Djamel White In Conversation: Letterpress, Literature and Dublin Stories

At the National Print Museum, Beggars Bush Barracks, Haddington Road, Dublin 4, literature meets craft in a two-hour evening that foregrounds storytelling, typography and the tactile rhythms of the printing press. Djamel White In Conversation centers on All Them Dogs, the debut novel that earned a 2026 Booker Prize longlist nod, and pairs the author’s discussion with live letterpress demonstrations and visual responses led by artist Anthony Burrill. The combination is rare in Dublin: a working museum floor where presses clack and an author walks listeners through urban scenes, syntax and memory. Arrive early and explore the museum’s permanent exhibition and archive of type and machinery; the room is set up to show not only finished books but the equipment that made them. The event moves between lecture-style conversation and up-close printmaking, so expect to watch handset type being composed, inked and run through a platen, and to hear both the hum of conversation and the satisfying metallic thump of a press. The ground-floor space is fully accessible, and the adjoining Café and Museum Shop make it easy to linger afterward. What makes this evening special for visitors to Dublin is the pairing of contemporary fiction with a living craft: letterpress printing is an analogue counterpoint to the book’s modern urban voice, and the museum’s collection lets you trace text back to technique. The setting itself—Beggars Bush Barracks—frames the event in Dublin history while the talk focuses on present-day city life and literary craft. Practical details: the session runs roughly two hours, and booking is essential; check the event link to reserve a ticket. Expect a mixed audience of readers, designers, students and local arts patrons. Photography during the print demonstrations is usually welcomed but confirm with staff if flash is permitted; quiet voices and no food near the presses are standard etiquette. Accessibility is clear: ground-floor entry and facilities are available, with access via the Café. This is a low‑effort, high-engagement outing for anyone visiting Dublin who wants more than a passive reading—those who like to see how words physically arrive on paper, who enjoy small venues and close-up craft demos. It’s an ideal after‑work cultural stop or a highlight for weekend city itineraries, and it makes for an intimate evening where conversation, ink and Dublin converge in a room full of letterforms. Tickets are priced at €18 with €15 concession; advance booking is recommended through the event page. The format suits book clubs, design students and visitors seeking close encounters with craft. After the talk pick up a poster or small print from the Museum Shop to support conservation work that keeps Dublin’s printing heritage visible. Plan 30 minutes before or after to browse exhibits and the café.