Dublin is bidding to be the World Book Capital for 2007, it has been revealed.
The City Council today said it had submitted a bid to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to host a series of literary and book-related events, aimed at creating a national and international focus on the city.
Highlights of the submission include the International IMPAC Literary Award, the world's richest prize for a single work of fiction and the Dublin Writer's Festival.
Lord Mayor Michael Conaghan said the event "upholds our standing in an international literary context".
The book trade, academic institutions, libraries and other relevant organisations are supporting the submission.
Other cities bidding include: Vienna, Amsterdam, Bogota, Coimbra in Portugal and the Argentinean city of Rosario.
Montreal in Canada is the current holder and Turin is the designated city for 2006.