On September 30th, the Irish Writers Centre (IWC), in collaboration with Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, will be releasing the third episode of their video series “Dublin: One City, Many Stories”. The third instalment is of particular interest as it will feature two prominent Irish cultural voices, novelist and filmmaker Neil Jordan and Booker Prize winner John Banville.
Though neither are Dublin natives, with Jordan being born in Sligo and Banville hailing from Wexford, they have pursued their respective careers in the city and elsewhere. Jordan started his career off as a writer, with his short story collection Night in Tunisia finding international acclaim, and his subsequent stories being translated into multiple languages. Later pursuing filmmaking, Jordan continued to find success, winning multiple BAFTAs and scoring Academy Award nominations. Banville has similarly been successful in his literary career, serving as literary editor of the Irish Times and winning multiple prizes such as the Booker Prize in 2005 and the Franz Kafka Prize in 2011, to name a few. A contender for the Nobel Prize, Banville has been a prolific writer throughout his life, publishing multiple short story collections and novels in addition to his journalistic work.
In their conversation, Banville and Jordan discuss Dublin as a city and its literary and cultural influence, as well as being writers in today’s world. As said by the IWC, “this is a rare, no-filters conversation on writing, Dublin and the lives that shaped them.”
Through an honest dialogue, both authors reflect on those who have come before them, with Banville saying: “I always think of those figures who went before us — these enormous stone figures, Easter Island statues, glaring down and saying: ‘what are you going to do, little man?’ It was very difficult for us to write about Dublin because Dublin had been done — Joyce had devoured the city.”
Candidly discussing their writing process and stories amassed by years of working in the creative space, the episode has been described by the Director of Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, Anne-Marie Kelly as “candid, witty, and profoundly rooted in the life of the city. To hear Neil Jordan and John Banville reflect on their craft, their friendship, and the Dublin that shaped them, is a rare privilege”, further expressing hope that the episode and series itself will inspire young writers.
The episode can be accessed from September 30th on the IWC website and YouTube channel.
