Free concert in Loughrea Library

The University of Oregon Chamber choir under conductor Dr. Sharon Paul will give a concert in Loughrea Library on Wednesday 1^st May at 7.30pm. 

The Choir is one of eleven choirs chosen worldwide to compete for the Fleischmann International Trophy in Cork in May. 

Admission is FREE, but any donations offered will be given to aid Music Matters Music School, New Inn.

The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award 2013

Books are nominated for the Award by public libraries in cities throughout the world, making the Award truly international and making the longlist unique in its coverage of international fiction.

Participating libraries can nominate up to three novels each year for the Award.

If you would like to propose a novel which you feel that Galway County Library should nominate for the award, please send details of the novel to pmcmahon@galwaycoco.ie.

In order to be eligible for consideration for the 2013 Award a novel must have been: first published in English between 1st January 2012 and 31st December 2013, both dates inclusive, or first published in a language other than English between 1st January 2008 and 31st December 2012 and first published in English translation between 1st January 2012 and 31st December 2012 (all dates inclusive).

The five member international judging panel, chaired by Hon. Eugene R. Sullivan, will select one winner which will be announced by the Lord Mayor of Dublin and Patron of the Award, Councillor Naoise Ó Muirí on Thursday 6^th June 2013.

Galway City Library hosts 'Inspired' Exhibition of photography

 An exhibition of photography from students of the VTOS Adult Education Centre in Galway is being held in the City Library from this weekend until April 30.

Inspired will feature a beautiful collection of work by the talented adults in ‘second-chance education’ and is free to all members of the public.

The exhibition includes a diverse range of the best photos produced by amateur photographers for their FETAC level 5 portfolios. These photographers were all beginners when they started the VTOS course and have now qualified at FETAC Level 5. Many have now moved on to third-level courses and others have found employment or started up in their own business.

VTOS is a community college which offers opportunities to adults to acquire educational and training qualifications in a friendly and supportive atmosphere, allowing them to progress to further education and employment. It was established in 1989 under the auspices of City of Galway VEC.

Inspired will run at Galway City Library and will be open on Mondays from 2pm to 5pm; on Tuesdays from 11am to 8pm; on Wednesdays from 11am to 8pm; on Thursdays from 11am to 5pm; on Fridays from 11am to 5pm; and on Saturdays from 11am to 5pm until April 30.

Some April Events in Tuam Library

Exhibition @ Clifden Library Art Space

Cúirt Kitchen Readings in Westside and Ballybane

Kitchen Readings.

Cúirt in conjunction with the Galway City Library Service  will be hosting Kitchen Readings in a number of homes in Galway City during the week of the festival. Novelist, playwright and actor Michael Harding will visit houses in the Westside and Ballybane areas of the city during the week of Cúirt reading sections of his memoir Staring At Lakes. These informal gatherings are free and will be open to all.

For more information please contact:
Ballybane Library: (091) 380590 ballybane@galwaylibrary.ie
Westside Library: (091) 520616 westside@galwaylibrary.ie

Michael Harding

Michael Harding’s fiction works include The Trouble With Sarah Gullion and Priest, described by Pat McCabe as “two of the finest Irish novels of the 1980’s.”

His most recent stage play, The Tinker’s Curse - nominated for Best New Play at Irish Theatre Awards 2007, toured Ireland in 2011.

He is a weekly columnist with The Irish Times where he writes a creative chronicle of life in the Irish midlands. His new book, Staring At Lakes - a memoir of love, melancholy and magical thinking, has just been published.

Easter in Tuam Library

Over one hundred children took part in this years Easter activity at Tuam Library.  As well as a lively egg-hunt, which saw the children help one another in finding Easter mallows amongst the shelves, they also had a craft workshop which involved making cards and decorations for the season. 

The egg-hunt and crafts was followed by the library’s monthly ‘Soundbites’ concert, which included poetry, songs and storytelling.