Taha Muhammad Ali

And so
it has taken me
all of sixty years
to understand
that water is the finest drink,
and bread the most delicious food,
and that art is worthless
unless it plants
a measure of splendor in people's hearts.


-Taha Muhammad Ali

Eurochild Workshops in Ballinasloe, Portumna & Tuam Libraries

Loughrea Library Coffee Morning

Islands in Poetry At Inishbofin Library

Europe Day Celebrations in Europe Direct, Ballinasloe Library

A selection of short films in English,Irish,German and French and produced by the Irish Film Institute entitled:"Euro-paens:celebrating Ireland and Europe in film",will be screened throughout the day at the Europe Direct Centre, Ballinasloe Library on May 9th next, which is Europe Day.

This compilation marks the Irish Presidency of the European Commission during the first 6 months of the current year.

Screenings are available throughout the day and may be pre-booked by groups by contacting the library at 0909643464 during library opening hours.

The Ballybane Library Blackbird (An Lon Dubh).

 ‘‘Si hortum in bibliotheca habes, deerit nihil.’’

(If you have a garden in a library, nothing is missing.)

So wrote Cicero.

In keeping with this library philosophy, earlier this spring a blackbird built its nest in the bushes in the grounds of Ballybane Library. The Blackbird and the young chicks did well and have now flown the nest.  Currently on display in Ballybane library is the blackbird's nest, some photographs of the young chick's in their nest and other books and documents about An Lon Dubh, the blackbird.

 It is said that Blackbirds symbolize reincarnation.

Of St.Kevin, an Irish 7th century Saint who loved wildlife, it is said that in the temple of the rock at Glendalough, St.Kevin was praying with his hand outstretched upwards when a blackbird flew down and laid her eggs in his palm. The story goes on to say that the saint remained still for as long as it took for the eggs to hatch and the brood to fly the nest.

Cúirt Kitchen Readings in Westside

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.

East Galway Art Trail 2013 in Ballinsloe, Portumna, Kilimor & Woodford Libraries

George Moore, 'Irish Messiah - Irish Pariah' in Gort Library

Galway Film Centre ID Projects 2013 - Information evening in Westside & Ballybane Libraries

Galway Film Centre invites community, social and voluntary groups from around Galway city and county to take part in an exciting project that will enable them to make their own documentary.

Funded principally by The Arts Council, Galway City Council, and Galway County Council, this project is now in its fourteenth year, during which time Galway Film Centre have built up an impressive track record of giving people from a wide range of backgrounds access to the art-form of documentary making. The project aims to facilitate community groups to take an active part in the filmmaking process, to develop and create a short documentary in order to tell their own story.

Free Open Information Evening:
Westside Library: Wednesday April 3rd at 6pm
Ballinasloe Library: Thursday April 4th at 5pm

For more information and application form please contact:
Nuala Broderick at Galway Film Centre, phone (091) 770748 or
Email: projects@galwayfilmcentre.ie.

Closing date for entries is 19th April 2013

Children's Events in Loughrea Library

 

One Book, One Tuam Library

Author Marilyn Taylor visited Tuam Library on Thursday, the 28th of February and Friday the 1st of March. Her book, Faraway Home was this year’s choice of book for ‘One Book, One Tuam’.
The book is about two Jewish children, Karl and Rosa, who are sent from Vienna to Northern Ireland in 1938, as part of the Kindertransport, to ensure their safety. There they have to adapt to a very different community and way of life, and when Belfast is bombed, they are made aware that war is never far away. With the help of other local children they learn that out of conflict and despair extraordinary friendships can grow.
Speaking to over 300 children over the two days, Marilyn told those present that she had very much drawn on her own life story and family background to inform her writing. ‘One Book, One Tuam’ is an annual community reading project, now in its fourth successive year, the aims of which are to improve literacy, promote reading for pleasure and to encourage a deeper sense of community. It is fully supported by local schools, training facilities and businesses.

Europe Direct in Ballinasloe Library

The competition ‘The European Parliament : Why should I care ?’ invites young citizens from EU member states and Croatia to express in an innovative and convincing manner why the European Parliament is important to them, or not if that is the case, and why there is a need to vote in the next EP elections.

European Policy Centre would like to remind you to spread the message as much as possible as the deadline is on the 28^th of March.

