The Rathmines Writers’ Workshop was founded in 1990.  The group was formed with the aim of encouraging creative writing amongst the community in the greater Rathmines area. The first meeting took place in Rathmines Library in the centre of Rathmines.      Workshops in earlier years took place at local libraries, the Rathmines Inn and the Terenure Inn. 

The workshop’s earliest members included James Conway, Warren O’Connell, Eithne Cavanagh, Mary Guckian and Sinead McDevitt.

            The first anthology of poetry by the group was edited by Rosemary Rowley and entitled Extended Wings 1. It was launched in 1993 in Portobello.  In 1994 a second book, Extended Wings 2, was launched in Ranelagh.  It included a number of more established writers including Mary O’Donnell, Fintan Murphy and others.

            Other books followed - Extended Wings 3 and 4, Quartet, Quintet and A Fist Full of Stories. Other books by individual writers associated with the group have been published by Swan Press.  These include anthologies by Mary Guckian, Eithne Cavanagh, Warren O’Connell, Christine Broe, Kate Davis and others.  See the Publications page for more details.

            All these books were published by the Swan Press, a Press located in Ringsend which is linked to the workshop. The press is directed by Mary Guckian.

            Public readings performed at venues around the city have also been a regular feature of the workshop’s activities.  Venues have included the Irish Writers’ Centre, the James Joyce Centre and public libraries.  In June 2000 the workshop celebrated their 10^th anniversary with a memorable public reading performed at the Mansion House in Dublin. Guest speakers at the event included Michael O’Flanagan of Riposte, Liam O’Meara of The Francis Ledwidge Society, Peter Finnegan of Community Affairs at Dublin City Council and others