New Irish Communities

A Word from our Facilitators

Mark Granier

“The New Irish Communities (NIC) scheme, funded by Dublin City Council, was launched in October 2013. A year later, I was invited to take over, and it has been a privilege to contribute to such a vibrant and growing initiative. The original goal was to offer a series of creative writing workshops for non-native English speakers, a mission that continues to be at the heart of the programme. A few years later, the poet and tutor Jean O’Brien came on board, and it has been a delight to collaborate with her in its development. However, it is the enthusiasm and dedication of the participants that has truly exceeded expectations. Many have seen their work published in anthologies, read at literary festivals, and featured on RTÉ Radio. Recently, some have even launched poetry collections with leading Irish publishers such as Dedalus and Gallery. Most crucially, almost everyone who has participated in NIC appears to have found it rewarding, and many have stayed with the scheme, returning year after year to participate in the sessions and make this writing community truly special. I began with the modest intention of introducing a few people to texts or poems that were hopefully interesting, and getting them to do some writing exercises. The experience is a bit like scattering a few seeds, then turning around to find an oak grove standing there. It has been deeply gratifying to have a hand in establishing NIC, and long may it flourish.”

Mark Granier has an MA in Poetry from Lancaster University, and has taught poetry and creative writing at The Irish Writers’ Centre and UCD for many years. Some of his former students have had work broadcast on RTE and been published by major Irish poetry presses. Granier’s awards include two Patrick and Katherine Kavanagh Fellowships, The Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize and several Arts Council Bursaries. His sixth collection, Everything You Always Wanted To Know, was launched by Niall MacMonagle and published by Salmon Poetry in April 2025.

Jean O’Brien

“The New Irish Communities (NIC) scheme was in full flow when poet and tutor Mark Granier asked me to join, a number of years after he had taken the reins. It was a wonderful idea and I was delighted to be asked to help shape it into what it has become today, a vibrant and growing initiative funded by Dublin City Council.

The idea was that non-native English speakers be offered a series of rolling workshops, that they could dip in and out of as circumstances dictated. Over the  years it has grown and blossomed, with a core group staying with us developing and flourishing, some have had their work taken up by main stream Irish publishers, others have broadcast on RTE National Radio and local stations. Their work has been performed at open mics, festivals, and included in anthologies, they have been chosen for the Poetry Ireland Introductions initiative, while others have gone on to do degrees and one of them is currently pursuing a PhD.

Many participants keep in touch for years, others dip in and out; some have even formed sub-groups and stay in touch as friends as well as fellow writers. Often after classes we decamped to local hostelries. It is wonderful that so many have found the group a haven for their work. Recently we celebrated the NIC by holding a reading in Irish Writers Centre on 28 June 2025 for all who wanted to showcase their work to family and friends. Long may it run and prosper.”

Jean O’Brien has six collections of poetry, from Salmon Publishing Ireland, her latest book is Stars Burn Regardless (2022). An award winning poet she won the prestigious Arvon International (UK) and the Fish International, she has been shortlisted and placed in many others, most recently in the Bridport Prize (UK) placed & shortlisted.  She was poet in residence in the CCI in Paris and was awarded a Patrick Kavanagh fellowship. She has run courses in the Irish Writers Centre for over twenty years and tutors at post graduate level. She holds an M.Phil from Trinity College, Dublin.

Rafael Mendes

Rafael began as a member of the New Irish Communities and has been a NIC facilitator for the past two years.

“The story of how and when I first attended the New Irish Communities (NIC) has been fictionalised as memory fails me. In 2018, or possibly 2019, following an ambitious goal of writing in a second language, in which I had rudimentary proficiency, I attended a session led by Mark Granier, perhaps Jean O’Brien.

Without ever surrendering to rigorous feedback and attention to the development of my craft, Jean and Mark demonstrated unwavering gentleness and humour whenever my grammar hindered my poetry. Thanks to them and my fellow writers, I remained confident in this goal of becoming an English-language poet.

The crystallisation of the NIC’s significance for Irish contemporary literature was realised when many participants were included in Writing Home: The ‘New Irish’ Poets, published by Dedalus Press. Since then, many participants have become relevant figures in the literary scene.

In 2021, as I worked full-time while pursuing a full-time MPhil programme at Trinity, I couldn’t be physically present in the community but shared the joy of their success. In 2022, having received a scholarship to pursue a PhD, my participation shrank further.

Yet, I never stopped writing. How could I? During those Saturday mornings at the Irish Writers Centre, encouraged by that community and by the talent and generosity of those poet-mentors, I decided to be a writer, to improve my craft, to have some time in my day to be in writing mode, not to be satisfied with a first draft, not to give up with rejections, and to foster more communities.

Since then, my work has been published in magazines such as Poetry Ireland Review and Poet Lore, I was selected for Poetry Ireland 2023 Introductions Series, and my pamphlet, The Migrant Dictionary (Howl New Irish Writing), has been chosen as a co-winner of the Ireland Chair of Poetry Series 2025. Despite recognising the merit of these achievements, they are less gratifying than returning to the New Irish Communities as a facilitator. By inviting a former NIC member to lead a session, the Irish Writers Centre afforded me a chance to retribute to the community, to Jean, and Mark.

While I felt particularly anxious on that Saturday morning, as new and long-time members walked into the room, this feeling rapidly morphed into sheer excitement. It wasn’t a sudden realisation that I was prepared to do this, which I was, but rather the recognition of my privileged position: being in a room where I could share what I know about writing, discuss craft, propose writing exercises while witnessing my community creating with words.

So, for anyone whose English is not the first language, come along one day: I’m sure you’ll have a nice time.

Rafael Mendes is a Brazilian migrant based in Dublin. His poetry is upcoming in Poetry Ireland Review and Poetry Salzburg Review. He has been selected for Poetry Ireland‘s 2023 Introduction Series and was awarded the Irish Writers Centre/Tyrone Guthrie Centre Lacuna Bursary 2023. His pamphlet, A Migrant Dictionary, was the co-winner of the Ireland Chair of Poetry Pamphlet Series 2025.

New Irish Communities Showcase 2025

Jean O’Brien and some of our New Irish Communities members took part in our Showcase on 28 June 2025.

The featured readers included Anthony Kelly, Lola Le Guan, Valentina Tosi, Patricia Béna-Hanly, Luciana Lynch, Ángeles Mañueco, Fabiana Reis, Sandy Seeber-Quayle, Xanda Monteiro, Yinka Parm, Edgard Wentz, Marc Gijsemans, and Luisa Di Somma.

Every month, the Irish Writers Centre will highlight the work of the New Irish Communities members.  You can read ‘At their discretion’ by our first featured writer, Luciana Lynch, below.

At their discretion

Luciana Lynch

Whether you can stay.

Whether you can pay.

If you will commit.

If you will submit.

No rules, just guidelines

to invent the headlines.

Bided and abided.

Applied and denied.

To dictate and decide

whether you can be

here without fear.