“English is not my native tongue, it’s not for many, many more creative practitioners today. So how do we navigate an English-dominated world with our writing explorations?”

 Sree Sen, New Irish Communities facilitator

Welcome to New Irish Communities

The Irish Writers Centre’s New Irish Communities is an annual series of creative writing sessions for non-native speakers to explore creative writing in English.

In a warm and supportive environment, participants meet new writers, share their stories, and take part in creative writing exercises. All sessions are facilitated by writers from diverse literary backgrounds, in both poetry and prose.

New Irish Communities is ideal for beginner and emerging writers. 

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.

Mark Granier

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.

“At the New Irish Communities, I found guidance and orientation on the ins and outs of writing: how to use the five senses in poetry, the importance of rhythm, imagery and sound. The passing down was kind and patient, respecting the differences and limitations of each participant. However, what I most cherish in the group is the sense of community, and the shared challenge of writing in another language. Each Saturday I stepped into the IWC, I felt I belonged there; that the Irish Writers Centre welcomed and sowed Irishness with its different accents, colours, and backgrounds. So, for those who come from minority groups like me, be sure that the New Irish Communities is the right place for you to become a better writer and to find peers.”

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.

Below are some photographs of the showcase…

New Irish Communities 2025

The New Irish Communities 2025 sessions were:

Session 1 Facilitated by Amy Abdullah Barry

Date: Saturday 10 May, 2025

Time: 11.00am-1.00pm

Location: Irish Writers Centre

Free (book required)

irishwriterscentre.ie

Session 2 Facilitated by Aashima Rana

Date: Saturday 17 May, 2025

Time: 11.00am-1.00pm

Location: Irish Writers Centre

Free (book required)

irishwriterscentre.ie

Session 3 Facilitated by Mark Granier

Date: Saturday 24 May, 2025

Time: 11.00am-1.00pm

Location: Online

Free (book required)

irishwriterscentre.ie

Session 4 Facilitated by Charleen Hurtubise

Date: Saturday 7 June, 2025

Time: 11.00am-1.00pm

Location: Irish Writers Centre

Free (book required)

irishwriterscentre.ie

Session 5 Facilitated by Ola Majekodunmi

Date: Saturday 14 June, 2025

Time: 11.00am-1.00pm

Location: Irish Writers Centre

Free (book required)

irishwriterscentre.ie

Session 6 Facilitated by Rafael Mendes

Date: Saturday 21 June 2025

Time: 11.00am-1.00pm

Location: Online

Free (book required)

irishwriterscentre.ie

How does New Irish Communities work?

What do these workshop sessions look like?

|The weekly writing sessions take place in the Irish Writers Centre building on Parnell Square (Dublin), facilitated by experienced writers and poets working in different genres and forms.

While the majority of sessions take place in person at the Irish Writers Centre, two of the sessions take place online to enable broader access to the sessions.

Please note, it is not necessary to have attended any previous New Irish Communities sessions to join in. 

What do we do in these workshop sessions?

Each session lasts two hours and will consist of the following:

• Creative writing exercises

• Close readings

• Group discussion

• Critique and feedback of work

• Recommended reading

Each session functions as a stand-alone workshop, so it is not necessary to have attended any previous New Irish Communities sessions so drop in at any point.

Since 2013, New Irish Communities has been kindly supported by Dublin City Council.

I think that this group is more essential than being published. It is about the atmosphere of community. The connection, the sharing, the love of the craft.

New Irish Communities Writer

It’s the first time my work has received such recognition and I am really happy: to think that six years ago I barely spoke English.

New Irish Communities Writer