“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 is excited to announce the 2025 New Irish Communities (Saturday 10 May  – Saturday 21 June), a series of six creative writing sessions for non-native speakers to explore creative writing in English.

In a warm and supportive environment, participants can 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. 

For the first time, we are excited to host a special showcase event on Saturday 28 June 2025 of the writing produced during the six weeks period.

New Irish Communities 2025

Sign up to any New Irish Communities 2025 session by following the links below:

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 TBC

Date: Saturday 7 June, 2025

Time: 11.00am-1.00pm

Location: Online

Free (book required)

Session 5 Facilitated by Ola Majekodunmi

Date: Saturday 14 June, 2025

Time: 11.00am-1.00pm

Location: Irish Writers Centre

Free (book required)

Session 6 Facilitated by TBC

Date: Saturday 21 June 2025

Time: 11.00am-1.00pm

Location: Irish Writers Centre

Free (book required)

How does New Irish Communities work?

What do these workshop sessions look like?

From Saturday 10 May 2025 from 11am – 1pm we are running weekly writing sessions in the Irish Writers Centre building on Parnell Square (Dublin) which are 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 will 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.

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, New Irish Communities writer

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

Our next programme of events are yet to be announced.

In the meantime you can view our full archive of past events here.