Initiated and led by the city library service, Dublin has submitted an application for designation as a UNESCO City of Literature, part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Writers tell us why Dublin is a city of literature.
Some of the greatest writers in the English language were born in Dublin and every corner of the city has links with the written word.
One of Dublin’s first writers to be recognised internationally was Jonathan Swift, author of 'Gulliver's Travels' and Dean of Saint Patrick's Cathedral.
Trinity College Dublin has educated many of Dublin's world-renowned writers, such as Oliver Goldsmith (author of 'The Vicar of Wakefield'), Richard Brinsley Sheridan and Edmund Burke. Here it is possible to view the 'Book of Durrow' and the 'Book of Kells' (transcriptions of the Bible).
In the 19th century Oscar Wilde captivated the world's imagination with his satiric masterpieces. Oscar Wilde's writing brought Dublin to prominence during the late Victorian era. His works, including 'An Ideal Husband', 'The Importance of Being Earnest' and 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' have enshrined him as one of Ireland's finest writers and satirists. Oscar Wilde's home for many years may still be seen in Merrion Square.
The most famous Irish poet of the 19th century, James Clarence Mangan, came from Dublin's Fishamble Street (where the first performance of Handel's 'Messiah' was staged). During this period, the city produced a number of writers in the supernatural genre such as Bram Stoker author of 'Dracula' and Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu who based many of his ghost stories in Dublin.
The Nobel Prize winner George Bernard Shaw, despite living most of his life in London, never forgot his connection to the city and its culture. Shaw's birthplace has been restored and is open to the public. It was here in this house that Shaw began to imagine the characters that would later feature in his writings. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1925.
Even those writers who could not wait to leave the banks of the river Liffey still return to them in their work. The most striking example of this is, of course, James Joyce, who immortalised the streets of Dublin in several of his great works, particularly 'Ulysses'. Visit the James Joyce Centre which is dedicated to promoting an understanding of the life and works of James Joyce. Similarly Samuel Beckett, creator of some of the world's most influential modern experimental literature, used the speech rhythms of his native city in works such as 'Waiting for Godot'.
Contemporary Literary Scene
The Dublin literary tradition continues and, more recently, Irish writers of importance such as Seamus Heaney, winner of the 1995 Nobel Prize for Literature (visit the Seamus Heaney portal), and Colm Toibín, whose novel 'The Master' was the winner of the 2006 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award have made their homes in Dublin. Other writers of significance, including poets Eavan Boland and Paul Durcan, novelists Maeve Binchy, Patricia Scanlan, Marion Keyes, internationally known thriller writer John Connolly and playwright Dermot Bolger are native Dubliners.
The turn of the 21st century sees authors with Dublin connections being successful in every genre: The Man Booker Prize has been conferred on Iris Murdoch, Roddy Doyle, John Banville and Anne Enright, and in 2009 Sebastian Barry received the Costa Book of the Year Award and the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction. Colum McCann won the 2009 U.S. National Book Award for Fiction his novel 'Let the Great World Spin' .
Dublin's Libraries
The National Library of Ireland (open Monday to Saturday) holds the world's largest collection of Irish documentary material: books, manuscripts, newspapers, periodicals, drawings, photographs and maps.
Dublin City Public Libraries' Dublin and Irish Collections holds an extensive range of books relating to Dublin and Ireland to which are regularly added new publications. In addition to imprints from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, a considerable collection of older material is held of which the Gilbert Collection, comprising material from 16th to 18th centuries, forms the nucleus.
Other outstanding resources include the 'Dix Collection' of mainly 17th and 18th century Dublin and Irish imprints, the 'Yeats Collection', the 'Children's Book Collection' and imprints of publishers such as the Dun Emer and Cuala Press.
The Dublin Collection holds material relevant to Dublin City including books, newspapers and journals, photographs, maps, prints, drawings, theatre programmes, playbills, posters, ballad sheets, political cartoons, audio-visual material and ephemera. A collection of Thom's Dublin street directories and other Dublin and Irish directories is also maintained.
Housed alongside the Dublin Collection, the Irish Collection extends to subjects of national interest and includes books and other materials relating to Ireland, by Irish authors, or in the Irish language. The collection includes available published sources for Irish genealogy and family history.
The Reading Room is located on the first floor, Dublin City Library & Archive, Pearse Street. Readers wishing to consult manuscripts or early printed books are advised to request them in advance.
The Chester Beatty Library, one of Ireland's National Cultural Institutions, was created by Sir Alfred Chester Beatty and bequeathed by him to a trust for the benefit of the public. The Library is both an art museum and library, housing an outstanding collection of Islamic manuscripts, Chinese, Japanese, Indian and other Oriental art. Early papyri, including some of the earliest texts of the Bible and other early Christian manuscripts, western prints and printed books complete what is one of the richest collections of its kind in the world.
