Poet-critic, John Goodby, for November Over The Edge

The November Over The Edge: Open Reading will take place in Galway City Library, St. Augustine Street, Galway on Thursday, November 20th, 6.30-8pm. The Featured Readers are Elizabeth Power, Gordon Hewitt & John Goodby.

John Goodby is a poet and translator who lectures at the University of Swansea. His poetry has been described by Sean O'Brien as ‘bold and sensuous ... it reads like a chowder of names laced with methedrine ... at once lush and abrasive.’ John Goodby has translated Heine's Germany: A Winter’s Tale (2005), the contemporary Algerian poet Soleiman Adel Guemar, and is currently translating the work of Pier Paolo Pasolini. Among his latest publications are the first anthology of translations of Irish women poets into Spanish, No Soy Tu Musa and Uncaged sea (2008), a cut-up version of the Collected Poems of Dylan Thomas. He is the author of the influential Irish Poetry Since 1950: From Stillness Into History (Manchester University Press) and founder of Wales’s only poetry performance group, Boiled String.

As usual 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. For further details phone 087-6431748.

Recent opinions on the value of books, reading and libraries

Almudena Grandes, wrote last week in the Madrid newspaper El Pais that "true freedom is not to be able to say what you think, but is the power to think about what is being said."
And she continued: "Because an uneducated country is not a country of citizens, but of audiences, a country of audiences who will swallow everything."

And Rawi Hage, the Beirut-born writer, speaking after being awarded the IMPAC Dublin Literary Award 2008 said:
"To all those librarians who currently and historically have gathered and diffused knowledge, beauty, and resistance, even as the waves of ignorance periodically cover words and stifle thought, I say: I am an admirer and an ally."

Age banding

The practice of indicating suitable ages for goods bought by or for children is rarely the subject of controversy. Apart from the children themselves, who always desire whatever happens to lie in the age bracket above, most adults find such advice helpful in avoiding potentially dangerous or inappropriate items.

But publishers' plans to introduce age ranging guidance onto children's books have met with fierce opposition from authors including Philip Pullman, Anne Fine and Michael Rosen.

The 'No to age banding' Campaign has been set up by writers and other professionals who believe that the proposal to put an age-banding figure on books for children is ill-conceived and damaging to the interests of young readers. The Campaign's statement and supporters are at: http://www.notoagebanding.org/

Galway City Library Summer Reading Programme...revisited

The Summer Reading Programme has been running in Galway City Library since the 1980's.
One of the interesting features of this years recent certificate award ceremoney was the attendance of a former particpant of the programme from the early years.
She is now a lecturer in pharmacology at NUIG and was one of the first to receive a certificate when it started over 20 years ago. This year she attended the awards with her niece, who completed the reading programme this year.
Her career success is evidence that reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible.

Hallowe'en in Oranmore Library

Some fantastic and imaginative costumes were to be seen at the recent Fancy Dress party in Oranmore Library.

One of the prize winners, left, came as Jacqueline Wilson's Dustbin Baby!

Presentation Team Read Certificates in Ballybane Library

Some of the many participants at the celebrations recently held in Ballybane Library for the presentation of the certificates for 'Team Read' Summer Reading Programme

Con Tempo Quartet in Westside Library

The Con Tempo string quartet started off the 2008 Children's Book Festival activities in Westside Library. They played to 3rd and 4th classes from Scoil Bhride National School, Shantalla on Wednesday 08 October.

The children and teachers were thrilled by the instruments, the musicians and the music. Everyone present learnt something new, some even 'played' the violin and cello.

Oranmore October Book Festival School Quiz

Oranmore Public Library recently organised it's annual school quiz during the October book festival. 17 teams of 4 (68) children took part, with Craughwell National School (left) coming out on top this year and Lisheenkyle N.S the unlucky runners-up.

John Joe McDonagh Exhibition at Galway City Library

The City Library in Augustine Street is a public space in the city. It is a public space without obligations which is open to anybody. It is a space where anyone is free to come in and sit and read. The library occasionally houses art exhibitions.

Currently on exhibition is the work of John Joe McDonagh.

John Joe McDonagh was born in Galway. He started painting on entering The Tech on Fr. Griffin Road as a student and has been painting since.

John Mulhern was John Joe’s first Art Teacher. John Joe has many fond memories of Mr. Mulhern and his early painting days. The first year in school John got him to enter the Caltex Art Competition and JJ was rewarded with first prize in the Under 16 section. His prize was a box of oil paints and paint brushes.

Painting became part of his life. It still plays a big part in his every day life and most of his waking hours are spent with brush in hand. You name it, JJ paints it.

