Superstars at Chapters Dublin: A Week of Legends, Stories, and Songs

Once upon a time, if you wanted to see cultural giants up close, you tuned into The Late Late Show. You sat at home, waiting for that magical Friday night lineup, and hoped you might catch a glimpse of your heroes. Tickets? Forget it. They were gold dust.

Now, in 2025, you don’t have to wait for TV magic. We’re throwing open the doors of Chapters Bookstore on Parnell Street and saying: come on in. No velvet rope. No waiting list. Just walk into Ireland’s biggest independent bookstore and spend an evening with writers, musicians, and icons whose work you already know, love, and admire.

Because bookshops are more than places to buy books. They’re where you curl up in a chair and read, where you stumble upon gems you didn’t know you needed, where you meet people who share your passions (or debate with people who don’t), and sometimes - just sometimes - where you get to sit ten feet away from someone who has shaped your imagination.

This October, Chapters Dublin is that place. And the lineup is nothing short of extraordinary.

 

Wednesday 8 October – Donal Fallon launches The Dublin Pub

Dublin historian Donal Fallon is not just a historian - he’s a conjurer. Best known for his acclaimed podcast Three Castles Burning and a string of bestselling, critically acclaimed books, Fallon has a rare gift: he makes the past burst with life.

His latest work, The Dublin Pub, is a love letter to one of the city’s greatest institutions. It’s about more than pints - it’s about people, politics, poetry, rebellion, and ritual. Dublin pubs are where revolutions were plotted, where songs were written, and where history leaned against the bar.

On Wednesday 8th, Fallon launches the book here at Chapters. This isn’t a dry academic event. It’s history with swagger. A launch party Dublin-style. And if you think you already know the pub, wait until Fallon shows you what you’ve missed.

 

Saturday 11 October, 6.30pm – Christopher Golden in conversation with David Merriman

This one’s historic: Christopher Golden, New York Times–bestselling and Bram Stoker Award–winning master of horror, comes to Ireland for the very first time.

Golden has been shaping the landscape of horror for decades:

  • Novels like Ararat, Road of Bones, and Snowblind that keep readers awake at night.
  • Comics such as Baltimore, co-created with Mike Mignola (Hellboy).
  • Collaborations with Stephen King and other legends.
  • Film tie-ins, anthologies, and stories that push the genre forward.

But here’s the twist: Golden won’t be alone. He’ll be in conversation with David Merriman, Dublin-based filmmaker and cultural commentator. Merriman co-created Re-Creation (2025) with Jim Sheridan - the daring, hybrid courtroom drama reimagining the Sophie Toscan du Plantier case, premiered at Tribeca. Known for his sharp wit and fearless questioning, Merriman is the perfect interviewer for a writer like Golden.

Together, they promise an evening that’s chilling, revealing, and utterly unforgettable.

For horror fans, this is the equivalent of seeing your favourite band in a small backroom gig instead of an arena. Christopher Golden’s first-ever Irish appearance. In the heart of Dublin. In your local bookshop. It doesn’t get bigger.

 

Sunday 12 October, 2pm – Peter Moore

If you’ve ever laced up Reebok trainers, powered on an Xbox, or sung “You’ll Never Walk Alone” at Anfield, you already know the legacy of Peter Moore.

Moore’s career reads like a cultural history of the past four decades:

  • At Reebok, he turned sneakers into a global phenomenon.
  • At Xbox, he redefined gaming and helped millions connect.

·       At Liverpool FC, he led one of the world’s most beloved clubs through triumph and transformation - overseeing an era that brought the UEFA Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup, and, after 30 long years, the Premier League trophy back to Anfield.

And yet, for all his influence, Moore remains grounded, funny, and deeply connected to community. He founded the Peter Moore Foundation, supporting hospitals, cancer research, and projects tackling food poverty and social isolation. Alongside his wife Debbie, he became an Honorary Life President of Fans Supporting Foodbanks, a volunteer movement fighting hunger on Liverpool’s streets. And in recent years, he’s lent his expertise as an advisor to Wrexham AFC’s new owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, helping to shape the club’s extraordinary rebirth story.

On Sunday 12th, he joins us at Chapters to share insights, stories, and lessons from a life lived at the top of sport, gaming, and business which he has chronicled in his new book Game Changer.

For fans of business innovation, sports culture, or gaming history, this is a rare opportunity to hear from a global icon - not in Davos, not in Silicon Valley, but right here in Dublin.

 

Thursday 16 October, 7pm – Ruthanne

Rounding out the week is Ireland’s own Ruthanne - a singer, songwriter, and powerhouse performer whose career has already left a huge mark on global pop music.

You may not realise it, but you already know her work. Ruthanne has written hit songs for:
• Britney Spears (Work Bitch)
• Niall Horan (Slow Hands)
• Westlife (Hello My Love)
• JoJo (Too Little Too Late)

Her writing credits stretch across multiple Grammy-nominated albums, she’s worked with the likes of John Legend and Martin Garrix, and her songs have been streamed hundreds of millions of times. Her work has topped charts around the world, proving she’s as much a hitmaker behind the scenes as she is a force on stage.

But Ruthanne isn’t just a songwriter for other stars - she’s a star in her own right. Her debut album Matters of the Heart showcased her soulful, unforgettable voice and established her as one of Ireland’s most compelling performers. She has won praise across the industry for her honesty, her storytelling, and her ability to blend pop with depth and heart.

On Thursday 16th at Chapters, Ruthanne takes to the stage to talk about her new book It’s Not Just a Song in conversation. Expect laughter, stories, music, and an intimate look at the journey of a woman who has gone from Dublin to the world stage.

A rare evening up close with an artist who has written the soundtrack to so many moments in our lives - and who continues to redefine what Irish pop can be.

 

Why it matters

This isn’t just a lineup. It’s a statement about what bookshops in Dublin can be.

At Chapters, we believe bookshops are places of magic. They’re not only where you buy books - they’re where you discover new voices, debate old favourites, and sometimes, meet the people who have inspired you.

For one incredible week in October, you can sit a few feet away from a historian, a horror master, a business legend, and a pop star - not on a screen, not in an arena, but in Dublin’s own independent bookstore.

There’s no Late Late ticket scramble. No waiting by the TV. Just you, your heroes, and your bookshop.

So come along. Be part of it. This is more than a week of events - it’s a reminder of why we love stories, songs, and the people who create them. And it’s happening right here, at Chapters Bookstore, Parnell Street, Dublin.