There was a time when it could be costly for a Waterford schoolboy to publicly display an interest in literature.
Playwright Jim Nolan once recalled how, when growing up in the city in the 1950s and 1960s, "if you got books in the library you'd be stopped by boys on your way back to John's Park and have to pay them a penny to get past".
The same John's Park estate where Nolan grew up also produced another of the city's best known writers, Sean Dunne, who died suddenly four years ago at the age of 39.
Although Dunne had settled in Cork and was more associated with that city in his adult years, he never forgot his Waterford roots - recalling them in eloquent detail in his 1991 memoir In My Father's Time - and his home city is equally determined it will never forget him.
This weekend, the Sean Dunne Literary Weekend will be held in the city for the third year and the event is expanding all the time. Highlights of the weekend include the presentation of the Waterford Corporation Young Writers' Awards in City Hall, readings in venues around the city by leading writers and poets, storytelling workshops for children aged eight to 13 and the launch of 10 creative writing workshops for young people (aged 13 to 18) facilitated by Waterford Youth Drama.
The corporation's arts officer, Mr Derek Verso, said since the writer's death it had been decided the best way to commemorate him would be by encouraging local young writers.
However, the event is not just for young people; lunchtime readings on Saturday at the Garter Lane Arts Centre by writers such as Jim Nolan and Dublin-based US novelist Janet Sahafi, for example, are open to all comers. Public readings will also be given by Leland Bardwell, Chris Agee, the poet Micheal O Siadhail and Anna Boner, winner of the Sean Dunne award last year.
Mr Verso says he hopes the event will "broaden out" in the coming years, with increasing public involvement. An anthology of work by Waterford writers is also in the pipeline.
The event, organised with the aid of commercial and State sponsorship, takes place on Friday and Saturday. Further information can be obtained from the arts office of Waterford Corporation at 051-309983.