Dublin, Written In Our Hearts: An Anthology Celebrating 20 Years of One Dublin One Book

by Declan Meade (Editor)

One Dublin One Book is a Dublin City Council initiative co-ordinated by Dublin UNESCO City of Literature and Dublin City Libraries. For the past 20 years, the campaign has encouraged all Dubliners to read a chosen book every April.

Dublin, Written In Our Hearts has been specially commissioned as the chosen book for 2025.

Anthology Contributors:
Kevin Barry, Estelle Birdy, Niamh Campbell, Kevin Curran, Roddy Doyle, Anne Enright, FELISPEAKS, Sarah Gilmartin, Róisín Kiberd, Caitriona Lally, Deirdre Madden, Belinda McKeon, Paula Meehan, Thomas Morris, Niamh Mulvey, Nuala O’Connor, Sean O’Reilly, Keith Ridgway, Peter Sirr, Stephen James Smith, Réré Ukponu and Karl Whitney.

Genres: Ireland, Short Stories, Fiction

259 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2025

About the author

Anyone with an interest in discovering new fiction in Ireland will already be familiar with Declan Meade. Tireless and dedicated, unassuming but committed, he is a literary champion of old-school generosity and the publisher/editor and co-founder of The Stinging Fly.

Reviews

[Annie Shy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was waiting for the audiobook version because I like to listen to short stories rather than read them wherever possible. A beautiful concept for the One Dublin One Book initiative showing the city in all it's glory and grime. The great strength and weakness of short story anthologies is that some of them will just not be to your taste (hence the 4) but I loved the vast majority of them. Some standouts for me: Charming and quirky 'Eggshells' by Caitriona Lally, enchanting 'Dublin: a Poet's View' by Felis Speaks and the delightfully strange 'There are Little Kingdoms' by Kevin Barry. My favourite was Famine Days by Réré Ukponu. It was always going to be my favourite because every time I've read it or heard it being performed I get goosebumps. She truly has the gift of the gab whether in conversation or writing I just want to listen to her forever and ever.

[A. Oosthoek · Rating 3 out of 5]

🎧 Tot me genomen als audioboek

Na een tijdje onderdompelen in een nieuwe cultuur is het heel erg bevredigend om culturele referenties, slang en accenten te verstaan en begrijpen. En wat is het dan leuk om dan de volledige ervaring te beleven met een boek als deze. Een bundeling van verschillende type schrijvers en verhalen, met dito verschillende accenten en taalgebruiken. Niet toevallig overlapte het luisteren van dit boek met mijn laatste twee weken in de prachtige Emerald Isle.

Maar nu over de onhoud: dit boekje is feitelijk een ode aan de literaire grootheden van Ierland en Dublin, maar dit keer niet een ode aan de grote namen maar juist aan de “kleine” schrijvers. Behalve dat de meeste verhalen zich vooral in Dublin afspelen, is er niet zozeer een andere rode draad te vinden. Ieder hoofstuk voelt dan ook als een miss or hit. Desalniettemin een leuke ervaring.

[J. S. Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice collection of stories, essays, novel excerpts and poems cebturing around Dublin.

The place where I was born and have spent most of my life to date.
It was wonderful to see so many perspectives of our fair city.
I now know so many Dublins.

[Elín · Rating 3 out of 5]

ah sure it was grand

[Sarah M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Grand! Lovely idea!

Only a couple of stories stood out to me though!