Activities in Gort Library

IMPAC Literary Award Longlist

The International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award is the largest and most international prize of its kind. It involves libraries from all corners of the globe, and is open to books written in any language.
Novels by two Irish writers; The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry, winner of the 2009 Costa Prize and Netherland by Joseph O’Neill, longlisted for the 2009 Man Booker prize have been nominated for the prestigious 2010 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. The nominations come from 163 libraries in 123 cities and 43 countries worldwide. See the 2010 longlist here.

The Award is open to works of fiction written in, or translated into, English and published within a specified period of time.The nomination process for the Award is unique as nominations are made by selected libraries in capital and major cities throughout the world.

Participating libraries can nominate up to three books each year for the Award: the books must meet the criteria for eligibility which are distributed to libraries each year.

Science Week event in Tuam Library

NUIG held a workshop in Tuam Library on Tuesday 17^th November as part of Science Week.

Students from Transition year in the Presentation College attended the workshop and debated the issue of adult stem cell research. This workshop was in preparation for Debating Science Issues, a debating competition which invites students to engage in debate on biomedical science.

Ballinasloe Library, 20 Years since the Fall of the Berlin Wall:Wir waren so frei:Momentaufnahmen 1989/1990

An exhibition of film and photographs,currently at ED Ballinasloe/Ballinasloe Library, until early December, commemorates the Fall of the Berlin Wall twenty years ago. This event is one of the European Commission’s priorities for this year.

The exhibition, from Deutsche Kinemathek Museum Fur Film und Fernsehen in Berlin, conveys a wide range of very personal impressions and atmospheres, affording the observer a unique glimpse of these historical events and their effects on daily life in both the East and the West....the atmosphere preceding the fall of the wall and daily life during changing times.

A DVD supplied with the exhibition runs continually at the centre and class visits may be booked in advance .

Special thanks to Judith Lehinger in Berlin and to Isabel, a German student, working with Galway County Libraries in Ballybane Library for their help with this exhibition.

'Sources' launched by National Library

Sources is a National Library of Ireland database for Irish research, contains over 180,000 catalogue records for Irish manuscripts, and for articles in Irish periodicals.

You can search across:
All of the National Library's manuscripts catalogued up to the 1980s.

Irish manuscripts held in other libraries and archives in Ireland and worldwide, listed between the 1940s and the 1970s.
Articles, reviews and other content that appeared in over 150 Irish periodicals (download a full list of the journals) up to 1969.
Article records give details of the author, the title, and the citation, as well as information about how to access the periodicals in the National Library of Ireland or elsewhere. Manuscript records provide key details about the manuscript including the title, in addition to where it is held and its manuscript number. All records have subject headings, which can themselves be used as searches.
Copies of any periodical articles that the National Library of Ireland holds can be ordered through our Reprographics department, using the citation details (including page numbers) and the call number given in the records. Copies of the Library's manuscript material need to be requested through our Manuscripts department. Full details on ordering material, including pricing, are available on the Copying Services section of the National Library's main website.

Ballybane Library Knitting Circle

This new group meets on the first Tuesday of each month in Ballybane Library from 2.30p.m. – 4p.m.

Contact the Library on 380590 if you are interested

Art and Creative Writing Exhibition in Ballybane Library

The launch of an Art and Creative Writing Exhibition by the Brothers of Charity service users from the Aisling Centre took place in Ballybane Library on Thursday 22^ndOctober.
Local Councillor Hildegarde Naughton did the honours with help from the pupils of local school, Coláiste na Coirbe.

Age Action volunteer tutors in Ballybane Library

On Monday 9^th November a presentation of certificates to Age Action volunteer tutors took place in Ballybane Library.

All the tutors are involved in the “Getting Started” computer classes which are held in Ballybane Library.
The tutors were nominated in the category of “IT Volunteer of the Year” as part of the “Getting Started” initiative.

The Mayor of Galway city, Cllr. Declan McDonnell, presented the certificates.

Gombeens bring their show to 10 Galway Libraries.

The Gombeens, Jonathan Gunning and Miquel Barcelo are two self confessed social clowns who spread the word of a more just society, through laughter. Their show Stories of a Yellow Town was created from interviews with both Brazilian and Irish residents of Gort. The show gives a voice to the migrants in the area while helping people to understand and empathise with their struggle.
The show is being brought to schoolchildren across Galway over the next two weeks as the Gombeens visit 10 Branch Libraries in Galway. The shows are funded by The Arts office, Galway Co. Council.

