Inishbofin Arts Festival

Poetry Reading at Inishbofin Library.
5.00pm Saturday May 13th 2006

Eugene O’Connell, poet and editor, from Kiskeam in North West Cork will read from his own work, and will read from translations which he has made from the work of the Latvian and Hungarian poets. Eugene has released two collections, Chapters of Little Times and One Clear Call.

In order to provide opportunities for participation, after the reading there will be an Open Mic event. At this any visiting poets, aspiring poets, writers, and other performers are welcome to join us to share their work or art.

Eugene O’Connell is currently compiling a new anthology of Irish poetry to be published as souvenir of Cork City of Culture 2005.

Easter in Inishbofin

Local children at an Easter event in Inishbofin Branch Library

Opening of new library in Headford

Councillor Pat Hynes, Mayor of the County of Galway, officially opened the new Headford Library, on Wednesday 5th April 2006. In the course of his opening address the Mayor thanked the local area councillors, Councillor Fidelma Healy-Eames, Councillor Jarlath McDonagh, Councillor Jim Cuddy, and especially Councillor Mary Hoade for ensuring the provision of the library in Headford.

Galway County Council first established a library service in Headford back in the 1950s. The Mayor pointed out that for many years the service was in the capable hands of Nora Fitzgerald. Nora was librarian until 1988, and many people were delighted to welcome Nora to the opening reception. All of the library staff have very fond memories of Nora. She was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Maureen Moran, Executive Librarian with the County Library Service.

The Mayor welcomed the new Headford librarian Edel Talbot. “Edel, through her hard work and imagination, has already succeeded in making the library an important part of all that goes on here in Headford,” said the Mayor. To date over 490 children and over 300 adults have registered as members of the library.

The Mayor had a special word of thanks for the Parish Priest, Fr James O’Grady, who has given the project every support.
And he thanked the Parish Hall Committee for their hard work and imagination work in bringing the project to fruition
The Mayor had a special word for John Newell and his team. “More than anyone else, John Newell led the way in providing the beautiful space in which the library is housed today. John deserves all our congratulations,” said the Mayor.

Preparation for Driver Theory Test

This four week programme is currently being run by the VEC in conjunction with Inishbofin Branch Library. The aim of this course is to help people prepare for the Driver Theory Test by becoming familiar with the books and C.D.s used in the preparation period. The tutor, Dee Negus, will cover form filling, preparation skills and test format during the coming weeks. This is the second year that this course has been offered on Inishbofin and has been very well attended on both occasions.

April is Poetry Month

The concept of April as Poetry Month - a celebration of poetry - was established by the Academy of American Poets.
The idea is to increase the attention paid to the art of poetry, to living poets, to poetic heritage, and to poetry books.
In order to introduce more people to the pleasures of reading poetry, the public are invited to take home a free poem each day from the poetry stand in Galway City Library.
The idea is based on the initiative by the distinguished publishers Alfred A. Knopf who are posting a free poem each day via e-mail. You may subscribe to the service by logging on to: http://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/poetry/poemaday
Visit Galway City Library for the printed versions of the poem-a-day and browse among our selection of several hundred poetry books.
And remember that April is very much poetry month in Galway with the Cúirt Festival taking place between April 25th and April 30th.
And April 23rd is World Book Day.

April is Poetry Month

The concept of April as Poetry Month - a celebration of poetry - was established by the Academy of American Poets.
The idea is to increase the attention paid to the art of poetry, to living poets, to poetic heritage, and to poetry books.
In order to introduce more people to the pleasures of reading poetry, the public are invited to take home a free poem each day from the poetry stand in Galway City Library.
The idea is based on the initiative by the distinguished publishers Alfred A. Knopf who are posting a free poem each day via e-mail. You may subscribe to the service by logging on to: http://www.randomhouse.com/knopf/poetry/poemaday
Visit Galway City Library for the printed versions of the poem-a-day and browse among our selection of several hundred poetry books.
And remember that April is very much poetry month in Galway with the Cúirt Festival taking place between April 25th and April 30th.
And April 23rd is World Book Day.

Eyrecourt Library

The Public Library in Eyrecourt is housed former the St. John the Baptist School House and the building is shared with the Eyrecourt Select Vestry.

Under the direction of the Librarian, Ms Laura Flynn, the library gives a real service – it is a space which is alive, anyone can come in, and find the world, both through the book stock and the internet, and you may photocopy anything and take it home with you.

The Library is available for exhibitions and lectures.

Each year the library runs a Children's Book Week. Last year (October 2005) the programme included a visit by the storyteller Danielle Allison who gave an excellent performance and was very popular with the children.

The library host regular visits by the teachers and classes of Eyrecourt National School.

The library houses a collection of local history material relating to the Eyrecourt and Clonfert area.

The library is open every Friday and Saturday between 11.00am and 1.00pm, and every Tuesday and Thursday between 2.00pm and 4.00pm. The library is open late each Wednesday from 6.00pm to 6.00pm.

For further information you may contact Eyrecourt Library by e-mail: eyrecourtlibrary@eircom.net
The telephone number of the library is: (090) 9675056

Our photograph shows two students of librarianship, Heike Albrecht from Germany and Julie-Claude Alibert from France, during a visit to Eyrecourt Library.