Boats and the sea were his first themes; then it was mountains, hills and valleys, rivers and lakes and the delights of the seashore. He finds painting very therapeutic and gets a great buss from it. He is a great student of art and had taught at Cregal Art and in Ivors of Terryland.

The exhibition of his work which is currently on display in Galway City Library is the product of his rehabilitation after having a leg amputated.

The exhibition continues until October 31st. If you are in the city be sure to make your way to Augustine Street and see this exhibition.

European Mobility Week in Galway City Library

Cyclecraft, published by The Stationery Office, London, is the definitive guide to safe and enjoyable cycling for both adults and children. The book was launched in Galway City Library as part of European Mobility Week.

Photograph shows the author John Franklin presenting a copy to Tom Browne, Library Staff Officer.

John Franklin, is a consultant and registered Expert Witness on cycling skills and safety and was a member of the reference group that set up the National Standard in the UK.

Westside Library Summer Party 2008

Westside Library held two parties to celebrate the summer reading programme participants last Saturday 04 October.
380 children joined the reading programme in July. They were encouraged to read 7 books during the summer. To show they had read the books; they either wrote book reviews or drew alternative book covers or spoke to the staff about the books at the weekly meeting. Weekly winners were chosen from the book reviews and art.
All of the winners received a prize at Saturday’s parties.
70 children attended the first party which was kicked off with a blast of songs from DJ Mike. He soon had everyone including the parents and library staff up dancing! There were some funny movers on the dance floor. Over 80 children attended the second party which everybody enjoyed. What a better way to spend a wet afternoon than disco dancing at the library.

Galway Mobile Library's 'TEAM READ' Winners

Below are some of the winning entries of our Summer Reading Challenge 'Team Read' which was organised by our Mobile Library.
The first image is from the 8 to 10 years 'Design a T-Shirt' category by Rebecca Sweeney.

The drawing below this is from the Under 7 years 'Favourite Sport' category by Vivian Forde.

Below are two of the winning entries of our Summer Reading Challenge 'Team Read' Book Reviews.
The first entry is the winning review in the Under 7 years category of Soggy Saturday by Phyllis Root. This entry is by Kaitlyn Lyons.

The winner of the 8 to 10 years category is Amanda Forde's review of Soccer Star by Michael Hardcastle is below. (Click on the images enlarge them)

Our congratulations go to everyone who took part during the summer.

Ability West Exhibition in Tuam Library

An exhibition of artwork by Team Products/Ability West has been exhibited in Tuam Library recently.

Last March, ten members of Team Products/Ability West took part in an eight week art course with Galway based artist Jim Kavanagh who very kindly devoted his time and expertise free of charge.

This initiative was organized by Tuam Library as part of Library Ireland week.

The exhibition was launched on Thursday 25th September with members of Ability West, their families and friends present. Pat McDonagh, one of the artists declared the exhibition officially open.

All artists were thrilled to see their work exhibited.

Over 30 members of Team products/Ability West also attend the library each Friday morning for drama class, which they thoroughly enjoy.

Gort Team Read Award Party

The Team Read Award Ceremony and Party took place at Gort branch library on Saturday 6th September, 2008.

61 children received Team Read certificates having successfully completed the summer reading challenge at Gort library.
Proud parents and siblings joined in the party and admired the exhibition ofbook reviews written by the children. A great time was had by all

Photos show the lucky winner, age 7 of the Team Read Prize-draw who went home with a book token to the value of €50


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Culture Night at Galway City Library

Following the successful completion of Tanya McCrory's Galway Dance Residency, the County and City Arts Offices have initiated a Dance Library Collection in Galway City Library.
The collection of over 80 dvds and books on Dance was introduced and launched on Friday night September 19th at 6.30 pm.

The event formed part of Galway's first ever 'Culture Night' when all art and culture venues in the city remained open late.
The Galway City Library remained open until 10.00pm.

All-Ireland Poetry Day 2008 / Lá Filíochta Naísiúnta 2008

Poetry Ireland celebrates its 30th anniversary with a poetry reading in every county in Ireland on October 2nd, a date which will become All-Ireland Poetry Day for the future.

To mark the occasion, and to raise awareness of the richness and diversity of contemporary poetry in Ireland, a reading in every county in Ireland has been organised, in partnership with Arts Officers and individuals throughout the country (including Gaelteacht areas),
A reading in each county emphasises Poetry Ireland’s all-Ireland remit and the initiative means that a poetry event on October 2nd is within reach of almost everyone.

Mar chuid de cheiliúradh 30 bliain Éigse Éireann, beidh an eagras ag reachtáil ócáid filíochta i ngach contae sa tír an an dara lá de mhí Dheireadh Fómhair, 2008. Tá súil ag Éigse Éireann go dtiocfidh fás ar an ócáid seo, agus go neascrófar Lá Náisiúnta Filíochta ar an dáta seo sna blianta amach romhainn.