Gort, Nov 4^th

Westside, Galway City, Nov 5^th

Oranmore, Ballybane, Nov 6^th

Loughrea, Ballinasloe, Nov 11^th

Athenry, Tuam, Nov 12^th

Dunmore, Glenamaddy, Nov 13^th

EU Direct Essay Competition in Ballinasloe Library

Comórtas Aiste ar “Thitim an Chuirtín Iarainn”.

I mbliana, tá ceiliúradh dha dhéanamh ar an 20ú cuimhneachán de Thitim an Chuirtín Iarainn. Chun Aird a thabhairt ar seo, tá comórtas aiste eagraithe ag Ionad Eolais Choimisiún na h-Eorpa, atá ionnaithe i ED Ballinasloe/Leabharlann Phoiblí Bhéal Atha na Sluaighe, do scoileanna dara leibhéal faoin teideal:

“Ag maireachtáil taobh thiar don Chuirtín Iarainn...lá i mo shaol”.

Ta an comórtas oscailte do gach rang dara leibhéal agus siad na duaiseanna :
1ad duais : 200 Euro. 2 adh duais: 100 Euro. 3 adh duais : 75 euro. 6 dhuais de 40 euro an ceann. Sé Dé Mairt an 8ú lá de mhí na Nollag an dáta deireannach a nglacfar le h-iarratais.

Is féidir iad a phostáil chuig M.Dillon, Ionad Eolais Choimisiún na h-Eorpa, Leabharlann Phoiblí Bhéal Atha na Sluaighe, Co. na Gaillimhe nó ar riomhphost:

Europe Direct “Fall of the Iron Curtain”Essay Competition

The 20^th anniversary of the Fall of the Iron Curtain is being celebrated this year. In order to highlight this ,the Europe Direct Centre at ED Ballinasloe/Ballinasloe Library has organized an essay competition for second level schools entitled

“Living behind the Iron Curtain...a day in the life”.

The Competition is open to all second level classes and the prizes, sponsored by the ED Centre are:
1^st prize:200 euro. 2^nd prize:100 euro. 3^rd prize:75 euro. 6 runner-up prizes:40 euro each

Closing date for entries is:Tuesday,8^th December 2009.

Entries may be posted to: M.Dillon, ED Centre, Ballinasloe Library, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway or email.

Ballybane Library Annual Chess Tournament 2009

A very successful chess tournament was played out recently in Ballybane Library. Three Schools- Briarhill, St. Michael’s and Gaelscoil Dara entered two teams of 4 children. Each child played as individuals for first, second and third places. Then
the top four scores from each school were totalled to get an overallwinner for the perpetual trophy.

After five rounds of chess the following were declared the winners.
Overall winner on 5 points Matthew Kilgannon - Briarhill National School.

Runner up on 4 points Alan Duggan – Briarhill National School
Third place on 4 points Andreas Kozlous – St Michael’s Boys National School.
Team winners on 16 points– Briarhill N.S.
Hot on their heels with 13 ½ points - St Michael’s Boys N.S.

Quest Seeker's prize-giving in Tuam Library

Summer Reading Challenge Prize-giving:

On Saturday 26^th September, 270 children received certificates for completing the Summer Reading Challenge. The certificates were presented by Mayor Tom McHugh.
422 children participated in The Summer Reading Quest Seekers Challenge and 60 children took part in a challenge for 3-5 year olds ‘Read With Me’.
Due to the large numbers of children receiving certificates, three prize-giving sessions took place over the day.

Children’s Book Festival 2009

Children’s Book Festival, the national celebration of children’s books and literature, is held during the month of October. Galway County Libraries are celebrating with events in a number of Branch Libraries.