This competition gives the chance to young people to express themselves and share their opinions.  It will also give the opportunity for the twenty awarded participants to discover Brussels, learn more about the EU Institutions and share ideas with the EU decision makers.

More information about the competition and how to apply can be found on the EPC website:http://www.epc.eu/prog_forum.php?forum_id=30&prog_id=1  

The Tuam Hunger Strike of 1978 remembered in Tuam Library

Almost a hundred people were in attendance Saturday the 9th of March in Tuam library to hear Dr. Gabriel O’Connor deliver a much anticipated talk on the Tuam Hunger Strikes of 1978.
All though all of the principal protagonists involved , former Tuam Town Commissioners Harold Campbell & Joe Burke, and Brian McNamara of the Tuam Chamber of Commerce are now departed, numerous members of their families, including many of their grandchildren were present. Dr. O’Connor gave an impressive on lecture on the exciting events of April 1978 . The Hunger Strike was undertaken by two town commissioners and a member of the Tuam Chamber Commerce and lasted almost seven days, the aims of which were to avert the removal of the rail link to Tuam and the withdrawal of major industries.

Oranmore Heritage in Oranmore Library

Upcoming Events in Galway City Library

 

Poetry & Film, John Canning in Galway City Library

The Tuam Hunger Strike, 1978 - Tuam Library

The Tuam Hunger Strike of 1978 – A Tribute to Harold Campbell, Joe Burke and Brian McNamara

This is the heroic story of the late Tuam Town Commissioners Harold Campbell & Joe Burke, and Brian McNamara of the Tuam Chamber of Commerce, who in April 1978 went on hunger strike to protest the threat to Tuam of the removal of the town’s railway and of Erin Foods. As part of the commemorations for Tuam’s 400^th anniversary, Dr. Gabriel O’Connor will give a talk on the fascinating story of the hunger strikers and their legacy. 

The talk will be held on Saturday, the 9^th of March at 1pm in Tuam Library. All are welcome.

Gort Library ‘George Russell A.E. - Poet, Painter, Nationalist, Mystic, Economist and Journalist’

The first in a series of talks on the lives of signatories of the Autograph Tree at Coole brought to you by the Lady Gregory and Yeats Heritage Trail Group

‘George Russell A.E. - Poet, Painter, Nationalist, Mystic, Economist and Journalist’

presented by Pearl Finn, Vedic Astrologer

Time: 7.30pm

Date: Wed. 27th February

Venue: Gort Public Library

February ‘Over The Edge: Open Reading’ takes place in Galway City Library on Thursday, February 28th, 6.30-8.00pm. The Featured Readers are Mia Gallagher, Dawn Wisniewski & Ruth Quinlan

Paddy's Resource-the songsters of the Society of United Irishmen Lecture in Galway City Library

The patience of a little borrower in Athenry Library

Last Saturday (Feb 2nd) was very, very busy here in the library in Athenry.  I was continuously checking in and out books and directing people to shelves for the books they were looking for.  There was a constant queue at the desk.
Every now and again I could hear a little voice saying “Can you get a Princess book for me”.  As I was too busy to even look in the direction of the voice, I just ignored it.  I answered the phone and dealt with everyone as quickly as I could.
Finally there was a lull and I looked over to the corner of my desk and there was a little girl with her hand under her chin waiting for me.  She said in a low little voice, “Can you get a Princess book for me”.  This little girl had been standing at the desk for over half an hour waiting for me to get her a book about princesses.
Finally I could leave my chair and took the little girl over to the picture books and prayed I would find a princess book for her!  I eventually got her a pink Princess Poppy book and she was very happy.  She took it over to her dad and little sister who were sitting down near the Easy Reader shelf and were also looking for a book about princesses!  She said, “the lady found it for me, and I can bring it home”.
Imelda Hussey,
Branch Librarian, Athenry Library.

Our thanks to Laurie Mahaffey, Deputy Director of "Connecting Texas Libraries Statewide" http://www.ctls.net/   who described Imelda's account in the following way: "Precious story. Such a sweet story! Thanks for sharing it!"

Galway City Library -The second lecture in the series will be given by Dr Riana O'Dwyer on Wednesday February 13. “Two Galway Playwrights: MJ Molloy and Tom Murphy”

Crochet Exhibition in Clifden Library

Tuam Library - Upcoming Events