merrion street

Jimmy Deenihan TD Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht will this evening (Tuesday 13^th November, 2012) officially launch the Dublin Book Festival in Smock Alley Theatre, Exchange Street lower, Temple Bar, Dublin 8 .

This year’s Dublin Book Festival will run from 13^th – 18^th November with a packed programme of readings, interviews, debates, book launches and workshops for adults, children and schools – as well as a number of special guest appearances. The 2012 festival celebrations will be based in and around Smock Alley Theatre, Temple Bar .

Speaking in advance of the opening at Smock Alley Theatre, Minister Deenihan said:

"It is very fitting that the Dublin Book Festival celebrating Irish publishing and Irish-published authors should return to this area which throughout the eighteenth century, was predominantly home to printers and publishers"

The central aim of the festival is to create a community atmosphere in which to show the diversity, vitality and talent of Irish publishers and writers. The Dublin Book Festival confidently promises something for everyone and - with the majority of the events being free - there is plenty to entertain and inspire this November.

Minister Deenihan also said that he was particularly pleased that his Department had provided an allocation of some €40,000 towards the festival and associated events with a further €45,000 provided to Dublin City of Literature for their impressive programme of events also.

"The designation of UNESCO City of Literature has given the Dublin Book Festival a special impetus since 2010 and this continues into the extensive programme that has been organised for this year. 148 authors will bring together new, emerging and established writers, with many new authors being given the opportunity to showcase their work and reach a new audience" added Minister Deenihan.

The Dublin Book Festival celebrates the best of contemporary Irish publishing and writing. This year’s programme is wonderfully accessible and features a vast array of events taking place in Smock Alley Theatre and at the Gutter Bookshop. "Since 2008, the Dublin Book Festival has provided a wonderful platform to engage the Irish public with Irish books and I have no doubt it will continue to shape the cultural life of the City of Dublin for years to come" concluded Minister Deenihan.