Loughrea Music Club in Loughrea Library

The Loughrea Music Club gave their monthly free concert on November 6^th in Loughrea Library.
The theme was ‘American Night’ to commemorate 150 years since the Irish involvement in the American Civil War.
Loughrea Comhaltas led by Michael Fahy, played a medley of traditional tunes. While Ray Gately read some pieces relating to the theme.
The ‘Loughrea Barbers Group’ also performed on the night

Oranmore Library - Oranmore Twins with French Town of Clohars-Fouesnant

Heritage Lectures in Oranmore Library - 30 November

Over the Edge Open Reading in Galway City Library

Social Inclusion Week in Loughrea Library

Social Inclusion Week

Students from Gaelscoil Riabhach gave a lunchtime song recital on 20^th October 2011 as part of Social Inclusion Week. Family, friends and some members of St. Brendan’s Day Centre all enjoyed the tuneful performance. An audience member said it was like ‘a trip down memory lane’.
Well done Gaelscoil Riabhach!

Europe Direct Ballinasloe Library Samaritans Exhibition

The Europe Direct Centre at Ballinasloe Library recently hosted an exhibition on the voluntary organization, The Samaritans. The aim of this was to celebrate the European Year of Volunteering and to bring together other voluntary organizations in the area.
The exhibition consisted of 24 panels consisting of photographs by Derek Spiers and showed volunteers at work in various locations throughout Ireland.....Samaritans volunteers work at helplines,throughout the community

in prisons,public events and they accept

emails and texts also.

The exhibition in Ballinasloe was opened by the Mayor of County Galway,Mr Michael 'Mogie' Maher .

Europe Direct Centres were set up by the European Commission to provide information to citizens on the daily work of the European Union.There are 8 centres in Ireland ..including 2 in Galway at Ballinasloe and An Cheathru Rua.

Seamus O'Kelly Players in Loughrea Library

The Seamus O'Kelly Players present "The Collection", a series of excerpts, scenes and monologues taken from some well known, and not so well known plays, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th November from 8.30pm in Loughrea Library.

Tickets €10/8 ( 2 for €15 in advance) from Connaughtons Foodstore, Barrack Street. Limited seating.
Further info. contact Fiona 086-8289918 or Martin 087-7996020.
Location: Loughrea Library, Church Street, Loughrea

Galway Best Library Service 2011

At the recent Chamber's Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards, Councillor Michael Maher, Mayor of the County of Galway accepted, on behalf of Galway County Council, the Best Library Service Award 2011 from Mr. Phil Hogan, TD, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. This is the second year in row Galway Libraries have won this award.

The mission of Galway County Libraries is to inspire more people to read more. Based on this, Galway County Libraries, in association with The Reading Agency (UK), has been running a Summer Reading Programme since 2006. This years Summer Reading Programme was themed: Nurturing Literacy and the Imagination

Each June children are invited to register for the programme at their local library where they receive a membership card/log card and other information. The programme is not competitive: children read at their own pace with the emphasis being on enjoyment, exploring different authors and genres, enabling the child to become a confident and discerning reader. Participation is free. As “Reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible”: Galway County libraries have a key role to play in encouraging a love of books and reading.

Photographed left-to-right are: Eugene Cummins, Director of Services, Galway County Council, Councillor Michael Maher, Mayor of the County of Galway, Maureen Moran, Senior Executive Librarian, Galway County Council, Pat McMahon, County Librarian, Galway County Council.

Stupid Sock Creatures at Oranmore Library

As part of the Children's Book Festival in Oranmore Library local artist and crafter Roisin Cúre held a series of workshops on how to make toys from old socks. Using the book Stupid Sock Creatures by John Murphy as inspiration, children had great fun learning to cut sew and stuff old socks to create unique and wacky soft toys. This book is available to borrow from Oranmore Library and is full of fantastic ideas for Christmas gifts.

Loughrea Library - 5th BAFFLE Poetry Festival 2011

Loughrea library hosted ‘The BAFFLE Interview: Up close and Personal’ on Friday 28^th October. Author, psychoanalyst and former RTE producer/director and newscaster Michael Murphy was interviewed by author and broadcaster Liam Nolan for a very enjoyable event.

A musical introduction to the evening was provided by TheLoughrea Barbershop Group.Loughrea born Lola Montes regarded by many on the continent as a courtesan) was the inspiration for the 2011 theme of ‘Rumour has it’, maintaining BAFFLE’s reputation of being ‘Ireland’s quirkiest poetry society’.

The ‘BAFFLE Bard’ trophy, locally known as ‘the turnip’ is inscribed with the competition winner’s name each year and is housed in Loughrea Library.reputation of being ‘Ireland’s quirkiest poetry society’.

Best Library Service Award for Galway Libraries

At the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards ceremony in Dublin last night Galway County Council won the Best Library Service Award 2011 for its Summer Reading Programme: Nurturing Literacy & Imagination

The Mayor, Councillor Michael Maher, accepted the award on behalf of Galway County Council from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Phil Hogan, TD.

This is the second year in a row in which Galway County Council has won the Best Library Service Award.

Library Banners @ LAI Public Libraries’ Section Conference 2011 –

Touring Puppet Theatre in Loughrea Library

Julie-Rose McCormick brought her touring puppet theatre to Loughrea Library on recently.
She preformed an interactive ‘Punch and Judy’ style show for 1^st class students of Ballymanagh National School. The children enjoyed the show, offering up great advice and their opinions to the puppets!