Dancing in the Kitchen - Westside Library

'Take Three' in Ballybane Library

On February 6^th the launch of “Take Three” an Art exhibition took place in Ballybane Library. The exhibition of work was by local artists Terry Smith, Mary Folan and Vera Kenny. It was launched by Arts Officer, James Harold.

Garda Commissioner visits Ballybane Library

The Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, Fachtna Murphy, made a visit to the Ballybane Library on Tuesday 19^th January. The Commissioner was in Ballybane where he officially opened a new Garda Community Office.

After the official opening he made his way across the road to the library. He was introduced to the library facilities and he spent some time speaking with the Ballybane Library staff about the services which they provide to the local community.

Staff in both the Westside and Ballybane libraries work closely with the community gardai who are assigned to these areas.

The Opening times for New Garda Station, Ballybane are

Monday-Friday 6-7.30p.m.

Saturday-Sunday 6-7p.m.

Library Ireland Week

Contempo Quartet visits Ballybane Library

The ConTempo Quartet are Galway County and City Council Ensemble-in-Residence.The Quartet was formed in 1995 when the members were students at the Music University in their native Bucharest, Romania. In September 1999 they took up a three-year residency as Chamber Music Fellows at the Royal Academy of Music, London.

Recognised as one of the world's top string quartets, they have performed throughout the world. They have won numerous international prizes and worked with many celebrated string quartets, including the Amadeus, Alban, Berg, Hagen, Emerson and Tokyo Quartets.
ConTempo have performed for such distinguished people as Nelson Mandela and the EU Ministers of Culture.

Our photos show the Contempo Quartet on their recent visit to Ballybane Library with pupils from 6th class of Holy Trinity ( Mervue Girls N.S.)

Play 4All and Galway County Libraries Arts/ Social Inclusion Workshops 2009/2010

Play4all supports and promotes the inclusion of disabled children within play, youth and childcare settings. The Committee includes representatives from disability organisations, Galway city andcounty Childcare, Youth Work Ireland, Galway Rural Development, Galway County Council and Library.

We have funding from the Arts Officer, Galway County Council, to organise a series of workshops, story times, rhyme sessions, puppet sessions etc., in a number of Libraries for special schools, marginalised groups, play schools, local schools etc. The whole idea is inclusiveness and bringing children together in the Library to experience story, rhyme, song and joy.

Events were held in Tuam and Carraroe Libraries before Christmas. St Oliver’s Special School visited Tuam Library and were captivated by Jean Parker with her stories, puppets, song and rhythm. Tigh Nan Dooley had a morning of Christmas stories and carols in Carraroe Library. Mairín Nic Lochlainn told the stories and 6^th C lass from Scoil Mhic Dara sang the carols.
We are planning events in Westside, Ballybane and Galway City Libraries with Jean Parker.The events in Portumna, Ballinasloe and Loughrea Libraries, will be led by Hayley Aldous who has great experience working with children.

The images feature pupils from St. Oliver's Special School visiting Tuam Library

Art Exhibition in Gort Library

Light and Colour, an exhibition of stained glass and paintings by Andrea Lippert will be on display in Gort Library throughout the month of February.

At 3pm on Saturday 13th February, Andrea will be in the library to demonstrate and explain how a stained glass panel is made. So join her in the Library and find out how a leaded stained glass panel is put together. Free.

One Book, One Tuam’ launched in Tuam Library

The One Book, One Tuam project promotes reading, literacy, library use, and community building by motivating large groups of people to read an annual featured selection. The book chosen for this year is ‘Cirque du freak’ by Darren Shan.

A large group of adults and children attended the launch. Leo Moran from ‘The Sawdoctors’ officially launched the initiative. Mayor of Tuam, Tom Reilly attended and spoke at the launch. He spoke about the importance of reading skills and the effect that reading and the library have on the community.

