This evening the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) will be one of 12 hosts of European Literature Night. The event, entitled ‘Words on the Street', will involve well known people reading from contemporary pieces of writing in 12 locations around the city of Dublin. Identical events will simultaneously take place in 12 other European cities on the night. Readings will take place in the Front Hall at 123 St Stephen's Green at 6.30pm.

Dublin actor, Eamon Morrisey (Fair City, Father Ted) will read at from ‘Small Changes in Attitude' by Romanian medic-turned-writer, Razvan Petrescu at the College. A number of other familiar faces will take part in the readings across Dublin city on the night including actress Rosaleen Linehan, Naoise Ó Muirí (Lord Mayor of Dublin), Ray Foley (98FM DJ), Rick O'Shea (2FM DJ), and Sinead Desmond & Mark Cagney (both of TV3's Ireland AM) to name but a few.

RCSI will join a number of other locations in Dublin, including Stephen's Green Hibernian Club, the Little Museum of Dublin, Taylor Galleries, Boston College, 6 Ely Place, Loreto College, The Sugar Club, Iveagh House, Newman House and Newman University Church.

First launched in Prague, European Literature Night has now become a major international event promoting European cultural heritage by presenting both well-known and new contemporary writers to the broader European public.

The 12 participating countries (along with Ireland) are Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Spain and the UK. Each country will be represented by a short piece (translated) from a novel, poem or short story which will be read every 30 minutes. Therefore people can wander from venue to venue in each participating city, taking the in readings. The first reading in each location will commence at 6.30pm and is repeated on the hour and half hour with the final reading at 9pm.

A map and information booklet showing the location of the venues with information about the readers and readings is available from libraries in Dublin, Failte Ireland tourist offices, National Library and in the venues themselves.