Not all libraries consist of books. Each Sunday during the festival, a ‘human library’ of extraordinary people will gather at Tamp & Stitch, ready to tell their amazing stories. Why not ‘borrow’ one and enjoy a glimpse of another person’s world? Why not take out one of these humans books for half an hour between 2pm - 4pm.

Sunday 22 May

Suzanne O’Brien
As a young child, Suzanne and her brother were placed into care by their struggling mother (who sadly passed away before she was in a position to take them home again) but fortunately found their way to a loving home…courtesy of an advert in the Northside News!Jamie Carney Born with a birth defect that required him to use a prosthetic from the age of one, Jamie has lived his life with a feeling of positivity and determination to overcome the obstacles in his way – not so much the physical ones (he was walking at one and a half), but the attitudinal ones he faces in society. Simon Jameson Simon loves nothing more than the thrill of simulated battle, which he plays using an armoured wheelchair because a serious degenerative disease has slowly robbed him of control over his own body. His friends call him “Tank”.

Glenn Gannon
Glenn spent 3 years living on the streets until one New Year’s Eve a conversation with young woman, who spoke to him with kindness and compassion, gave him the courage to return to his family, rebuild his life and ultimately become the man who went from “Homeless to Hollywood”. Kristina L. GaffneyKristina developed a love of socialising and partying when she started her hairdressing apprenticeship at age 16, but, after several years of “wild” living, including 2 years in a toxic relationship, her feelings of depression and anxiety gave way to deep happiness when she started to focus on Buddhist teachings and a new, healthier way of looking at the world – and herself.

Sun 29 May

Kifah Jamiaan
Before coming to Dublin to join his father (who worked for 10 years to gain Irish citizenship), Kifah grew up in a Palestinian refugee camp with his mother and sisters, where they faced brutal and humiliating treatment on a daily basis under Israeli occupation, suffering the death of many friends and loved ones along the way.

Niamh O’Donoghue
Niamh is an exemplar of self-belief and determination; both of which she had to bring to bear when she was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 13, and again, more recently, when she was diagnosed with aggressive thyroid cancer. Having survived this, she is a vocal in encouraging women to accept, respect and love their body.

Nicole Winther
Nicole was born in Denmark and, until adulthood lived as a male, only to realise, when moving to Dublin, that she was a woman born in the wrong body – in other words, Nicole now identifies as transgender and undergoes hormone treatment, with plans to complete a sex change operation in the near-term. A difficult journey, but one that Nicole is pleased to be on because it finally feels like the right one for her.

Michael Finn
Michael had a heart attack that sent him into a coma, in which he died three times in the course of five weeks. Having survived that, he now has a newfound commitment to living life to the full and is enjoying working through his bucket list.