It’s the most borrowed book in Cork libraries.

If you’re a bookworm, now is the time to get your hands on the Cork One City, One Book title for 2023.

Liberty Terrace by Madeleine D’Arcy features a bevy of characters who live in a fictional area of Cork City from 2016 to 2020. The residents of Liberty Terrace come and go, and their lives occasionally intersect in stories that are sometimes funny, sometimes dark, and 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.

“One City One Book creates a unique sense of place and celebrates the city and its people,” said Patricia Looney, Senior Executive Librarian, Cork City Libraries.

“It builds a sense of community throughout the city by encouraging everyone to read the same book.”

Madeleine D’Arcy said that, as a writer, her 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.” she added.

The One City, One Book 2023 programme will be launched in the Friary Bar on Sunday, May 28th at 3.30pm. Watch out for fringe events over the coming months including creative writing workshops with Madeleine, readings, and interviews.