Bealtaine Festival Event in Tuam Library

The Bealtaine festival is Ireland’s ground-breaking celebration of creativity in older age.

Bealtaine means ‘May’ with all of its associations of fresh starts, emergence and renewal. From 1st to 31st May nationwide, there are opportunities for you to get involved, to try something different and to simply enjoy yourself. It is a chance to meet people, make something new, set your own challenge or share a tradition across the generations.

An Age & Opportunity initiative, the Bealtaine festival is Ireland’s biggest collaborative arts festival, and it enjoys an international reputation. It unites communities and

diverse organisations all over the country. In the last 16 years, it has grown to include libraries, museums, care settings, active retirement groups, national cultural organisations and local authority arts offices.

Kitchen Readings in Westside and Ballybane

In conjunction with Galway Library Service, Westside and Ballybane Libraries, Cúirt hosted Kitchen Readings in a number of homes in Galway City residential areas during the week of the festival. Dublin poet Yvonne Cullen visited three houses in Westside and three houses in Ballybane during the week of Cúirt. Yvonne was accompanied by musicians and these informal gatherings were be open to all.

Press play on the player to the right to get a flavour of what happened at these events.

Headford Library

12 interesting new books for younger readers which have just been added to stock in the Headford Library. Included are:

Sleepover at Gramma’s House. By Barbara Joosse. It’s hard to imagine a book about a grandmother-grandchild relationship that has more love, heart, and just plain silliness than this adorable offering.

Snook Alone. By Marilyn Nelson. After being separated from his master on a remote atoll, a little terrier dog becomes a reluctant explorer, finding delight and wonder amid his melancholy. Challenging but gorgeous poetry is matched by equally breathtaking paintings.

Bobbie Sparrow runs a story time in Headford Library for small children (babies-in-arms to 5 year olds) every Tuesday afternoon at 2.30pm. Bobbie has been running this story time successfully since 2004. It is a wonderful opportunity for parents to introduce their children to reading and language in a fun way

The top photograph shows the selection of books being displayed by Ms. Edel Talbot, Librarian, Headford Library, with Lucie Santona and Nicolas Milliere, who are both students of librarianship from the University of Dijon in France and who are on an internship with Galway County Library.

The bottom photograph children’s storyteller Ms. Bobbie Sparrow enjoying some of the new books with the children who attend her regular storytime in Headford Library.

April Exhibition in Galway City Library

Limerick based artist and designer Paul Weerasekera.
is a self taught artist and has been painting for over 30 years. He has a degree in "Architecture and interior design" which he obtained in the U.K. but
gave up a lucrative career to pursue his first love, Painting.

He prefers the challenge of painting portraits, landscapes and imaginative pieces. He likes to experiment with color, light, texture and proportion.

His work will be on show in the City Library for the month of April.

East Galway Art Trail 2011 in Woodford and Ballinasloe/ED Libraries

The 4th East Galway Art Trail continues with further exhibitions in Ballinsloe and Woodford libraries. The Art Trail is a project organized by Ballinasloe artist Joyce Little and the staff of Galway County Library who live and work in the East Galway region of Ballinasloe, Portumna, Killimor, Eyrecourt and Woodford.

Exhibition by John Soden in Ballinasloe Library on 6th April@7.30pm.
John works in the medium of paint. In his paintings he brings to life everyday scenes through the exploration of colour and its application to the canvas. His subject matter deals with people in various settings, be it street scene,horse fair or market place.He uses oil paint which allows him to layer on the paint in different stages to give depth and a rich vibrant colour. He is mainly self taught and has had a passion for art since childhood.

Exhibition by Peter Kelehan in Woodford Library on 13th April@7.30pm.
Peter works in the medium of paint, print and mixed media. A talented artist, he is inspired by the city of Galway,in which he lives and by his environment....in particular, the beauty of Galway Bay and its boats ,especially the Galway Hooker. Peter is committed to a sense of place and he is a graduate of GMIT.