Children from all the primary and secondary schools in Tuam are involved in the project. A range of workshops will be held in the library for children and adults including creative writing, circus skills, drama and dance. This initiative is community based and is aimed to develop and enhance literacy skills for both the young and old.

Photo's include Tuam Mayor, Tom Reilly and Leo Moran from the Sawdoctors.

Summer Reading Challenge 2009 - “Quest Seekers” Report

The Summer Reading Challenge focuses on the joy and pleasure of reading. Studies by the OECD show that children who read for pleasure are more likely to do well than does who don’t. That is why for the last ten years Galway County Libraries have organised the Summer Reading Challenge throughout the County. “Quest Seekers, 2009” was very successful;

• 21 Branch Libraries participated in the Challenge
• 2,700 children joined the challenge
• The aim was to visit the Library regularly and read at least 6 books during the summer holidays.
• Children’s Issues July-- 185,323
• Children’s Issues August -- 211.697 (400,000) 1,800 Children completed the Challenge and were presented with Reading Certificates.

The Summer Reading Challenge was a great success. I would like to congratulate all the staff involved. You did a great job against the odds.
Many teachers and parents are very supportive of the Summer Reading Challenge. They comment on the confidence and pride of the children who are awarded the Reading Certs, also the improvement in their reading. Parents rediscover the joy and pleasure of reading with their children.
The Mayor of County Galway, Cllr Tom Mc Hugh presented the Reading Certificates in Tuam, Dunmore, Athenry, Ballinasloe and Killimor. Cllr Sean Kyne presented the Certificates in Spiddal Library. The Award Ceremonies are a great occasion, when children, parents and families get together in their local library to celebrate. The joy and happiness of the children is infectious and hopefully their joy and pleasure in reading, books and libraries will sustain them throughout their lives.

Contempo Quartet with the Sunus Chamber Choir in Galway City Library

The ConTempo Quartet and the Sunus Chamber Choir, under the direction of Audrey Corbett, performed a special Christmas lunchtime holiday concert at the Galway City Library, St. Augustine Street on Tuesday 8th of December.
The ConTempo Quartet are Galway County Council's musicians in residence, at the heart of a project to develop music in Galway. Throughout the past year they have presented workshops for school children, performed in Libraries throughout the county, worked with local artists and choirs, hosted chamber music workshops and a summer school for young musicians.

John Faulkner in Woodford Public Library

As part of the Galway City & County Musician in Residence programme John Faulkner will be performing in Woodford Library on Thursday 21st of January.
As usual, this event is free and open to all. The performances around the county will involve a particularly local focus, with songs from and about Galway. This programme has been devised as a first step towards reviving interest in local song, and in retrieving a repertoire of local songs that are fast passing from living memory. Galway in Song is organised in conjunction with Galway City & County Library Service.

Exhibition in Galway City Library

"Madame Pompom And The Chthonians" is the title of a new exhibition by Adrien Sourdot currently on show in the City Library.
The exhibition is made of two parts: "Madame Pompom" ideally is a concept of painting were lines and colours randomly miraculously creates patterns and figures. It features oil, ink, pastel and watercolour works of 'accidental figures'.

"The Chthonians" ( from the underworld ) : is the first part of a research about the elements Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether and done in acrylic, oil and plaster. It is about how to represent these elements as substance matter, spirit embodiement, symbols of the unity of soul and body, to at our interpretations and the associations we make of these.

Adrien was born in Epinal in France in 1980. He has performed as an actor, played in theatre from a young age. Learnt music by himself with flute, accordeon, saxophone and percussion... Traveled to Eastern Europe and West Africa and finished up in the West of Ireland 5 years ago...

The top two images are titled Nuclear Mind and Exploration. The bottom features Adrien (centre) and Galway Library staff.

Monthly Music Club in Loughrea Library

The Music Club, a group of local musicians and teachers, host a free concert of primarily classical music in Loughrea library on the first Sunday of the month. All are welcome, especially music students. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal. The concert starts promptly at 7.00pm and ususally concludes at approximately 8.30pm.