Below are links to Dublin’s third level education libraries containing comprehensive and valuable collections of books for students and the public (upon special request):
The Irish Manuscripts Commission is an organisation committed to promoting public awareness of primary source materials and their importance for the history, heritage and culture of Ireland.
The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award
The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is the largest and most international prize of its kind. It involves libraries from all corners of the globe, and is open to books written in any language.
The Award, an initiative of Dublin City Council, is a partnership between Dublin City Council, the Municipal Government of Dublin City, and IMPAC, a productivity improvement company which operates in over 50 countries. The Award was established by Dublin City Civic Charter in 1994, and is administered by Dublin City Public Libraries.
The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is awarded annually. The first was made in 1996
Dublin: One City, One Book
Inaugurated in 2006, Dublin: One City, One Book is a project designed to encourage everyone in the city to read the same book during the month of April each year. Dublin: One City, One Book is a Dublin City Council initiative led by the City Library Service.
'The Picture of Dorian Gray' by Dubliner Oscar Wilde is the featured book for 2010. Better known as a dramatist and writer of children's tales, 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' is Oscar's only novel. He was born at 21 Westland Row in 1854 and the family subsequently moved to 1.
The book for the 2009 Dublin: One City, One Book was 'Dracula' by Dublin born author Bram Stoker. 'Dracula' was written in 1897, and has been translated into many languages. It has been the inspiration for many other works, and has been widely adapted for the stage and film. Abraham "Bram" Stoker was born on the 8 November 1847 at 15 Marino Crescent on Dublin's northside.
The chosen book for 2007 was 'A Long Long Way' by Dublin-born playwright, poet and novelist, Sebastian Barry. One of a number of successful contemporary Dublin-born authors, Barry won the Costa Book of the Year Award in 2009 for his novel 'The Secret Scripture', a work for which he was also shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.
The 2008 chosen book was 'Gulliver’s Travels' by Jonathan Swift. Swift was born in Dublin in 1667. He was Dean of Patrick's Cathedral and a well-known satirist.
Bookshops
Dublin has many fine bookshops, both general and specialist, new and second-hand. These include Waterstones and Hodges Figgis (of Ulysses fame), on Dawson Street, both of which have sections in Irish interest, and the Dublin Bookshop in Grafton Street.
Eason's on O’Connell Street is one of the largest bookshops in the country. Hughes & Hughes in the Stephen's Green Shopping Centre has a wide range to choose from and International Books, on South Frederick Street specialises in languages. If you're interested in antiquarian books, go to Cathach Books in Duke Street. It specialises in books of Irish interest with a particular emphasis on 20th century Irish literature.
Dublin Writers' Festival
An initiative of Dublin City Council, with the support of the Arts Council of Ireland/An Chomhairle Ealaíon, the Dublin Writers' Festival aims to reflect both the city’s famous literary heritage and the importance of the literary arts in a rapidly changing contemporary environment. The festival presents the best of both Irish and international writing and looks forward to popular and critically successful programmes. Festival events take place in the centre of Dublin city. Each day's programme includes a number of events presented free to the public.
Dublin Writers' Museum
The Dublin Writers' Museum has displays relating to Irish literature in all its forms from around the 10th century to the present day are on permanent show. The exhibits include paintings, manuscripts, letters, rare editions and mementos of many of Ireland's famous authors. There are a number of temporary exhibits and a sumptuously decorated Gallery of Writers upstairs. The museum also hosts frequent poetry readings and lectures.
The Irish Writers' Centre
The Irish Writers' Centre was founded in 1991 with the aim of fostering writing and an audience for literature in Ireland. The aims are pursued by a year-round programme of readings, workshops, lectures and seminars as well as a range of support and information services including lists of Irish writer groups and literary agents. It organises creative writing courses and various events celebrating Irish literary heritage and hosts the meeting rooms and offices of the Irish Writers' Union, the Society of Irish Playwrights, the Irish Children's Book Trust and the Translators' Association of Ireland.
Other Initiatives
MS Readathon
The MS Readathon is an annual programme where participants get sponsored to read as many books as possible over a four-week period – it has become almost institution-like and the enthusiasm among young and old that sweeps Dublin and indeed the nation is infectious.
The Ireland Literary Exchange / Idirmhalartán Litriocht Éireann (ILE)
The Ireland Literary Exchange / Idirmhalartán Litríocht Éireann (ILE) promotes the translation of literature from Ireland abroad, and the translation of foreign literature in Ireland, primarily through the provision of translation grants. It is a not-for-profit organisation, funded by both Arts Councils in Ireland, the Cultural Relations Committee (Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism) and Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge/The Irish-Language Books' Board. Established in 1994, ILE has funded the translation of over 600 books into 40 languages in 28 countries