Tá Éigse Éireann 30 bliain d’aois i mbliana! Le ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar an ócáid stairiúil seo, agus chun aird a tharraingt ar saibhreas agus éagsúlacht na filíochta comhaimsearaí sa tír seo, tá Éige Éireann, i gcomhpháirtíocht leis na hoifigigh Ealaíona, chun ócáid filíochta a eagrú i ngach contae sa tír, na ceantair Ghaeltachta san áireamh.

For Poetry Day in Galway City and County, any member of the public will be free to visit anyone of the branch libraries listed below and read their favourite poem, or a poem they have written themselves. Each library will have a 15 minute slot for this purpose.

Here are the times:

Galway City Library: 1.30pm
Westside Library: 1.30 pm
Portumna Library: 7.30 pm
Tuam Library: 2.30 pm
Oranmore Library: 12.30pm
Inishbofin Library: 11.30am
Kilronan: 7.00pm
Gort Library: 4.30 pm
Headford Library: 7.00pm
Athenry Library: 5.45pm
Ballinasloe Library: 3.00pm
Inis Meain: 3.00pm

Summer Reading Challenge in Tuam Library

This year 457 children took part in the Summer Reading Challenge in Tuam Library. 296 children completed the challenge and received their certificates on Saturday 13th September.


Due to the large numbers who completed the challenge, three end of summer parties took place with Mayor of Tuam Pete Warren and Town Councillor Tom Reilly presenting the certificates.

Each child received a ‘goodie’ bag and photos were taken for the local newspapers.

Town Councillor Tom Reilly made a speech about how important the library service was to the town. The library received lots of positive feedback and the day was enjoyed by all.

Over The Edge in association with Poetry Ireland presents the September Over The Edge: Open Reading in Galway City Library, St. Augustine Street, Galway on Thursday, September 25th, 6.30-8pm. The Featured Readers are Colette Bryce, Orla Higgins & Des Kavanagh.

Colette Bryce has published two poetry collections. Her first collection, The Heel of Bernadette (2000), won the Aldeburgh Prize for best first collection and the inaugural Eithne Strong award in Ireland. She was also awarded first prize in the 2003 National Poetry Competition. Her most recent work, a pamphlet, The Observations of Aleksandr Svetlov was published by Donut in 2007. Her third collection, Self-Portrait in the Dark, is forthcoming in September 2008. Bryce was born in Derry in 1970, and has lived in England, Spain and Scotland.

Orla Higgins lives in Galway, loves to travel and wants to be a writer when she grows up. She works as a Business & Communications Consultant, primarily with arts and non-profit organisations. She also lectures part-time at NUIG with both the Department of Marketing and the Huston School of Film. Her first love is fiction but she has recently collaborated on writing a play titled For Pete's Sake. She has been a serial attender of Susan DuMars’s creative writing classes and is now a student on the MA in Writing at NUIG.

Des Kavanagh hails originally from the Inishowen peninsula in Donegal. He has been writing for four years and is a regular participant in Kevin Higgins’s advanced Poetry Class at Galway Arts Centre. He also takes an active interest in folklore and local history and has chaired the McGlinchey Summer School in Inishowen for most of the past ten years. He recently co-edited the Irish language version of his father’s book, The Last of the Name. He has read his poetry at Westside Library and Clifden Arts Week.

A chance to win Encylopedia Brittanica prizes

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia and Encyclopaedia World Atlas

There are two copies of each book to be won; so, you have four chances to win.

To be in with a chance to win, answer the questions on the entry form and hand it in at
the circulation desk in your local Galway Library
The closing date is Friday, 31 October, 2008, and all correct answers will be entered
into a prize draw. The draw will take place at 6:00p.m., 6 November, 2008 at the library on Saint Augustine Street.

Visit Galway Libraries here, and select Encylopaedia Britannica.
You will be prompted for your library card number which is written on the back of your plastic library card. If you do not have a plastic library card please enquire at your local library. Please request a demonstration of this wonderful resource.

The prizes for this competition are kindly sponsored by Britannica. The answers are available from the online version of the Encyclopaedia Britannica and this resource is free to members of Galway Public Library.

Dance Library Collection in Galway City Library

Following the successful completion of her Galway Dance Residency, Tanya McCrory has initiated a Dance Library Collection in Galway City Library. The collection of over 80 dvds and books on Dance will be introduced and launched on Friday night September 19th at 6.30 pm.

So come discover videos and books from every Dance genre!
Settle in this winter with a cup of tea and one of the riviting biographies from Martha Graham, Alvin Ailey, Bariyshnikov and many more.
Or to stay active, check out one of the instructional videos in , Tap, Hip Hop, Foxtrot, Swing, Traditional Irish and Contemporay Dance,
If thats all to much for ya, just sit back and enjoy one of the classic musicals or dance documentaries.
There's a little something for everyone, and its all yours with your local library card... so enjoy... and see you on the dance floor.