Past guest performers have included the Loughrea Cathedral and Abbey adult choirs and the Galway Bass Trio. Broadcaster and author Liam Nolan has also given readings. Please check with the library to ensure that the concert is scheduled for a given month, as occasionally the group hosts a concert in another location... mailto:loughrea@galwaylibrary.ie ]
The next concert is scheduled for Sunday 7th February 2010, at 7pm in Loughrea Library.

January Over the Edge in Galway City Library

The first Over The Edge: Open Reading of 2010 takes place in Galway City Library on Thursday, January 21st, 6.30-8.00pm. The Featured Readers are Lisa Allen, Paul Conway & David Wheatley. This is a very special occasion as it is now exactly seven years since Over The Edge was born in Galway City Library in January 2003. The reading is sponsored by Poetry Ireland.
Lisa Allen is from Navan, but writes poetry anyway. Lisa studied English and Philosophy at University College, Dublin, and has also dabbled in drama. She has participated in poetry workshops with Kevin Higgins at Galway Arts Centre. Lisa was shortlisted for the “Over the Edge New Writer of the Year”in 2009 and is a finalist in the 2010 Cúirt Poetry Slam.
Paul Conway is a native of Dublin City. He moved to Galway in 2005, and, like a lot of people, was very fortunate to get stuck there. He works as a freelance video game artist, and in 2008 decided to try his hand at creative writing. He has attended classes with both Kevin Higgins and Susan Millar DuMars at the Galway Technical Institute. He was shortlisted in the 2009 Over The Edge New Writer of the Year Competition.
David Wheatley was born in Dublin in 1970 and now lives in Hull. He is the author of three collections with Gallery Press: Thirst (1997), Misery Hill (2000), and Mocker (2006), and has edited the poems of James Clarence Mangan for Gallery and of Samuel Beckett for Faber and Faber. He edited Metre magazine for many years with Justin Quinn.

As usual there will be an open-mic after the Featured Readers have finished. New readers are always most welcome. The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details phone 087-6431748.

Doegen Records Web Project

This digital archive of Irish dialect recordings made during 1928-31 comprises an important collection of early Irish language recordings of folktales, songs and other material. It includes recordings from many regions of Ireland where traditional Irish dialects have disappeared since the time the recordings were made.

The collection includes 137 Gaelic speakers from 17 counties. This initial edition of the web site provides digitized versions of recordings originally produced on shellac records. These audio files will be supplemented by transcriptions and translations of the recordings, information on the people recorded, and other related content as it becomes available, enhancing an already rich resource.
The Doegen Records Web Project offers a unique opportunity for linguists, social historians, anthropological researchers, educators, musicologists, genealogists, local communities, and anyone interested in Ireland's cultural heritage. The materials provide a fascinating and priceless legacy of now extinct Irish-language dialects. Users can browse and listen to these recordings and appreciate the spoken record of the early twentieth century in rural Ireland.
This digital archive is a project of the Royal Irish Academy Library in collaboration with the Digital Humanities Observatory.The project is funded by the Higher Education Authority. The archive consists of digitized versions of recordings made originally on shellac records in the period 1928-31, and will be accompanied by transcriptions and translations of the recordings, information on the people recorded, and other related content. Currently the archive includes 68 recordings from county Galway.

Most popular titles of 2009 in Galway Public Libraries

For the third year in a row, "A thousand splendid suns" is Galway Libraries most lent title. According to our lending records the most popular book issues in Galway Public Libraries for 2009

were as follows: See most popular for 2008 here and 2007.

