESCO City of Literature Writers' Forum

 The UNESCO City of Literature Office is hosting a Writers’ Forum in order to engage with you, hear your opinions and to inform the strategic direction for the promotion and development of our “City of Literature”.

 

Dublin’s designation as one of only four UNESCO Cities of Literature in the world is an honour for the city and its writers. As a permanent designation, it offers huge opportunities for writers in Ireland, at all stages of their careers, writing in every language. Equally, the designation provides significant potential for bookshops, publishers, publications, libraries, universities and others to further engage with writers, readers and visitors. The designation is a recognition of the energy, vitality and influence that Irish writing and writers have brought, and continue to bring, to the world.

 

The Forum will take the format of informal engagement through a World Café style event, to capture your views on a range of issues. Your input into this conversation will assist us in ensuring that we maximise the opportunities presented by our City of Literature designation.

 

We will be hosting two identical sessions, one on each of the two dates listed below. Please express your interest in attendance at one session only:

Monday 21 February, 6.30pm - 8.30pm National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2

Wednesday 23rd February  6.30pm - 8.30pm National Library of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2

Places are limited so please indicate your interest in taking part by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or tel: (01) 6744873 before Monday 7th February.

FEBRUARY
2011

The Spring 2011 Library Late programme will open this month with a season of interviews exploring Irish popular fiction. In this three month series, which will run from February to April, some of Ireland’s leading popular fiction writers will discuss their craft.

 

The Making of a Bestseller: a panel discussion

Monday 28 February at 8pm

  

Sheila O’Flanagan in conversation with broadcaster John Murray

Wednesday 30 March at 8pm

 

Sinéad Moriarty and Cathy Kelly in conversation with broadcaster John Murray

Tuesday 12 April at 8pm

   

Tickets are free but must be booked in advance. Log onto www.nli.ie to book or tel: 01 6030 200

FEBRUARY
2011

This year the Dublin Book Festival will take place from Wednesday 2nd March to Sunday 6th March.

 

The festival will take place in a variety of venues throughout Dublin City including the National Library of Ireland, The Gutter Bookshop, The Project Arts Theatre, Dublin City Libraries and Dublin's City Hall.

 

The Dublin Book Festival promises a great line-up with a relaxed and fun environment with something for everyone.

The 2011 programme will be released in the upcoming weeks. For more details go to http://www.dublinbookfestival.com/

JANUARY
2011

Congratulations to Paul Murray who has been named as one of the finalists in the fiction section of the The National Book Critics Circle 2010 Awards. Paul was nominated for his novel Skippy Dies. The winners will be announced on the 10th March 2011, good luck Paul!

JANUARY
2011

The National Library of Ireland has a packed schedule of events for February 2011. All events and exhibitions are free of charge and should you require any further information you can email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone 01 6030200 and ask for the Education  & Outreach Department.

 

 Monday 21st February 2:30pm - Free of Charge

Curator Tour

Alice Milligan and the Irish Cultural Revival

Join curator Dr Catherine Morris on a guided tour of the Alice Milligan exhibition in Discover Your National Library at 2/3 Kildare Street, Dublin 2

 

Monday 21st February

Adult Learner's Week

The Library will host two introductory sessions on using the Library during Adult Learner's Week. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Tuesday 22nd February 7pm - Free of Charge

The Irish Country House Garden

Patrick Bowe - architectural and garden historian, and author of Gardens of Central Europe will discuss Irish country house gardens.

Held in conjunction with the National Photographic Archive's Power & Privilege: Photographs of the Big Houses in Ireland 1858-1922 exhibition in Temple Bar

JANUARY
2011

Thursday 3rd February at 1pm

Public Lecture - Richard Tuttle in conversation with Thomas McEvilley

This lecture is free and open to the public. Early arrival is recommended as places are limited.

Thursday 6th February at 6:30pm

Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane in association with Poetry Ireland presents a reading by Mei-mei Berssenbrugge & Maurice Scully.

For further information please go to www.hughlane.ie

JANUARY
2011

Dublin Book Festival ( 2nd - 6th March  2011) are running a writing competition for young adults aged 12-14 years. The closing date for entries is Friday 11 February and more details can be found on www.dublinbookfestival.com.  Good luck everyone!

JANUARY
2011 In association with Jameson International Film Festival, Central Library, Dublin 1 will host a panel discussion on Irish screenwriting on Saturday 19th February at 3:30pm. An opportunity to meet professional screenwriters who will feature in this years festival. 

JANUARY
2011

NEWS ALERT!!!

 

Tickets are now on sale for DublinSwell!

Following the designation of Dublin as a UNESCO City of Literature join us for this once in a lifetime event, where writers, musicians, singers and actors will make the city come alive in an evening of imagination and inspiration.