A similar collection of books will be available in Tuam Library. The Tuam collection will be launched in October.

Over The Edge 'New Writer of The Year' in Galway City Library

The Over The Edge New Writer of The Year 2008 competition is open to both poets and fiction writers. The winner will receive a cash prize of €600, a spot as a Featured Reader at an Over The Edge: Open Reading, and the title Over The Edge New Writer of The Year 2008. The runner-up will receive a cash prize of €300, while the third-placed writer will receive €100.

The short-list for the 2008 Over The Edge New Writer of the Year competition is as follows:

Megan Buckley, Galway
Fiona Clark Echlin, Tipperary
Denise Garvey, GalwayEamonn Harrigan, Galway
Brian Kirk, Dublin
Tom Lavelle, Galway
Wes Lee, New Zealand
Mary Madec, Galway
Donny Mahoney, Dublin
Alan McMonagle, Galway
Brendan Murphy, Galway
Mairin O'Grady, Kildare
Aiden O'Reilly, Dublin
Hans-Joachim Quade, Galway
Evelyn Walsh, Dublin

The winners will be announced by competion judge, Celeste Augé, at the Over The Edge: Open Reading in Galway City Library, Augustine Street on Thursday, September 25th, 6.30-8pm, when the Featured Readers will by Colette Bryce, Des Kavanagh & Orla Higgins. The reading is sponsored by Poetry Ireland.

Arts Week in Clifden Library

2008 will mark 31 years of the annual arts festival in the Connermara capital of Clifden, which has grown from a small community event in to one with a packed programme of events playing to an international audience. As part of the festival the following events will be taking place in Clifden Library.

18th September
Poetry reading by Jarlath Fahy
Poetry reading by Jarlath Fahy, whose book, The Man Who Was Haunted by Beautiful Smells was recently published by Wordsonthestreet Press. Admission: €5. 4:30pm

19th September
A Showcase Reading by Galway Arts Centre’s Advanced Poetry Workshop. (Facilitator Kevin Higgins). Readers will include Lorna O’ Shaughnessy, author of 'Torching the Brown River' , Mary Madoc, winner of the 2008 Hennessy Award for Poetry, Mary Mullen and Des Kavanagh. Admission: €5. 1:00pm

‘The Sea and the Shore’- Derek Mahon’s water music. Talk by Hugh Haughton, author of ‘The Poetry of Derek Mahon’. Dr Haughton is Professor of English and related Literature at the University of York and his previous books include 'The Letters of T.S.Eliot' , which he co-edited with Valerie Eliot. (Sponsored by Clifden Book Shop, thanks to Nicole and Maura) Admission: €5. 4:00pm

22nd September
Reading by poet Dr. Robyn Rowland. Music will be performed by Lynn Saoirse. Admission: €5. 1:00pm

Reading by poet Louis de Paor.
Reading by poet Louis de Paor. Louis is Director, Centre for Irish Studies, NUI Galway. His books include a study of narrative technique in the short fiction of Martin O’Cadhain and an anthology of 20th poetry in Irish co-edited with Sean O’Tuama. (Sponsored by John Stanley). Admission: €5. 4:30pm

23rd September
Reading by Letterfrack Writers’ Group. Admission: €5. 1:00pm

‘The Self Inventor’: talk on Michael Mac Liammoir by Des Lally , editor of Captivating Brightness, which has just been published. Admission: €5. 4:00pm

24th September
Guitar Recital: Redmond O’ Toole.
Through his unorthodox playing style and committed musicianship Redmond O’Toole has emerged as one of the most innovative and exciting young guitarists in Europe. He has been selected as the National Concert Hall’s ‘rising star’ for 2009. Admission €5 (Sponsored by AIB ) 1:00pm

Reading: 'Something About Mary'. Mary Banotti reads from her book about Irish women politicians. Mary was a distinguished public servant and Dublin MEP from 1984-2004. Admission: €5. 1:00pm

Reading by Pat O' Brien.
Reading: Poet and great friend of Arts Week Pat O’Brien. Admission: €5. 4:30pm

26th September
Book Launch: Captivating Brightness.-Ballynahinch, edited by Des Lally with Peter Fallon and John Fanning. Lunchtime readings with poet-in-residence Tony Curtis, Michael Coady and special guest poet and great friend of Arts Week Michael Gorman. (Thanks to Jim Savage and David Lilburn of Occasional Press and Patrick O’Flaherty of Ballynahinch Castle Hotel). Admission: €5. 1:00pm