MAYOR’S WELCOME - Cllr. Emma Murphy
I am delighted to welcome you to the Red Line Festival brought to you by South Dublin Libraries and Arts. Now in its 11th year the festival is a celebration of all things literary; be it spoken, written, sung, played, illustrated, or even just thought!
The Red Line Festival is once again packed with wonderful authors such as Louise O’Neill, Michael Harding, Donal Ryan and Emilie Pine to name but a few. We look forward to meeting crime writer Paul Williams, private investigator Pat Marry and former state pathologist Marie Cassidy in what is sure to be an intriguing insight into true crime.
Our poetry programme will take the limelight once more on the Thursday night with award winning poet Jessica Traynor announcing the winners of the 10th Red Line Poetry Competition. We are excited to introduce our Writer in Residence programme. Clondalkin rapper Selló has been making waves in the Irish rap scene for his combination of traditional Irish and folk music samples with his impelling rap music. 10 lucky participants will be attending workshops with Selló and producing their own original music.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our partners and venues for their commitment to the festival in particular the Local Enterprise Office South Dublin, Office of Public Works, The Civic and Tallaght Stadium. I would also like to acknowledge the incredible work that goes into producing the festival and in particular the work of the team in South Dublin Libraries and Arts.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S MESSAGE - Daniel McLoughlin
The Red Line Festival provides South Dublin Libraries and Arts the opportunity to showcase the best of what South Dublin County has to offer. With over 40 events in fantastic venues including Rathfarnham Castle, Pearse Museum, Baldonnel Aerodrome and Tallaght Stadium, this year’s festival truly highlights the cultural and historical offerings of South Dublin.
For the first time the festival includes an exciting Sports Strand in Tallaght Stadium. The line-up includes Jonathan Wilson discussing his biography of Bobby and Jack Charlton, best-selling children’s author Ger Siggins on his Rugby Spirit series and FAI Communications Manager Gareth Maher in conversation with football commentator George Hamilton on Thirty Years of Irish Footballers in the Premier League. For those who are more interested in Michael Cusack’s blackthorn stick or Brian Cody’s baseball cap, you can join author Siobhán Doyle on The History of GAA in 100 objects.
South Dublin Libraries and Arts are delighted to work with NOISE Music DJ Programme and Give Us The Night in providing opportunities in this year’s festival for young people to learn how to DJ and develop their musical knowledge, it will showcase the library as both a cultural and creative space that can be used in a way that was unimagined before.
As always, history, heritage and the Irish language feature heavily throughout the festival. Dean Ruxton discusses his book Death on Ireland’s Eye: The Victorian Murder Trial That Scandalised a Nation, Rebecca Brownlie brings her Abandoned Ireland exhibition to the County Library, highlighting the social importance of our forgotten buildings and bringing their stories back to life through the medium of photography. We are honoured to have Gaeilgeoirs Colmán Ó Raghallaigh, Dr. Kelly Fitzgerald, Micheál Ó Conghaile and Réaltán Ní Leannáin representing the importance of Irish language events.
With such a varied and diverse programme there is truly something for all in the Red Line Festival and I invite everyone, from South Dublin County and beyond to participate.