20 June, 2025
Dublin, One City, Many Stories
A new six-part video series from the Irish Writers Centre in collaboration Dublin UNESCO City of Literature
On Wednesday 18th June, at the Irish Writers Centre, joined by the first citizen of the city, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain, we held the press launch for Dublin, One City, Many Stories – a vibrant video series celebrating 15 years of Dublin as a member of UNESCO City of Literature and an acknowledgement of the Irish Writers Centre as an all-island resource for writers at every stage of their career. The launch included speeches from the Lord Mayor, Mags McLoughlin, CEO of the Irish Writers Centre, Anne-Marie Kelly, director of Dublin UNESCO City of literature and performances from Ciara Ni É and Emmet Kirwan.
Mags McLoughlin, CEO Irish Writers Centre, with Lord Mayor of Dublin Emma Blain & Anne-Marie Kelly, director of Dublin UNESCO City of Literature
Our CEO, Mags McLoughlin, said: “This series is a rousing call to every writer, reader, dreamer and scribbler who’s ever felt the pull of the pen. For the Irish Writers Centre to be involved in an initiative like this, celebrating the full spectrum of Irish and international writing talent, is a joy and a privilege.”
Mags McLoughlin, CEO of the Irish Writers Centre, at the launch of the Dublin, One City, Many Stories
The aim of the series is to look at literature and legacy, featuring iconic Irish writers from the past 50 years, contemporary writers from the past 15 years and recently emerging writers, sharing their writing journeys, their experiences of writing and performing in Dublin, their thoughts on Dublin as a muse, as a character in its own right, this city of division, riots and rebellions. We also showcase writers with various backgrounds, coming from different counties and countries who now call Dublin or Ireland home, celebrating the diversity they’ve added to the island’s creativity, a true celebration of all the nations, languages and experiences shaping today’s thriving Irish literary scene. Across 8 hours of discussions, interviews and conversations, we hear not only about the city of Dublin, but the entire island itself, now buzzing with not just the legacy of literature deep set in its roots, but the new community of writers threading its soil.
Ciara Ní É, Emmet Kirwan and Gustav Parker Hibbett pictured at the launch of the Dublin, One City, Many Stories
The first episode will air in July, on both the Irish Writers Centre’s website and the website of Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, (date to be confirmed) and will feature Joseph O’Connor, talking to Madeleine Keane, visiting Dun Laoghaire’s Lexicon and the James Joyce Tower in Sandymount – the very places that first stirred his passion for storytelling.
Joseph O’Connor at the James Joyce Tower Museum, Dublin, in a still from the series, Dublin, One City, Many Stories. Arcade Film
Joseph O’Connor said of his involvement in the series, “The hometown of a writer becomes part of the DNA, and I’m blessed that Dun Laoghaire is the place where I grew up. A coast-town has stories and glories, tides and ghosts, comings and goings, a bit of grit beneath the fingernails. I’m honoured to be interviewed for this series.”
Kevin Curran, Gustav Parker Hibbett, Ciara Ni É, Emmet Kirwan, Rafael Mendes, Aoife Barry, Suad Aldarra, Christine Dwyer Hickey and Andrew Hughes, some of the writers featured in the series, Dublin, One City, Many Stories
Over the coming months, audiences will meet a stellar lineup of over 20 writers including John Banville, Mike McCormack, Neil Jordan, Emmet Kirwan, Cauvery Madhavan, Rafael Mendes, Nuala O’Connor, Ciara Ni É and others as they share their reflections on literary legacy and influence, diversity and belonging, ambition and resistance.
Anne-Marie Kelly, Director of Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, said: “This project encapsulates everything we hoped to spotlight during our 15th anniversary – a city of layered stories, shaped by legacy but alive with new perspectives. The series is a perfect companion piece to Dublin City Libraries’ One Dublin, One Book.”
Anne-Marie Kelly, director of Dublin UNESCO City of Literature at the launch of the Dublin, One City, Many Stories
The series shines a spotlight on the literary voices that have shaped Irish cultural identity, while also celebrating those who are defining its future.
Actor, playwright and screenwriter Emmet Kirwan performs at the launch of the Dublin, One City, Many Stories
Poet, performer, director and REIC creator, Ciara Ni E performs at the launch of the Dublin, One City, Many Stories
Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain, said during the launch: “As someone who has been writing all my life, whether as a journalist or features editor, as a press officer or digital media manager, words and the crafting of words has been hugely important to me, not just as a core part of my work but also an outlet for my passion.”
The first citizen of Dublin City, the Lord Mayor of Dublin Emma Blain at the launch of the Dublin, One City, Many Stories
The episodes will roll out monthly from July and viewers can expect appearances by the likes of Victoria Kennefick, Kevin Curran, Gustav Parker Hibbett, Suad Aldarra, and many more. From candid conversations about getting published to comical reflections on Dublin’s quirks, the series is both an homage and a celebration.
Follow the conversation using #OneCityManyStories.
While filming the series with Arcade Film, we asked each of the writers involved a series of After Questions, curating as many different answers as possible to the same set of questions which we will share as resources on our website. For now, to tease you, we offer a short video compilation of some of their answers…
Welcome to their Dublin, One City, Many Stories
Dublin, One City, Many Stories, After Questions, Advice for Writers
Ann-Marie Sheehan of Aspire PR & Marketing, Rosemary Hennigan & Áine Denn, both members of the board of the Irish Writers Centre and Daniel Keane of Arcade Film Ltd, at the launch of the Dublin, One City, Many Stories
Head of Programming at the Centre, and co-producer of the series, Damien B. Donnelly with Deputy CEO of the Centre, Teerth Chungh, pictured at the launch of the Dublin, One City, Many Stories
The founder of the Irish Writers Centre, Jack Harte, with the first citizen of Dublin city, the Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain at the launch of the Dublin, One City, Many Stories
Video: Arcade Film Ltd
Photography: Andres Poveda
PR and Marketing: Ann-Marie Sheehan, Aspire PR & Marketing
About the Irish Writers Centre
Founded in 1991, the Irish Writers Centre is Ireland’s leading resource and development organisation for writers. Its vision is to support the life of the writer, recognising the impact writers have in illuminating society with their ideas and words.
Through its Creative Writing Academy, the Centre delivers a year-round programme of over 150 creative writing courses, masterclasses and seminars, both online and in person. It also runs a National Mentoring Programme and administers a range of development opportunities for writers, including residencies, competitions and bursaries.
Operating on an all-island basis, the Irish Writers Centre is a membership organisation and a registered charity.
To become a member of the Irish Writers Centre, click here.
