Architecture Now / News / Dublin – UNESCO City of Literature

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Pictured are former Dublin City Librarian, Deirdre Ellis-King, Dublin’s Lord Mayor, Gerry Breen, Irish poet, Thomas Kinsella and Margaret Hayes, Dublin City Librarian.
Picture by Conor McCabe/Jason Clarke Photography.

Dublin’s designation as UNESCO City of Literature was celebrated on Monday in the presence of many of the city’s best loved writers including poet Thomas Kinsella (photo) and novelists Joseph O’Connor and Siobhan Parkinson. Mary Hanfin, Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport said: “The city of Dublin being awarded the prestigious UNESCO City of Literature is a great recognition for the vast literary wealth for which we are renowned”. The Minister considers it also as a great “boost for cultural tourism in the capital city in the coming years”.

The stage for the celebrations was the Grand Canal Theatre and architect and Labour Party TD Ruairi Quinn commented to Architecture Ireland on the “success of this urban location despite the bad press that the Docklands is recently getting”. “The planning and mix of culture, social and affordable housing, offices and retail clearly works here”, said Quinn. He also regards the UNESCO designation as a welcome boost for the plans by City Architects to submit Dublin for designation as World Capital of Design in 2014. “ It is important that the World Capital of Design bid will get political support”, said Ruairi Quinn.

www.dublincityofliterature.ie

Posted: 28/07/2010 13:26:43

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