New poetry from Cúirt visitors at Galway City Library

GALWAY PUBLIC LIBRARIES - FOR BOOKS AND IDEAS
Readers may be interested in the following books which have been added to stock at Galway City Library

The Poetry of Arab Women: a contemporary anthology, edited by Nathalie Handal
“She doesn't understand what it means to be "guilty." She waits at the prison's door until she sees him to tell him "Take care," as she used to remind him when he was going to school.” Dunya Mikhail
Eighty-two Arab women poets from all over the world are gathered in this highly charged, stunning anthology. Includes work by Dunya Mikhail (left) who reads at Cúirt on Thurs April 27th. Born in Baghdad in 1965, Mikhail was a witness to two wars: the Iraq-Iran war and the Gulf War. Her work rings dark truths about the devastation of such events.

By the Sea, by Abdulrazak Gurnah
Saleh Omar arrives in England from Zanzibar as a refugee. Gurnah indicates the destructiveness of pride and the divergence of memory and truth. His portrayal of everyday immigrant life and quiet Muslim piety makes this a gentle, enjoyable read. Gurnah treats his characters like old friends, accepting their faults to see the dignity beneath. Don't miss this man when he comes to Cúirt on April 26th.

We Need to Talk About Kevin, by Lionel Shriver
Kevin, the son of a smart, sceptical New Yorker, massacres seven of his schoolmates and a teacher at his upstate New York high school. Shriver, a gifted journalist as well as the author of seven novels, brings to the story a keen understanding of the intricacies of marital and parental relationships as well as a narrative pace that is both compelling and thoughtful. Shriver reads at Cúirt on April 27th.

For the magic of books and the joy of reading, we invite you to visit your local Galway Public Library

Work on extension to Clifden Library has commenced

Construction on an extension to Clifden Library commenced on January 3rd 2006. The extension will provide a space for cultural and arts activities and events. The project is being funded by The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism.

During the final stage of construction it will be necessary to close Clifden Library to the public.

During the library closure period, Galway County Council will take the opportunity to carry out some refurbishment to the library itself.

The Library is expected to be closed for a period of five weeks commencing in early May.

There has been a public library in Clifden for over 50 years. The existing building opened to the public in 1979. As well as providing books and reading materials for adults and children, the library has over the last twenty year period also functioned as a meeting place for cultural and artistic activities.

When the Library and Art Space opens in early summer it is expected that the public will have access to a much improved facility.

Headford Library to be officially opened on Wednesday, 5th of April

On Wednesday 5th April 2006 at 6.30pm, Councillor Pat Hynes, Mayor of the County of Galway, will officially open the new Headford Branch Library. The new library is situated in St. Fursa’s Parish Hall, and the library shares the parish building with a theatre and other community facilities.

The support which Fr James O’Grady, Parish Priest and his committee have given to this project is very much appreciated by Galway County Council.

The County Library Service would also like to acknowledge the excellent work done by John Newell and his team. More than anyone else, John Newell led the way in providing the beautiful space in which the library is housed today. John deserves all our congratulations.

Edel Talbot is our librarian in Headford. Since Edel took up duty 493 children and 311 adults have registered as members of the Headford Library.

Europe Direct Relay Point launched in Ballinasloe Library

On Thursday March 30th, Councillor Pat Hynes, Mayor of the County of Galway, officially launched the Europe Direct Relay Point in Ballinasloe Library.

The special guests for the occasion, Johanna Finnerty, Head of Public Information Centre, in the European Commission Office in Dublin, and Susan O’Toole from An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, were welcomed to the Library by Mary Dillon, Librarian, Ballinasloe Library.

Mary Dillon and her staff delivered an event which was full of interest, was enjoyable to all who came, had momentum, and was presented in a highly informative and colourful way.

The Europe Direct service provides a whole range of free publications, brochures and guides relating the EU, and provides access to Europe by Satellite and to various EU websites.

The Mayor, in welcoming the initiative, said it would enable the EU to communicate with its citizens in a way which is understandable and relevant to the man on the street.
He quoted Margot Wallström, Vice President of the European Commission, who pointed out 450 million Europeans now and “we are magnificently diverse. We share a marvelous Europe-wide cultural heritage - from the ancient Greek and Roman world, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Enlightenment down to the present.”

The Ballinasloe Public Library wishes to provide that sense of Europe, using both the EU information and its own library books, CDs and materials in various formats.

Pictured above are left to right - Johanna Finnerty, Head of Public Information Centre, in the European Commission Office in Dublin, Pat McMahon Galway County Librarian, Kevin Kelly, Director of Services, Galway County Council, and, seated, Councillor Pat Hynes, Mayor of the County of the County of Galway.

John McGahern, writer, born November 12 1934; died March 30 2006

John McGahern, who has died from cancer, aged 71, was arguably the most important Irish novelist since Samuel Beckett. Although he had many rivals in the field of short story writing (most notably William Trevor), his novels The Barracks (1963), The Dark (1965), The Leavetaking (1974), The Pornographer (1979), Amongst Women (1990), shortlisted for the Booker prize, and That They May Face the Rising Sun (2002) constitute a portrait of a society moving from insular repression (in the earlier writing) towards freedom and self-confidence (in the latter).
McGahern's second novel, "The Dark," a coming-of-age story published in 1965, was banned in Ireland and denounced from the pulpit as pornographic. McGahern was forced to quit his teaching job in a Catholic school and left Ireland. He resettled near his childhood home five years later and wrote his two most celebrated works, "Amongst Women" - nominated for Britain's Booker Prize in 1990 - and "That They May Face the Rising Sun" in 2002.
He received many honours, including the Irish-American Foundation award, the Irish Times/Aer Lingus fiction prize and an honorary doctorate from Trinity College Dublin, and was a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres. In 2003, he donated his archive, including the manuscript of an unpublished novel, to University College Galway.
McGahern died in a Dublin hospital.