Cork City Libraries announces "One City, One Book" for 2023
9th May 2023
Cork City Libraries’ has announced the Cork One City, One Book for 2023; Liberty Terrace by Madeleine D’Arcy. Liberty Terrace features a bevy of characters who live in a fictional area of Cork City in the period 2016 to 2020. The residents of Liberty Terrace come and go, and their lives occasionally intersect in stories that are sometimes funny, sometimes dark, often both.
With support from the Creative Ireland Programme, books by Billy O’Callaghan, Catherine Kirwan, Tadhg Coakley, Danielle McLaughlin and Cónal Creedon have previously featured, proving hugely popular with readers in the city and abroad.
‘We are Celebrating the 8th year of One City, One Book which showcases the brilliant literary life of the city and Cork writers,’ says Patricia Looney, Senior Executive Librarian, Cork City Libraries. ‘One City One Book creates a unique sense of place and celebrates the city and its people. It builds a sense of community throughout the city by encouraging everyone to read the same book.’
Madeleine D’Arcy comments that ‘As a writer, my aim is to create fiction that is deceptively simple, but has, underneath the surface, a deeper core of emotional truth…unearth some truths about why people are the way they are and why they do the things they do. I also hope to entertain people, with a combination of darkness and humour.
Every year since 2017, the One City, One book title has been the most borrowed book in Cork City Libraries. The 2023 programme will be launched in the Friary Bar on Sunday 28 May at 3.30 pm. Watch out for fringe events over the coming months including creative writing workshops with Madeleine, readings and interviews. The concluding event will be hosted by Waterstones as part of Irish Book Week.
‘I have been fortunate enough to win some awards for my writing, but this honour, from the city in which I live, is very special indeed. It really means the world to me. I am so glad I live in this City and feel deeply honoured that Liberty Terrace is this year’s One City, One Book’ says Madeleine.