Ballybane Library Annual Chess Tournament 2009

A very successful chess tournament was played out recently in Ballybane Library. Three Schools- Briarhill, St. Michael’s and Gaelscoil Dara entered two teams of 4 children. Each child played as individuals for first, second and third places. Then
the top four scores from each school were totalled to get an overallwinner for the perpetual trophy.

After five rounds of chess the following were declared the winners.
Overall winner on 5 points Matthew Kilgannon - Briarhill National School.

Runner up on 4 points Alan Duggan – Briarhill National School
Third place on 4 points Andreas Kozlous – St Michael’s Boys National School.
Team winners on 16 points– Briarhill N.S.
Hot on their heels with 13 ½ points - St Michael’s Boys N.S.

Quest Seeker's prize-giving in Tuam Library

Summer Reading Challenge Prize-giving:

On Saturday 26^th September, 270 children received certificates for completing the Summer Reading Challenge. The certificates were presented by Mayor Tom McHugh.
422 children participated in The Summer Reading Quest Seekers Challenge and 60 children took part in a challenge for 3-5 year olds ‘Read With Me’.
Due to the large numbers of children receiving certificates, three prize-giving sessions took place over the day.

Children’s Book Festival 2009

Children’s Book Festival, the national celebration of children’s books and literature, is held during the month of October. Galway County Libraries are celebrating with events in a number of Branch Libraries.

Galway City Library hosted a number of events in conjunction with Baboro. Wendy Hayes told stories from Woodpecker Wood , Tuesday 13^th Oct -- Sat 17^th Oct. Classes from Local schools attended the performances.
Brian Moses, one of Britain’s favourite poets entertained children in Westside Library on Wednesday 14^th at 3.30pm. The event was very well attended.
Megan Sayres, an American writer, author of Anahita’s Woven Riddle, spoke to children in Westside and Ballybane.
Portumna Library has an interesting list of imaginative art and craft competitions. They also have activities from Monday 19^th to Friday 23^rd such as Jenga, Table Quiz, Shadow Puppetry with Hayley Aldous, Nature Collage Workshop with Marie, Teddy Bear’s Picnic and Fancy Dress on Friday.
Tuam Library have storytelling session on the 21^st and 22^nd and two sessions with Kate Mc Mahon, local children’s author on the 23^rd. Halloween is celebrated on the Thursday 29^th with spooky stories and arts and crafts. They also have art, poetry and short story competitions.
Roundstone Library had a Fancy dress party with ghost stories on Friday 17^th at 12am.
Eyrecourt Library celebrated with a Junior and Senior Table Quiz, Jenga and Draughts. Junior and Senior Infants enjoyed Nursery Rhymes and Stories.

October Events in Gort Public Library

Music & Poetry 8pm Friday 23^rd October:

An evening of poetry and music with Australian poets, Alison Croggon and Robert Gray accompanied by local string quartet, Shan-walla from Coole Music. Organised in association with the Western Writers’ Centre and the Australian Poetry Society.

Art Exhibition by local artist, Heidi Reich (pictured, left) runs until end October.

Children’s Book Festival 2.30pm-4.30pm Saturday 31^st October

Children’s Book Festival Hallowe’en Party. Children’s string quartet, Kyle-na-no from Coole Music will perform at the party and there will be face painting, fun and games. Come along in Fancy-Dress!

World Mental Health in Ballinasloe library

Positive Ageing Week in Ballybane Library

Positive Ageing Week was officially launched in Ballybane Library, by the Mayor of Galway City, Cllr. Declan McDonnell,

and the Deputy Mayor of Galway County, Cllr. Bridie Willers.

A full programme of events to celebrate the week was held around the city and county. The Age Action 2009 Positive Ageing Photography Exhibition was displayed in Ballybane Library from Friday 18^{th September}

^{to Saturday 3rd October. One of the photographs on display features our}

^{esteemed colleague, Máire Breathnach,branchlibrarian in Spiddal. The photo}

^{also features Máire’s husband Padraic andgrandchildren, and was taken while on}

^{holidays in Seattle ,Washington.}

Creative Writers from the “Journeys” Creative Writing Group read from their work. The “Journeys” Creative Writers meet in

Galway city library . Music and refreshments were provided.

Photo 1: Máire Breathnach and her daughter Mairead

Photo 2: Mrs Carmel Sheeran reading . Mr Michael Lynskey, King of

the Claddagh, in the background

Photo 3:Mr Gerry McGough, ESB Customer

Supply, Mayor of Galway city, Cllr. Declan

McDonnell, King of the Claddagh

Mr. Michael Lynskey at the microphone, Pete

Mullineaux, Tutor, Journeys Creative Writing Classes

Arts Week in Clifden Library

The longest running community arts festival in Ireland, Clifden Community Arts Week, now in its 32^nd year took place this year between September 17th - 27th.

Showcasing the best of national and international poetry, drama, artists and writers. Some of the visitors to the library are featured below.

Top: Library Staff member Bernie Jeffries with Seamus Heaney

Artist Alanah Robins with Gerard Smyth launching her sculpture 'Owenglen River' in the library.

Bottom: Members of Galway Arts Centre

Poetry workshop.

Sean & Rosalind Coyne performing their Dramatic Recital fromSynge's Aran Islands.

Cinema in Gort Library

GORT VIBES CINEMA CLUB

Where: Gort Public Library

Doors open @ 8 pm

24th September. The Visitor (2008)

Sixty-two-year-old Walter Vale (Jenkins) is sleepwalking through his life. Having lost his passion for teaching and writing, When his college sends him to Manhattan to attend a conference, Walter is surprised to find a young couple has taken up residence in his apartment. Victims of a real estate scam, have

nowhere else to go. In the first of a series of tests of the heart, Walter reluctantly allows the couple to stay with him.

Language: English. By Tom McCarthy.

15th October. Quiet Chaos (2008)

A gentle psychological drama directed by Antonello Grimaldi. Moretti stars as Pietro, a film executive whose life takes an irreversible and devastating turn one fateful morning. During a trip to the beach with his brother, Pietro's path intersects with that of a woman, Eleonora who is drowning in the ocean; horrified, Pietro rushes in to save her. He subsequently returns home only to discover that his wife, Lara, just died in a nasty falling accident. Language: Italian, English subtitles By Antonello Grimaldi.

26th November. Lemon Tree (2008)

A multifaceted drama straddling the Palestinian-Israeli divide that's full of irony, generosity, anger and pure crowd-pleasing optimism. Setting is Zur HaSharon, on the Israel-West Bank border, where handsome 45-year-old widow Salma Zidane from a Palestinian village, has a lemon grove her father planted half a century ago. When smooth new Israeli Defense Minister Israel Navon decide to build an upscale new house for him and his wife Mira right up against the grove, on the Israeli side of the fence. Salma's lemon trees are deemed a defense risk. Language: Arabic, Hebrew with English subtitles. Director:Eran Ricklis.