Dotting the Is and Crossing the Ts

Veronica Roznyek looks at all the facilities available in Dublin for people looking to pursue creative writing. As a city, Dublin is internationally renowned for its continual pursuit of excellence in literature. As the birthplace of James Joyce and W. B. Yeats, the capital is notorious for producing literary talent. Home of four Nobel Prizes laureates, the city proudly displays its merits in the Dublin Writers Museum, celebrating Irish literary tradition. Awarded a place as a UNESCO city of literature, the Irish capital has continued its custom of investing in creative pursuits across a variety of artistic domains. The city additionally offers a vast array of opportunities for novice writers, looking to develop their skills in an organic and encouraging way. The Irish Writing Centre in Parnell Square invites a broad array of writers, from amateurs to professionals, to passionately undertake their craft. Additionally, the centre invites participation from international newcomers to the city with groups such as the New Irish Community Extension. For people, who may be non-native English speakers, this could serve as a way to integrate into Irish culture and become more comfortable communicating in English in written form. Additionally, the centre places an emphasis on poetry as an outlet for creative writing. ‘Words on the Wind’ is a diverse poetry group that meets every second Friday and welcomes poets of all ages to exchange thoughts on their work.
Dublin City Council has launched a variety of organized writers groups in different public library branches including Ballyfermot, Ballymun, Cabra, Central Library, Donaghmede, Kevin Street, Pearse Street, and Raheny.”
On a more municipal level, Dublin City Council has launched a variety of organized writers groups in different public library branches including Ballyfermot, Ballymun, Cabra, Central Library, Donaghmede, Kevin Street, Pearse Street, and Raheny. This opportunity offers writers to get involved with their community on a local level. The meetings are informal spaces where writers discuss ways to improve their skills through mutual encouragement and constructive criticism. For any young published novelists, the International Dublin Literary Award, sponsored by Dublin City Council, serves to annually award a novel which is in English or that has been translated into English. This award serves to promote Dublin’s status as a critically acclaimed cultural hub in literature. Nationally, the Government has launched the Creative Ireland program, which serves to promote cultural, literary, and artistic development in Ireland. This initiative intends to prioritize music, drama, art, and literature as vital pillars of educational and personal development. For more experienced writers, the Dublin City Writer-In-Residence Program will offer an opportunity for writers with a particular affiliation with Dublin, to submit their work and provide connections with writers across the city.
The organization offers various poetry competitions and submissions as opportunities for poets to publish their work on a local and national level.”
Aside from the diverse array of creative writing outlets, Dublin exemplifies a deep focus and appreciation for poetry. Poetry Ireland, based in Parnell Square, serves to connect poetry with people throughout Ireland. The organization offers various poetry competitions and submissions as opportunities for poets to publish their work on a local and national level. Notable competitions include the Hennessey New Irish Writing Competition, which is published in the Irish Times each month, permitting writers to submit poems and short stories.   Annually, the organization also hosts a poetry contest in association with Trócaire Ireland. This competition explores themes relating to global justice issues, including this year’s theme “When Love Conquers Fear.” Deadlines for submission are from January to mid-March and both published and non-published poets may enter the competition. Through the means of its various initiatives, Dublin serves to accommodate all inspired, established, or emerging writers. As residents of this literary hub, but simultaneously as academics, students may find writing for university to be an arbitrary chore. However, creative writing may serve as an excellent means of expressing our thoughts and ideas in an uninhibited way.