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Write Your Way Through Literary Dublin: Join Our 2026 Creative Writing Workshop in Ireland's UNESCO City of Literature
by Writing Workshops Staff
3 days ago
Picture yourself crafting stories in the same city that inspired James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, Seamus Heaney, Sally Rooney, Maggie O'Farrell, and Emma Donoghue. From May 3-8, 2026, WritingWorkshops.com invites you to experience Dublin not just as a tourist, but as a writer immersed in one of the world's most storied literary landscapes. Our intimate creative writing workshop combines world-class instruction with authentic cultural experiences in Ireland's vibrant capital.
Transform your writing in the city of literary legends
Dublin holds a unique position in the literary world. As a UNESCO City of Literature, boasting four Nobel Prize winners and numerous literary luminaries, the city provides writers with an unparalleled creative atmosphere. Walking the same Georgian streets that Joyce immortalized in Ulysses, crossing bridges named after literary greats, and writing in cafés where Brendan Behan once held court, this is the Dublin experience that awaits you.
But we're not just offering a writing vacation. At WritingWorkshops.com, our mission since 2016 has been to bring your writing out of the wilderness and into community. Our Dublin workshop creates an intimate environment where serious writers forge lasting connections while receiving transformative feedback on their work. With only 10 participants per genre track, you'll experience the kind of focused attention that can revolutionize your writing practice.
Learn from award-winning authors who've mastered their craft
Your instructors for this literary journey represent the pinnacle of contemporary writing.
Carol Goodman, a New York Times bestselling author of 27 novels, including The Lake of Dead Languages, brings her expertise in atmospheric, suspenseful fiction. Her work has earned two Mary Higgins Clark Awards and has been translated into 16 languages. As a professor at The New School and SUNY New Paltz, Carol combines literary sophistication with commercial success: exactly what today's writers need.
Mira Ptacin, award-winning memoirist, specializes in narrative nonfiction that tackles complex subjects with honesty and heart. Author of Poor Your Soul and The In-Betweens, Mira’s writing frequently appears in The New York Times, The New York Times Book Review, Harper's, Literary Hub, Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Longreads, The Atavist, Guernica, Elle Magazine, New York Magazine, Tin House, Vice, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Poets & Writers, and more. She brings a unique perspective on crafting personal narratives that resonate with an engaged audience.
Justin Taylor is the author of the novel Reboot, a New York Times Notable Book of 2024 and a Washington Post best novel of the year. He is also the author of the memoir Riding with the Ghost, the novel The Gospel of Anarchy, and the story collections Everything Here Is the Best Thing Ever and Flings. His fiction and nonfiction have appeared in The New Yorker, Harper's, N+1, Bookforum, BOMB, and Granta, among other magazines and journals. He is a contributing writer to the Washington Post Book World and the director of the MFA program at Sewanee, the University of the South.
Experience Dublin's literary soul while developing your craft
Our workshop headquarters at the Iveagh Garden Hotel, Europe's first fully sustainable hotel, places you in the heart of literary Dublin. Each morning begins with breakfast, followed by intensive workshop sessions where you'll receive detailed feedback on two pieces of writing. But the learning extends beyond the classroom.
Optional cultural experiences are woven throughout the week, including literary pub crawls through historic venues like Davy Byrne's (Joyce's favorite haunt), walking tours of Dublin's literary landmarks, and excursions to the coastal village of Howth, which inspired Yeats. You'll have opportunities to visit Trinity College's stunning Long Room Library, explore the new Museum of Literature Ireland (MoLI), and participate in our One Page Salon, where you can share your work with fellow writers.
This unique blend of rigorous workshop sessions and cultural immersion creates what one participant called "narrative practitioner soulmates"—a community that extends far beyond the workshop week. As Mary Beth Sammons, author of 12 books and a 2025 participant, shared: "This workshop exceeded my expectations... I experienced a creative breakthrough through the 'write bad' philosophy."
Why Dublin? Why now? Why this workshop matters
The educational tourism market is experiencing unprecedented growth, with travelers increasingly seeking transformative experiences that combine learning with cultural immersion.
Dublin offers the perfect setting for this evolution in travel. The city's walkability, safety, and English-speaking environment remove barriers to creativity, while its vibrant contemporary literary scene, featuring festivals, independent bookshops, and a thriving community of writers, provides ongoing inspiration.
Unlike larger conferences, our workshop maintains an intimate scale with maximum impact. You'll workshop two complete pieces, receive one-on-one conferences with faculty, attend craft seminars on both writing technique and the business of publishing, and build relationships with fellow writers who share your commitment to the craft. The combination of expert instruction, peer feedback, and Dublin's literary atmosphere creates an environment where breakthroughs happen.
Limited spaces available for serious writers ready to invest in their craft
Our 2026 Dublin Writing Workshop runs from May 3-8, with an optional 3-day Southwest Ireland extension through May 11. The main workshop fee of $3,495 includes:
- Five nights' accommodation at the 4-star Iveagh Garden Hotel
- Daily breakfast
- All workshop sessions and one-on-one conferences
- Craft and business of writing seminars
- Access to optional cultural activities
- Membership in our ongoing writer community
With only 30 total spaces available (10 for each fiction workshop and 10 for nonfiction), our workshop fills quickly. We use a competitive admissions process to ensure a committed, talented cohort. Early application is strongly encouraged, and payment plans are available.
Take the next step in your writing journey
Whether you're polishing a manuscript, exploring new creative directions, or seeking to reignite your writing practice, our Dublin workshop offers the perfect combination of instruction, inspiration, and community. The city that gave the world Ulysses, The Importance of Being Earnest, and countless other masterworks awaits your contribution to its literary legacy.
Ready to write your way through literary Dublin? Visit WritingWorkshops.com to learn more about our 2026 workshop and submit your application. Include a brief bio, purpose statement, and writing sample (5,000 words maximum) to be considered for this transformative experience.
Don't let another year pass wondering "what if." Join us in Dublin, where your writing will move from the wilderness into a vibrant, supportive community of fellow writers. Your literary journey begins with a single application.
Apply now at WritingWorkshops.com – because the best stories are written in the company of others who understand the craft.