The images to the left are of Clifden Library's Festive Windows

Hosseini, Khaled - A thousand splendid suns

Gilbert, Elizabeth - Eat, pray, love : bone woman's search for everything across Italy, India and Indonesia

Edwards, Kim - The memory keeper's daughter

Binchy, Maeve - Heart and soul

Cornwell, Patricia - Scarpetta

Ahern, Cecelia - The gift

Mayes, Frances - Under the Tuscan sun

Picoult, Jodi - My sister's keeper

McEwan, Ian - On Chesil Beach

Roberts, Nora - Tribute

Scanlan, Patricia - Happy ever after

Patterson, James - Sail

Patterson, James - Cross Country

Connelly, Michael - The brass verdict

La Plante, Lynda - Deadly intent

O'Flanagan, Sheila - Someone special

Scanlan, Patricia - Forgive and forget

Hazzard, Shirley - The transit of Venus

Ahern, Cecelia - Thanks for the memories

Picoult, Jodi - Salem Falls

Last Over The Edge Open Reading for 2009

The final Over The Edge Open Reading of 2009 takes place in Galway City Library, St. Augustine Street, Galway on Thursday, December 17th, 6.30-8pm. The Featured Readers are Gerry Galvin, Liam Duffy & Geraldine Mills.

There will be an open-mic when the Featured Readers have finished. This is open to anyone who has a poem or story to share. New readers are always especially welcome. The MC for the evening will be Susan Millar DuMars. For further details phone 087-6431748.

Costa Book Awards 2009

The Costa Book Awards recognise the most enjoyable books - published in the last year by writers in five categories - First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book based in the UK and Ireland. This year's Costa Book Awards attracted 592 entries - the second highest-ever number of submissions in one year.

2 02009 Costa Novel Award short list
Penelope Lively for Family Album (Fig Tree)
Hilary Mantel for Wolf Hall (Fourth Estate)
Christopher Nicholson for The Elephant Keeper (Fourth Estate)
Colm Toib?n for Brooklyn (Viking)

2009 Costa First Novel Award shortlist
Rachel Heath for The Finest Type of English Womanhood (Hutchinson)
Peter Murphy for John the Revelator (Faber and Faber)
Raphael Selbourne for Beauty (Tindal Street Press)
Ali Shaw for The Girl with Glass Feet (Atlantic Books)

2009 Costa Biography Award shortlist
Graham Farmelo for The Strangest Man - The Hidden Life of Paul Dirac, Quantum Genius (Faber and Faber)
William Fiennes for The Music Room (Picador)
Simon Gray for Coda (Co-published by Granta Books and Faber and Faber)
Caroline Moorehead for Dancing to the Precipice (Chatto & Windus)

2009 Costa Poetry Award shortlist
Clive James for Angels Over Elsinore (Picador Poetry)
Katharine Kilalea for One Eyed Leigh (Carcanet)
Ruth Padel for Darwin: A Life in Poems (Chatto & Windus)
Christopher Reid for A Scattering (Arete Books)

2009 Costa Childrens Book Award shortlist
Siobhan Dowd for Solace of the Road (David Fickling Books)
Mary Hoffman for Troubadour (Bloomsbury)
Patrick Ness for The Ask and the Answer (Chaos Walking: Book Two) (Walker Books)
Anna Perera for Guantanamo Boy (Puffin)

Lunchtime Music @ the City Library

Enjoy the sounds of Christmas when ConTempoand the Sunus chamber choir, under the direction of Audrey Corbett, perform a special lunchtime holiday concert at the Galway City Library, St. Augustine Street on Tuesday 8th of December.

The performance begins at 1.00pm and is open to the public, free of charge. The programmes will include Corelli's Christmas Oratorio, Bach's Air, Haydn's Serenade and Minuet, Mozart's Allegro from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik and Presto from the Divertimento in D, Dvorak's Andante from the 'American' Quartet, Romanian Folk Dances, Byzantine Christmas Songs and a Christmas Carol medley. All are welcome

The ConTempo Quartet are Galway County Council's musicians in residence, at the heart of a project to develop music in Galway. Throughout the past year they have presented workshops for school children, performed in Libraries throughout the county, worked with local artists and choirs, hosted chamber music workshops and a summer school for young musicians.

Activities in Gort Library