Book now to avoid disappointment!

Tickets are on sale from http://www.tickets.ie/dublinswell

 

JANUARY
2011

This year the Ennis Book Club Festival will take place from the 4th to 6th March and as always they have a fantastic line up.

 

The following authors and speakers are some of the participants in this year's festival:

Senator David Norris, Peter Sheridan, Paul Murray, Anne Enright, Vona Groarke, Pauline McLynn, Eamon Sweeney, Marie Louise O’Donnell, David J. Lynch, Tom Conaty, John Curran, Dr Eibhear Walshe, Doug Stanton, Clare Three-legged Stool Poets, Clare Champion short story winners and Clare Youth Theatre.

 

The full programme of events is available at http://www.ennisbookclubfestival.com/programme_2011.pdf

 

Tickets for all events can be booked at Glór box office - Tel: 065 6843103 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

JANUARY
2011

Dublin City Public Libraries and Ireland Literature Exchange presented a series of talks and readings, 'In Other Words . . .Irish Literature in Translation in Your Library' in the Central Library in November 2010. Featured writers included Hugo Hamilton, Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin and John Boyne. Their talks are available on http://www.dublincitypubliclibraries.com/in-other-words . Contemporary Irish Fiction which have been translated into 33 different languages are available at The Central Library, Dublin 1 and via inter library loan on www.borrowbooks.ie

JANUARY
2011

Imagine Ireland celebrates Irish and Dublin writers and contemporary Irish arts with a year long series of programmes across The United States. The literature programmefeatures an engaging mix of established and emerging Irish and Dublin writers, including 2009 National Book Award Winner Colum McCann, Booker winner Anne Enright, Booker nominee Colm Toíbín and Joseph O’Connor, whose book Ghost Light is this years Dublin One City One Book. Check www.imagineireland.ie to discover an ever evolving programme.

DECEMBER
2010 Congratulations to Dublin writer Paul Murray who has featured in Time Magazine's The Top 10 Everthing of 2010. Paul's novel Skippy Dies has been ranked at No. 3 in the Top 10 Fiction Books List.

DECEMBER
2010 Writers from different places and unique stories come together to share their experience of contemporary Dublin.  Their stories have recently been published in the Dublin Ten Journeys One Destination. Further information on the book and its authors is available at http://www.irishwritersexchange.com/launch.html

NOVEMBER
2010

Seven Dublin writers won awards at The Bord Gáis Irish Book Awards 2010. President Mary McAleese presented Maeve Binchy The Lifetime Achievement Award, other winners included:

John Giles - Energise Sports Book of the Year

Ryan Tubridy - Newcomer of the Year

Gene Kerrigan - Ireland AM Crime Fiction of the Year

Emma Donoghue - Hughes & Hughes Novel of the Year

Neil Richardson -Argosy Non-Fiction Book of the Year

Niamh Sharkey - DAA Junior Children's Book of the Year

Derek Landy - DDA Senior Children's Book of the Year

Congratulations to all!  

NOVEMBER
2010

O'Callaghan Hotels invite you to visit Dublin UNESCO City of Literature with the following special offer - for a 2 night break in any of their Dublin hotels,

€125.00 per person sharing which includes full Irish breakfast each morning, an Irish coffee on arrival, and a €30 voucher for Hughes & Hughes book shop. More information on http://www.ocallaghanhotels.com/unesco.aspx

NOVEMBER
2010

It's official, Dublin UNESCO City of Literature has got the X Factor!  In its profile on Dublin, the 2010 X Factor Annual acknowledges Dublins' great writers and its status as a cultural and literary destination.

NOVEMBER
2010

NOVEMBER
2010

Four Irish writers Colm Toibín, Colum McCann, William Trevor and Peter Murphy have been nominated to the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Longlist.  The shortlist will be announced on 12 April 2011 and the winner will be announced on 15 June 2011, good luck to all nominees, further information can be found on http://www.impacdublinaward.ie/index.htm

 

 

 

NOVEMBER
2010 Congratulations to Dublin writer Paul Murray, author of Skippy Dies who has made the 2010 Costa Novel Award Shortlist.  The winning award will be announced on the 5th January 2011.

NOVEMBER
2010 Storytellers of Ireland in association with The Arts Council presents Storytelling Beyond All Borders featuring The Armagh Rhymers, Shonaleigh bringing stories from the Jewish Tradition and a short film Sanctuary, stories of asylum seekers in Ireland on 27 November 2-5pm.  The event is free.  www.storytellersofireland.org

NOVEMBER
2010 Hugo Hamilton, Eugene McCabe and Colm Tóibín introduced by Anne Enright will be reading extracts from The Granta Book of the Irish Short Story edited by Anne Enright on Tuesday 23rd November 2010 at 7.30pm in the JM Synge Theatre, Arts Building, Trinity College (entrance off Nassau Street). The event is free but booking is essential. Tel: 01 6744873 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

NOVEMBER
2010 City of Words, a leaflet showing Dublin's literary attractions, has been created by Dublin UNESCO City of Literature Office.The leaflet is available in Dublin Tourism Offices, Fáilte Ireland Offices as well as Tourism Ireland Offices worldwide.

