Dublin City Council has announced a packed programme of events to celebrate this year’s Dublin: One City One Book initiative. James Plunkett’s Strumpet City, this year’s choice, also commemorates the centenary of the 1913 Dublin Lockout. Many of the events in the programme are free and include music, drama, readings, history, tours, exhibitions and family events. They take place at venues around Dublin from 1st-30th April and the full programme is available now on www.dublinonecityonebook.ie Launching the programme on Tuesday, 26th March, SIPTU President, Jack O’Connor, said he was struck by parallels between the Dublin of 2013 and that of 100 years ago. He was speaking at the Custom House, Dublin during the re-launch of James Plunkett’s book Strumpet City, which is set against the background of the 1913 lockout. “It struck me that the more things change, the more they stay the same”, he said, referring to a homeless man asleep on the steps of the Custom House. He reflected that Plunkett’s seminal book provided a graphic depiction of a major event in a flawed society, which was ultimately a conflict between two sets of values – “the values of the slum, interdependence and collective solidarity versus the values of the quick buck.” Jack O’ Connor said that we “should abandon the value system that has taken us to this sorry place once again and embrace instead the values of collective solidarity to inform the building of a new Republic.” The special edition of the book published by Gill & Macmillan can be borrowed from all branches of Dublin City Libraries or bought in bookshops. You can also follow ongoing conversations on Twitter between two of the book’s main characters – Rashers Tierney and Fr. O’Connor. See @RashersTierney1 and @FrOConnor1 from Tuesday, 26th March. This year Dublin City Libraries are bringing One City, One Book onto the street with the introduction of an virtual library, providing a free download of the book’s 1st chapter. This exciting pilot allows you to simply scan the QR code wherever you see the Strumpet City Book Cover painted on your streets. The book extract can be downloaded at Traffic Light boxes in the city centre. Dublin: One City One Book encourages everyone to read a book connected with Dublin during April. The initiative is led by Dublin City Libraries as part of its UNESCO City of Literature Programme. It is supported by publishers Gill & MacMillan, Dept. of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the 1913 Commemoration Committee, Dublin City BID and venues and booksellers all over the city. Highlights in first week. See www.dublinonecityonebook for full programme Wednesday 3rd April Bread and Roses: Strumpet City Revisited, St. Patrick’s Hall, Dublin Castle, 7.30pm. Sean Rocks, Christine Dwyer Hickey, Dermot Ferriter and Peter Sheridan discuss Strumpet City. Readings by Bryan Murray and music from the landmark RTE series. Free but booking essential, cityofliterature@dublincity.ie Monday 1st April Irish Traditional Music with readings from Strumpet City The Church Café & Bar, junction of Mary St and Jervis St. Free no booking required. The first event in this year’s programme and the start of The Church Café & Bar’s Strumpet City themed programme of music, drama and readings throughout April. Wednesday 3rd, & Thursday 4th April Life in Dublin’s Tenements: Irish History Live, a show for children aged 8+, Pembroke Library 11am, Rathmines Library 1pm and Walkinstown Library 3pm on Wednesday 3rd April. Finglas, Drumcondra and Donaghmede Libraries at 11am, 1pm and 3pm respectively on Thursday 4th April. Thursday 4th April Dramatic readings from Strumpet City, The Bailey Bar, 1-4 Duke St, Admission free, no booking required. Actor Fergus Cronin and historian Catriona Crowe evoke the atmosphere of Dublin of 1913 through reading, recorded music and imagery Saturday 6th April Boys and Girls Come Out to Play! City Hall, Dame St, 12-1pm and 1.30-2.30pm. Free but booking essential, cityofliterature@dublincity.ie, Tel (01) 6744877 / 6744862. Traditional games and rhymes for children from the rare old times with Stephen Holland of Blackthorn Arts, suitable for 4-12 year olds.
One City One Book choice marks centenary of 1913 Lockout
