Tourism Ireland welcomed its partners to New York for the U.S. launch of the Dublin 2011 cultural calendar recently. Basking in the glow of its recent designation as UNESCO City of Literature, Dublin is a capital that prides itself on a rich tradition in literature, music and theatre. Whether it's the famed Irish drama in world class theatre, Gaelic sports in Croke Park or live music in one of the capital's many pubs, Dublin celebrates its living culture.
The year 2011 is set to be an exciting one for culture in Dublin as Ireland's capital prepares for a host of events, activities and openings. The city will hearld its UNESCO designation as City of Literature with a celebratory event to be held in the new Convention Centre Dublin in March 2011 while the 2011 St. Patrick's Festvial will take its inspiration from Irish literature with the theme of "Words" to be interpreted in numerous ways. Visitors to the captial are encouraged to follow in the footsteps of the city's writers and explore the city that inspired some of the world's best loved literature
Dublin— UNESCO City of Literature
The UNESCO designation is a huge honor for the city which is the birthplace of three Nobel Prize winners and the home for over 35 years of Seamus Heaney, Ireland's only living Nobel Laureate for Literature. It is bothe the birthplace of James Joyce and the setting for the most of his work‚ it si a city which does not rest on the laurels of past glories and continues to produce and nurture world class writers today. Colum McCann, winner of the 2009 National Book Award for "Let the Great World Spin" was born and educated in Dublin. Colm Toibin, author of "Brooklyn" (Chicago's One Book One Chicago 2010) has made the city his home for many years.
The poet Eavan Boland, a mmeber of the Irish Academy of Letters, is currently professor in humanities at Stanford University. Many Dublin wirters are popular worldwide with names such as Roddy Doyle and Cecilia Ahern achieveing bestseller status on both sides of the Atlantic.
Visitors to the city can soak up the atmosphere of Trinity College's centuries in the Old Library Long Room after they have been amazed by the ninth century "Book of Kells," see the National Library's Yeats Exhibition, visit Dublin Castle where Bram Stoker, author of "Dracula" once worked, stroll around Merrion Square in the footsetps of Oscar Wilde, take a bicycle tour to places of literary interest, enjoy a storytelling session with a pint of Guinnessin one of Dublin's famous literary pubs, and muchj more.
Dublin Contemporary 2011
Art lovers will descend on Dublin in September 2011 for Dublin Contemporary, a new large-scale visual arts exhibition which sets out to transform the exhibition and education format for the 21st century. The First edition of DC2011, titled "Silence," will bring into a conceptual constellation artists both national and international, emerging and established, some of Dublin's great cultural institutions as well as reinvented new locations, altering and extending our experiences of art, literature, culture and life in this new era of austerity.
"We believe stronlgy that once visitors experience the sights and sounds of Dublin they will keep returning year after year," Joe Byrne, executive vice president in the U.S. for Tourism Ireland, said. "The recently opened Grand Canal Theatre, the Convention Centre Cublin and the Aviva stadium now confirm Dublin's status as one of the world's leading city destinations both for the independent vacationer and the business traveleer. It's UNESCO designation and the arrival of the Contemporary Dublin exhibition further cements this position and ensures that city is a must visit for all in 2011."
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