NOVEMBER
2010

On 4^th November 2010, at 6 pm, James McGuire MRIA will deliver the twenty-third lecture in the Hugh M. Fitzpatrick series of lectures in legal bibliography on “Law as a ‘field of interest’ in the Dictionary of Irish Biography”. This event will be held in Dublin City Library and Archive, 138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2. For bookings, please contact  Phone: 01-2692202; fax: 01-6619239; e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

OCTOBER
2010 Joseph O'Connor author of 2011 One City One Book Ghost Light reached top of the Indie Charts this week for his Drivetime album.  More information on this achievement can be  found on http://www.hotpress.com/news/7184486.html    

OCTOBER
2010 To celebrate Dublin being named a UNESCO City of Literature, the James Joyce Centre is offering our visitors a special online voucher which entitles them to either 2-for-1 admission OR 10% off in our bookstore. So come along to the Centre and explore the world of Joyce in a beautifully restored Georgian townhouse. For more information please visit http://www.jamesjoyce.ie

OCTOBER
2010

Cork poet Leanne O'Sullivan has won this year's Rooney Prize for Irish Literature in recognition of her achievement and "outstanding promise" as a young poet.  The announcement was made last night 12th October, by the provost of Trinity College Dublin, John Hegarty, at a special event in the Phoenix Park residence  of US ambassador Dan Rooney.  The €10,000 prize, which is administered by the Oscar Wilde Centre for Irish Writing at Trinity College is awarded for individual books or in recognition of a body of work.  More information can be found at http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2010/1013/1224280972100.html

OCTOBER
2010 The Forward Poetry prizes were created in 1991 to bring contemporary poetry to a wider audience. Known as the 'bardic booker', this annual poetry competition is the only major award that honours both established and up-and-coming poets.

www.forwardartsfoundation.org

OCTOBER
2010 JOSEPH O’CONNOR’S GHOST LIGHT

IS DUBLIN’S ONE CITY ONE BOOK CHOICE FOR 2011

 

Dublin City Council is delighted to announce that the ONE CITY ONE BOOK choice for 2011 is GHOST LIGHT by Joseph O'Connor.

DUBLIN: ONE CITY ONE BOOK is an annual promotion, taking place in April each year, to encourage everyone in Dublin to read the same book. The chosen title is supported by a wide range of public events and celebrations, and by attractive banner-style advertising throughout the city. Previous One City One Book novels have been Flann O’Briens’s At-Swim-Two-Birds, Sebastian Barry’s A Long, Long Way, Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray.

 

For Ghost Light, the celebrations in April 2011 will include:

• A month of public events, readings and music, at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin.
• Performances and readings of plays by John Synge and his circle.
• Exhibitions, extravaganzas, happenings, walks, talks, train rides, art shows, films etc.
• A series of unique events titled ‘SYNGE FOR YOUR SUPPER’, in which any Dublin resident can invite Joseph O'Connor to come and give a reading in her/his home, workplace, back yard, school, college, flat, apartment, local pub - any venue imaginable. Eight lucky readers will be selected. Whether reading to two people in a bedsit or to 100 people on the morning bus-ride, this is an exciting new way for people to take ownership of Dublin: One City One Book.

 

O'Connor's novel, which was published by Harvill Secker in June, is loosely based on the love affair between the great Irish playwright John Millington Synge and the Abbey Theatre actress Molly Allgood.

The novel received rave reviews at home and internationally, and was a number one bestseller in Ireland for nine weeks.  Pulitzer Prize-winning author Michael Cunningham called it: ‘A rare and wonderful book’. It has been sold for translation in 16 languages.

A special paperback edition will be published under the Vintage imprint for Dublin: One City One Book.

Commenting on the news, Joseph O'Connor said: ‘I am delighted and deeply touched for Ghost Light to be chosen to receive this accolade.

Any Dublin writer would be thrilled to have a novel honoured in this way. I look forward to getting involved in making next year’s One City One Book Festival the best and most inclusive yet.’

SEPTEMBER
2010

Reading by Emma Donoghue
Emma Donoghue, author of the Man Booker shortlisted title, Room, will read from the book on Saturday 9th October 2010 at 1pm in the Edmund Burke Theatre, Trinity College (entrance off Nassau St)

Admission is free, but numbers are limited, so booking is essential.

