Events in Ballybane Library

Tutor Fiona Mangan, an Athenry based milliner, talked about the world of headpieces at Ballybane Library recently. She also provided a demonstration on the craft of hat design and making. She is a multi award-winning milliner who has designed hats for a number of women in Best Dressed Lady competitions most recently the ‪#‎Grand‬ National at ‪#‎Fairyhouse‬ in 2014.

An exhibition of handcut mosaic art by Anna Rozanska-Batra has gone on display for the month of February.

February Art Exhibition in Galway City Library

One Book, One Galway

The 2015 One Book One Galway was launched on Thursday 12thth February at 11.30am in Galway City Library by ‪#‎Galway‬ City Mayor Donal Lyons. Rab Fulton, Galway based storyteller, was also present to share a few stories on the day.
This year’s book is Eithne Massey’s 'The Secret of Kells', published in 2009.
The Home School community liaison service from Galway City schools is joining forces with Galway City Library service in the reading initiative. Over 500 children from both primary and post-primary schools in Galway city will take part in the reading initiative. Our aim is to bring children together for a community wide reading experience which will get our community talking, foster community spirit, promote tolerance and understanding and develop appreciation for reading as the gateway that makes all other learning possible.
There will be a brochure of events available on the day including a visit by author Eithne Massey to ‪#‎Ballybane‬ and ‪#‎Westside‬ Libraries, a special viewing of the Secret of Kells movie in the ‪#‎Eye‬ cinema and a visit by History Live to all the participating schools.

The ‪#‎Secret‬ of Kells has at its heart the real-life story of the Book of Kells created over a thousand years ago in an Irish monastery. The novel is an action packed adventure story centred on 12 year old Brendan who must fight Vikings and a serpent god to find a crystal and complete the legendary Book of Kells. Brendan is hard at work with his uncle, Abbott Cellach and the other monks, helping to strengthen the abbey against Viking raids. But a new life of adventure begins with the arrival of Brother Aidan, a celebrated master illuminator who initiates Brendan into the art of illumination, awakening his hidden, but extraordinary talents.
In order to finish the magnificent book, Brendan has to overcome his deepest fears and go on a secret quest that will take him for the first time ever, beyond the abbey's walls into an enchanted forest where dangerous mythical creatures hide. It is here that he meets the fairy Aisling, a mysterious young white wolf/girl, who will become his closest friend and helper. But with the terrifying Viking hordes closing in, will Brendan succeed in his quest to illuminate the darkness and prove that enlightenment is the best fortification against barbarians?

'One Book, One Tuam' launch in ‪Tuam‬ library

'One Book, One Tuam' was launched recently in ‪#‎Tuam‬ library by Storyteller Niall de Burca. This year, children from 5th, 6th and first year classes are reading ‘Hatchet’ by Gary Paulsen. ‘Hatchet’ is the story of one boys survival in the wilderness after a plane crash.
Local hero Peter O’Connell who climbed Mount Everest in aid of Pieta House gave talk for the children on his adventures in Tuam library on Monday 2nd February.

Niall de Burca

Peter O’Connell

latest Martin Reilly Lecture will take place on Tuesday 10 February, 6.30pm in Galway City Library

Seán Gilrane will present ‘the life, times and music of the legendary Leitrim flute player John McKenna (1880-1947)’ which stems from research conducted as part of the recent publication and recording ‘The Music and Life of John McKenna: The Buck from the Mountain’.
This release, published by the John McKenna Society in Leitrim, is the definitive work on McKenna and includes his complete corpus of 44 commercial recordings, as well as a substantial accompanying book containing an extensive biography, an analysis of his music style and legacy together with music transcriptions of his tunes. McKenna was one of the premier stars of the legendary golden age of Irish traditional music in New York in the 1920s and 30s, and left behind an unsurpassed legacy that is the first major corpus of recorded Irish flute music.

A native of Leitrim himself, and a flute player, Seán Gilrane has worked extensively with the John McKenna Society in researching the life and music of the maestro McKenna.

Galway City Library - A Place to Be