An unrivalled literary legacy.

Dublin is a Unesco City of Literature and many famous writers were born here or indeed, worked here and found it a source of inspiration.

All four Irishmen who were awarded a Nobel Prize for Literature have strong Dublin connections through birth or residency.

Playwright, George Bernard Shaw was born at 33 Synge Street while poet, W.B. Yeats born in Sandymount and playwright and novelist, Samuel Beckett, was born in Foxrock. 

Poet, Seamus Heaney, was born in Northern Ireland but lived in Sandymount from 1972 until he passed away in 2013. 

From Pygmalion to He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven and from Waiting for Godot to Digging, the work of these men will endure for many generations.

Born in Strabane, novelist, playwright and satirist, Flann O’Brien, lived at 4 Avoca Terrace and later at 81 Merrion Avenue in Blackrock. His famous novel At Swim- Two-Birds is set in the Dalkey, Sandycove & Glasthule area.

Bram Stoker was born in Clontarf and is renowned as the writer of the original vampire novel, Dracula. 

Brendan Behan, poet, short story writer, novelist and playwright was born in Dublin— living at 13 Russell Street in his childhood.

Author, James Joyce, was born in Rathgar and lived in various places in Dublin including  Sandycove. His books such as Dubliners, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Finnegan’s Wake and Ulysses are set in Dublin and draw a vivid picture of the place and its people.

Witty playwright and novelist, Oscar Wilde was born in 21 Westland Row. His great works include The Importance of Being Earnest. 

The satirist, essayist and poet, Jonathan Swift was born in Dublin. One of his best-known works is Gulliver’s Travels.

Sean O’Casey was the first Irish playwright of note to write about the Dublin working classes with pieces like The Plough and the Stars.

Maeve Binchy, the much-loved novelist and columnist, grew up and lived in Dalkey. Her books include Circle of Friends.

Playwright and novelist, Hugh Leonard, wrote Home Before Night about growing up in Dalkey. His play, Da, set in Dalkey, won four Tony awards on Broadway in 1978.

Roddy Doyle has written numerous bestselling and critically acclaimed books including The Commitments, The Snapper, The Woman who Walked into Doors and the Booker Prize winning, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha. 

Some other well-known writers from Dublin include Sebastian Barry, JM Synge, John Boyne, Christy Brown, Joseph O’Connor, John Connolly, Elizabeth Bowen, Paul Howard (aka Ross O’Carroll-Kelly), Cecilia Ahern and many more.

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