Booking: 01 674 4873  or

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

SEPTEMBER
2010

Joseph O’ Connor and Anthony Glavin launch the Peregrine Readings Sponsored by the Arts Council under the Touring and Dissemination Scheme.

The Irish Writers’ Centre will celebrate the launch of their nationwide tour at the Centre on Parnell Square on Monday the 27th of September with a very special reading from Joseph O’ Connor and Anthony Glavin.

The Peregrine Reading Series will take some of Irelands best loved writers to the four corners of the island in a quest to promote prose literature and to develop an audience for prose readings both in Dublin and around the country. The Irish Writers’ Centre is also dedicated to providing a regular platform for Irish writers to maintain a continuous rapport with their readers through talks, readings and launches.

Other writers touring the Peregrine Readings include Hugo Hamilton, Mary O’Donnell, Mícheál Ó Conghaile, Orna Ní Choileáin, Claire Kilroy, Brian Leyden, Sean Mac Mathúna, Anna Heusaff, Carlo Gebler, Lia Mills, John F Deane and Paddy Bushe.

For details of venues and how to book please visit the Irish Writers’Centre website: http://www.writerscentre.ie/html/events/peregrinereadings.html

AUGUST
2010 Celebrate Dublin’s distinction as a UNESCO City of Literature with a stay in the Fitzwilliam Hotel that includes a literary walking tour of the city and a €25 voucher to spend in Dubray Books on Grafton Street, prices from €110pps, 01-478-7000, www.fitzwilliamhoteldublin.com

AUGUST
2010 As part of Innovation Dublin, (November 10th – 21st), Dublin City Public Libraries, in association with the three local authorities representing greater Dublin, presents an opportunity for aspiring playwrights to showcase previously unpublished work in a library setting. Successful entrants will be offered mentoring from draft manuscript stage to production. Entry forms and further details from:
www.dlrcoco.ie/library
www.dublincitypubliclibraries.ie
www.fingalcoco.ie/library
www.southdublinlibraries.ie

AUGUST
2010 July - Everyone in Dublin is delighted that UNESCO has honoured the city by designating it as a UNESCO City of Literature joining Edinburgh, (htttp://www.cityofliterature.com) Melbourne (http://www.arts.vic.gov.au/About_Us/Major_Projects_and_Initiatives/City_of_Literature and Iowa City http://www.iowacityofliterature.org/ as Cities of Literature within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
“As Chair of the Dublin City Council,  S.P.C. for Arts, Culture, Leisure and Youth Affairs, I am delighted to welcome the wonderful news that Dublin has been formally designated a UNESCO City of Literature, part of The Creative Cities Network.  In receiving this accolade, Dublin joins Edinburgh, Iowa City and Melbourne as one of only four cities in the world to bear the title of UNESCO City of Literature. I am particularly pleased that Dublin City Council, through its library service, has played the lead role in winning this great honour for the city as a whole. Dublin has always been a literary city, but designation will mean new impetus for Dublin’s standing as a literary and cultural destination, and I would urge all the partners in this endeavour to redouble their efforts to ensure Dublin retains its pre-eminence in this area.” Statement by Cllr. Julia Carmichael , Chairperson of the Dublin City Council, Strategic Policy Committee for Arts, Culture, Leisure and Youth Affairs issued . Monday 26^th July 2010

"If there is a city in the world that fully deserves this nomination, it’s surely Dublin."
H.E. Pertti Majanen, Finnish Ambassador to Ireland"Congratulations to Dublin"

Joshua Schamberger, President | IOWA CITY/CORALVILLE AREA CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREA

AUGUST
2010 Two Irish authors made the longlist for the Man Booker Prize. Emma Donoghue’s Room and Paul Murray’s Skippy Dies were among the 13 books in the Booker dozen, whittled down from 138.

Forget dry old Joyce, our city's wordy award is more about Patricia read article

Firmly planting Dublin on a bedrock of words read article

City Of Literature title is an asset we can bank on read article

AUGUST
2010

Edinburgh is delighted to welcome Dublin into the international network of UNESCO Cities of Literature. We are excited by the opportunities for working together to celebrate our literary cities, and greatly look forward to a strong working relationship sharing our ideas, plans and projects. Together with Melbourne and Iowa City, may we congratulate Dublin on achieving UNESCO City of Literature status.

Alison Bowden, Director, Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature Trust

AUGUST
2010 The Provost of Trinity College Dublin, Dr John Hegarty welcomed the announcement of the designation of Dublin as a UNESCO City of Literature, one of only four in the world. The sought after accolade was bestowed by the Director General of UNESCO and recognises Dublin’s cultural profile and its international standing as a city of literary excellence. read more