Brendan Behan Celebration & Plaque Unveiling at Behan Square

Update, 6 February 2026: The indoor portion of this event is now booked out.

Join us on February 7th, 2026, as Dublin City Council unveils a commemorative plaque in honour of Brendan Behan at Behan Square, Russell Street!

This special event coincides with Brendan Behan’s 103rd birthday and promises a day filled with poetry, music, storytelling, and celebration. Fighting Words is proud to host a vibrant programme of events to honour Behan’s legacy and his deep connection to Dublin at our main centre in Behan Square, the site of his childhood home.

Event Schedule

11:00am – Plaque Unveiling - Russell Street

• Lord Mayor of Dublin unveils the plaque 
• Brendan Behan’s life and times - remarks from the Dublin City Council Heritage Office
• Guest speakers 
  • Filmmaker and Fighting Words chair Alan Gilsenan
  • Guy and Rupert Walker, Brendan Behan’s grandsons
  • Readings by writers Peter Sheridan and Paula Meehan 

11:35am – Music & Poetry in the Courtyard, Behan Square

• Theo Dorgan introduces special musical guests in The Auld Triangle.
• Des Geraghty performs The Captains and the Kings.

Refreshments, with teas and coffees provided by Russell Street Bakery, courtesy of Dublin City Council.

12:00pm– Storytelling & Readings, Fighting Words Centre

• Jack Lynch performs Brendan Behan’s Turn for a Neighbour.
• Roddy Doyle reads passage of Borstal Boy. 
• Story Slam: Ten authors from Write Club, the Fighting Words community of teen writers, share their stories, poems, and songs about Dublin.

12:30pm – Film Screening: The Spirit of Brendan Behan

• Introduced by Jack Lynch.
• A 30-minute film by Stephen Dwoskin, exploring Behan’s life and writing through performances by Jack Lynch, Ger Ryan, and Joe Savino.
• Documentary made in 1990

1:00pm – Stories & Songs About Brendan Behan

• Theo Dorgan reads Bortsal in Irish and English.
• Des Geraghty reads A Jackeen Laments The Blaskets in Irish and English, accompanied by a piper.
• Music performance

1:30pm – Film & Song: The Laughing Boy

• Introduced by Theo Dorgan.
• A film by Alan Gilsenan, tracing the journey of Behan’s song The Laughing Boy - written in honour of Michael Collins - into To Yelasto Paidi, the anthem of the Greek resistance against the military junta. Features legendary singer Maria Farantouri and a haunting score by Eleni Karaindrou.

NOW BOOKED OUT! Due to demand, our RSVP list for the indoor events is now full.

Join Us!

This event is a celebration of Brendan Behan’s enduring spirit, his words and his love for Dublin. Whether you’re a long time fan or new to his work, come and be part of this special day.

Location: Behan Square, Russell Street, Dublin 1

Date & Time: February 7th, 2026, 11:00am - 3.00pm

For more information, contact Fighting Words at info@fightingwords.ie

The Brendan Behan Celebration is sponsored with the generous support of Dublin City Council.

Story Slam is supported by the Amazon Literary Partnership