Latest news with #UnescoCityofLiterature
Irish Examiner
12-07-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Books are my business: Dublin Unesco City of Literature director Anne-Marie Kelly
Anne-Marie Kelly is director of Dublin Unesco City of Literature. How did you become a librarian? I was a big reader, but there weren't many books in my house growing up in the 1970s and '80s, like most people of that generation. When I was about seven or eight, my dad took me down to the local library in Malahide; it was closed at the time for renovations, and there was a mobile library service instead, in a van beside the tennis club. I could not believe that a truck had books on it. I used to go in to the library after school, I would run up the stairs to see if I could get a Nancy Drew or Enid Blyton. When I left school, I didn't know what I wanted to do and I fell into the library service. I realised I liked it, especially dealing with the public. I worked in the busiest library in the country, the Central Library in the Ilac Centre in Dublin; I was sent there as a relief library assistant to sign up people when it opened to the public 40 years ago. In 2021, I was assigned to my current role. I had previously worked as a library manager assigned to the development section of the city libraries, with responsibility for programming events. I had experience of working with many partners, practical skills, in terms of understanding budgets and processes, and also an understanding of the cultural impact our services have on the local community, as readers, but also as users of public library spaces. What does your current role involve? I help to promote Dublin as a city of literature, support the literary community, and strengthen links between the partners. I also represent the city on the Unesco Creative Cities Network. The office celebrates our great writing traditions and heritage, but also brings the talents of writers to the readers as well. I'm well placed within the libraries, but I also have a city-wide bird's eye view of what's happening in other organisations, such as Poetry Ireland, the Irish Writers' Centre, the Museum of Irish Literature, and the National Library, which we involve in initiatives like the One Dublin One Book programme. Another one of my briefs is overseeing the Dublin International Literary Award. There is a lot of time involved in terms of events, organising programming, venues, capacity, ticketing, and so on. We try to identify themes that will make a programme interesting and attract an audience. We will select a book for One Dublin One Book during the summer, so I will always find time for reading, on the bus or train, on the way to work or going home. Today, we were linking in with the deputy lord mayor of Lyons in France, which is another Unesco City of Literature team. We are always looking at potential contacts and how those can benefit our own literary community. We also use our online platforms to promote what is available to our own writers and poets internationally, in terms of residencies and so on. What do you like most about what you do? Giving opportunities to writers. At the end of the summer, I will be contacting someone about being selected as the One Dublin One Book author next year. That is something that comes out of the blue for them and I love to see their reaction. What do you like least about it? What can be quite frustrating is when you get a programme together, people have booked in for events and they don't show up. It has made me more aware that when I book something, I will email if I can't make it. Three desert island books My favourite book of all time is a tiny paperback by Carson McCullers called The Member of the Wedding. It took her six years to write and there isn't a word out of place. It is set in the Deep South in the 1940s, and the main character is a young girl, who sees her older brother getting married and thinks that she can go off and live with him and his new wife. It is sweet, but also very knowing, capturing the turbulence of neither being an adult or a child. The next one would be Walk the Blue Fields, the collection of short stories by Claire Keegan, which are jewels of writing. I cannot believe her talent. The third one would be Solar Bones by Mike McCormack, another writer that I really love. The character is talking about his own life from the other side of the grave, and it's just wonderful, really original. Read More Books are my business: Librarian Mary Conway
Irish Independent
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Dublin – One City, Many Stories: ‘Joyce's legacy washes over every writer like the waves at Sandymount'
A new six-part video series celebrates Dublin's literary talent The idea for Dublin, One City, Many Stories was sparked by an article in The Guardian that noted Ireland's 'outsized contribution to world literature'. It's a familiar sentiment – one that sometimes invites the question: 'What's in the water over there?' I feel that there is something in the water. And in terms of Dublin, it's in the Liffey and Dublin Bay and the life around it. But every idea needs an ignition point and ours landed after a conversation with Anne-Marie Kelly, director of Dublin Unesco City of Literature, who was eager to mark the 15th anniversary of Dublin's designation as a city of literature. From that chat came a vision: to showcase the depth and diversity of voices writing in and about Dublin today – voices rooted in the city's Viking past as well as those newly arrived to its shores.
Otago Daily Times
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Poetry book published
Dreams captured . . . Reading their poetry and art contributions in the Wish book are SuperGrans volunteer Monica Zaini and Studio2 artist Chris Tavite. PHOTO: SAM HENDERSON A new collection of poems and pictures brings together local volunteers and artists. Wish, published by Dunedin Unesco City of Literature, features poetry written by volunteers from Dunedin community organisation SuperGrans. The poems were crafted last year in a series of workshops run in South Dunedin by City of Literature ''Poet Lorikeet'', Jenny Powell. During the workshops, participants were encouraged to imagine receiving a wish, then explore how to fulfil it by writing and revisiting their poems. Powell said participants steadily built their skills throughout the workshops. ''For me, it was always getting to the point when we could write about what we wished to do. ''People could read their wishes often and write themselves their wishes again.'' Former SuperGrans manager Sandy McKay said the project had been a lovely experience for the volunteers. Volunteers often helped people step outside their comfort zones, so it was useful for them to do the same. That approach echoed the Māori concept of ako, in which a person is at times the learner and at times the teacher. ''I feel that it really fits in with that — we are all learning and, you know, helping to pass on our skills to other people. ''This just kind of fits so beautifully into that kaupapa.'' The book also showcases images from South Dunedin's Studio2, where artists with learning disabilities and neurodiverse creators refine and broaden their practice. The book was created for last year's 10th anniversary celebrations of Dunedin Unesco City of Literature. City of Literature project coordinator Anne Shelah said each contributor would receive a copy. Further copies would go to city councillors and literary venues such as the Robert Lord Cottage and Caselberg House. ''Quite often for events we put together goodie bags and so in the goodie bags we will put copies of Wish.''
Telegraph
30-10-2024
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
The best boutique hotels in Manchester
Known worldwide for its music scene, a Unesco City of Literature and home to the UK's largest live entertainment arena, Manchester's ever-expanding selection of hotels reflects this dynamism, with characterful boutique options in the city centre and beyond. From luxurious rooms in listed buildings and an indulgent retreat with an infinity spa-pool overlooking the city's rooftops, to stylish stays in the suburbs, here's our pick of the best boutique hotels in Manchester. Every hotel in this curated list has been visited by one of our expert reviewers, who are usually hosted on a complimentary basis. They stay for a minimum of one night, test at least one meal and trial other experiences that the hotel might have to offer. The The The The The The The The
