Festival
Friday, 18 September 2026 at 7pm
Visit the James Joyce Centre for a special late evening to celebrate Culture Night/Oíche Chultúir 2026!
The Write Stuff and The James Joyce Centre are delighted to collaborate for Culture Night Dublin, with the support of The Arts Council and Culture Night.
On Friday, 18 September at 7pm, The Write Stuff will present This Is Not Nostalgia, a bespoke gathering in collaborative storytelling, poetry and music curated and hosted by Dublin writer Steve O’Toole with DJ Dandelion, Sinead O’Brien, Frank Shouldice and Tony St. Ledger.
On the night, we will jointly present a set of stories, poems and songs set to a digital backdrop of both unique Dublin characters and its unique places. Dublin has always been a city of character and of characters. Some more widely known than others — from Brendan Behan to Bang Bang, and all those in between. However, This Is Not Nostalgia is of a Dublin from not so long ago, a disappearing and deeply missed Dublin.
It will be a night to remember a city of street characters: Dancing Mary Margaret Dunne, Man on the bridge Arthur Fields, Pat Ingoldsby, Thom McGinty The Diceman, Pat Tierney and many the street busker, and more!
The event is free but booking is essential.
DJ Dandelion
DJ Dandelion is one of Dublin’s most recognizable selectors and vintage style icons. Renowned for spinning strictly vinyl 45s, she brings an incredible energy to the decks with a curated mix of uptempo Northern Soul and a classic soundtrack of anthems. Her signature analog sound has fueled legendary club nights like *Strictly Handbag*, regular slots at The Big Romance, and standout festival appearances at Beyond The Pale and Bealtaine.
Sinéad O’Brien
Sinéad, is an Irish theatre maker and storyteller wandering across Ireland, the United Kingdom and the European Union. She shares stories, works with local communities and helps others find their voice. Sinéad has performed to sell out audiences in Ireland, Edinburgh, London, Prague and Amsterdam. Hero/Banlaoch was shortlisted for Best of Fringe Award at Amsterdam Fringe 2022 and No One Is Coming was shortlisted for The Scotsman’s Mental Health Foundation Art Award and OffFest Award 2023. No One Is Coming had its New York, Off-Broadway earlier this year, supported by Culture Ireland. It won BEST PLAY 2025 at Origin Theatre’s 1st Irish Festival NYC.
‘Storytelling as it should be.’ Herald Scotland 2023
‘Sinead O’Brien is an incredible actress and has refined the art of storytelling.’ The Reviews Hub
Frank Shouldice
Frank, is a documentary maker who wrote/directed Once We Were Punks and the multi-award winning The Man Who Wanted To Fly. His work with with RTE Investigates includes Girls in Green (tracing historical abuse within Irish women’s soccer), Milking It (an exposé of the dairy industry) and Greyhounds; Running for their Lives. Born in Dublin he wrote Grandpa the Sniper in 2016 and has just published his first novel Beneath the Cedar Tree (Liffey Press).
Tony St Ledger
Tony is an Irish musician, songwriter based in Dublin, with a career spanning over 50 years in the Irish music scene. Guitarist in Trouble Pilgrims (formerly The Radiators from Space) with two highly acclaimed albums Dark Shadows and Rust and Blood Glass and Gasoline. New Solo LP Man on a Bridge is Out Now.
Steve O’Toole
A street stalking creative, poet, storyteller, artist, and the creative force behind The Write Stuff. Not one to sit on the fence, Steve firmly wears both his heart & mind on his sleeve, delivering forceful versed commentary by the page full. Originally performing in the mid 90’s as support to Irish writer ‘Pat Ingoldsby’. It was early 2023, when Steve returned after a far too long hiatus. Since then, he has gone on to read & perform at The International Literary Festival, The Dublin Arts & Human Rights Festival, The Bram Stoker Festival, Culture Nights, Craicly Stories, and curate & host The Write Stuff gatherings at The James Joyce Centre, Chapters Bookstore, and other city venues. Steve is currently preparing for the release of his first anthology, due Autumn 2026.
Culture Night/Oíche Chultúir is sponsored by the Arts Council.
The James Joyce Centre is supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport.