Today, the 1st April, marks the start of this year's Dublin: One City, One Book. Right throughout the month of April we encourage everyone to read a book connected with the capital city. The Dublin: One City One Book choice for 2014 is 'If Ever You Go: a map of Dublin in poetry and song', and the choice for this year is something completely different yet very Dublin.The book is a collection of poems, ballads and songs from a range of literary luminaries connected with Dublin. It is arranged street by street so the reader is continually making new connections and discoveries on a virtual tour of the City of Words.A full programme of associated events throughout the month of April will intrigue and engage and include poetry and music sessions, literary walks, poetry appreciation talks, bike tours and much more in locations all over the city and county. Several of the events are taking place in our branch libraries. One of the highlights of the programme is a special tribute to Seamus Heaney.Dublin: One City, One Book is an award-winning Dublin City Council initiative, led by Dublin City Public Libraries.Be sure to visit the Dublin: One City, One Book website now and often this April!
Today sees the launch of the Dublin Festival of History 2013 website and programme of events. The festival is an initiative of Dublin City Council's library and archive service, and it will run from 26th September until the 9th October.Right: Programme cover, click to enlarge.The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Oisín Quinn, has this to say about the festival: "In this inaugural year, it’s wonderful to see such a stellar line-up of Irish and international historians contributing to the Festival. There are debates on historical fiction, the Great Irish Famine, and the Irish revolutionary period, as well as lectures by Roy Hattersley, Jung Chang, Simon Schama, Tom Holland, and Patrick Geoghegan to name but a few. All of these fantastic events are free and I am sure that Dubliners and visitors alike will find lots to interest them in the programme.With events taking place in Dublin Castle and in the city’s libraries, the Dublin Festival of History offers a unique opportunity for all to listen, participate and engage in historical debate right in the heart of the city. I invite you to come along and enjoy!"Above: Patrick Geoghegan, Department of History,Trinity College, Dublin City Librarian Margaret Hayes, Caitríona Crowe, Head of Special Projects, National Archives of Ireland and the Lord Mayor of Dublin Oisín Quinn at the launch of the Dublin Festival of History programme. Picture Jason Clarke Photography. View more photos. Visit the Dublin Festival of History 2013 website and view the extensive programme of events. Note that all bar one of the events are free but booking is required in most instances.
Dublin Digital Day Event, Grafton Street, Friday, 8th March.Create a digital memory, using your old photographs, on Digital Dublin Day, Friday 8th March. Do you have some old photographs of Dublin or Dubliners lying around at home? Perhaps a snapshot of friends meeting under Clery's Clock? Or photographs that show Dublin shops, pubs or other buildings in the background?Or perhaps you have photographs of friends or family doing jobs that no longer even exist? You might not think these photographs are important or of interest to anyone else - but Dublin has changed so much over the years that even photos taken ten or twenty years ago can show parts of Dublin that look very different to what we see today. We have found people love looking at photographs of Dublin as they remember it in their own youth - no matter if that was in the more recent 1990s or 1980s or as far back as the 1950s or 1940s or even earlier!We would love you to bring your photographs in to Grafton Street, in the centre of Dublin on Friday next, 8th March, Digital Dublin Day. Library staff will be on hand in our Library Learning Bus to scan your photographs and upload them to the internet to share with the wider world.We will be parked at the top of Grafton Street, at the corner of Stephen's Green, between 10am and 4pm. Look out for the Big Blue Bus!There is no charge for this event, which is part of a citywide series of events to mark Digital Dublin Day. Digital Dublin Day is a day of fun, designed to demonstrate to Dubliners the impact and potential of modern digital technologies and to encourage innovation and creativity in the ways we all harness technology in the city. So - join us in creating more digital memories, for ourselves and for the future!