Galway City Library hosted a number of events in conjunction with Baboro. Wendy Hayes told stories from Woodpecker Wood , Tuesday 13^th Oct -- Sat 17^th Oct. Classes from Local schools attended the performances.
Brian Moses, one of Britain’s favourite poets entertained children in Westside Library on Wednesday 14^th at 3.30pm. The event was very well attended.
Megan Sayres, an American writer, author of Anahita’s Woven Riddle, spoke to children in Westside and Ballybane.
Portumna Library has an interesting list of imaginative art and craft competitions. They also have activities from Monday 19^th to Friday 23^rd such as Jenga, Table Quiz, Shadow Puppetry with Hayley Aldous, Nature Collage Workshop with Marie, Teddy Bear’s Picnic and Fancy Dress on Friday.
Tuam Library have storytelling session on the 21^st and 22^nd and two sessions with Kate Mc Mahon, local children’s author on the 23^rd. Halloween is celebrated on the Thursday 29^th with spooky stories and arts and crafts. They also have art, poetry and short story competitions.
Roundstone Library had a Fancy dress party with ghost stories on Friday 17^th at 12am.
Eyrecourt Library celebrated with a Junior and Senior Table Quiz, Jenga and Draughts. Junior and Senior Infants enjoyed Nursery Rhymes and Stories.

October Events in Gort Public Library

Music & Poetry 8pm Friday 23^rd October:

An evening of poetry and music with Australian poets, Alison Croggon and Robert Gray accompanied by local string quartet, Shan-walla from Coole Music. Organised in association with the Western Writers’ Centre and the Australian Poetry Society.

Art Exhibition by local artist, Heidi Reich (pictured, left) runs until end October.

Children’s Book Festival 2.30pm-4.30pm Saturday 31^st October

Children’s Book Festival Hallowe’en Party. Children’s string quartet, Kyle-na-no from Coole Music will perform at the party and there will be face painting, fun and games. Come along in Fancy-Dress!

World Mental Health in Ballinasloe library

Positive Ageing Week in Ballybane Library

Positive Ageing Week was officially launched in Ballybane Library, by the Mayor of Galway City, Cllr. Declan McDonnell,

and the Deputy Mayor of Galway County, Cllr. Bridie Willers.

A full programme of events to celebrate the week was held around the city and county. The Age Action 2009 Positive Ageing Photography Exhibition was displayed in Ballybane Library from Friday 18^{th September}

^{to Saturday 3rd October. One of the photographs on display features our}

^{esteemed colleague, Máire Breathnach,branchlibrarian in Spiddal. The photo}

^{also features Máire’s husband Padraic andgrandchildren, and was taken while on}

^{holidays in Seattle ,Washington.}

Creative Writers from the “Journeys” Creative Writing Group read from their work. The “Journeys” Creative Writers meet in

Galway city library . Music and refreshments were provided.

Photo 1: Máire Breathnach and her daughter Mairead

Photo 2: Mrs Carmel Sheeran reading . Mr Michael Lynskey, King of

the Claddagh, in the background

Photo 3:Mr Gerry McGough, ESB Customer

Supply, Mayor of Galway city, Cllr. Declan

McDonnell, King of the Claddagh

Mr. Michael Lynskey at the microphone, Pete

Mullineaux, Tutor, Journeys Creative Writing Classes

Arts Week in Clifden Library

The longest running community arts festival in Ireland, Clifden Community Arts Week, now in its 32^nd year took place this year between September 17th - 27th.

Showcasing the best of national and international poetry, drama, artists and writers. Some of the visitors to the library are featured below.

Top: Library Staff member Bernie Jeffries with Seamus Heaney

Artist Alanah Robins with Gerard Smyth launching her sculpture 'Owenglen River' in the library.

Bottom: Members of Galway Arts Centre

Poetry workshop.

Sean & Rosalind Coyne performing their Dramatic Recital fromSynge's Aran Islands.

Cinema in Gort Library

GORT VIBES CINEMA CLUB

Where: Gort Public Library

Doors open @ 8 pm

24th September. The Visitor (2008)

Sixty-two-year-old Walter Vale (Jenkins) is sleepwalking through his life. Having lost his passion for teaching and writing, When his college sends him to Manhattan to attend a conference, Walter is surprised to find a young couple has taken up residence in his apartment. Victims of a real estate scam, have

nowhere else to go. In the first of a series of tests of the heart, Walter reluctantly allows the couple to stay with him.

Language: English. By Tom McCarthy.

15th October. Quiet Chaos (2008)

A gentle psychological drama directed by Antonello Grimaldi. Moretti stars as Pietro, a film executive whose life takes an irreversible and devastating turn one fateful morning. During a trip to the beach with his brother, Pietro's path intersects with that of a woman, Eleonora who is drowning in the ocean; horrified, Pietro rushes in to save her. He subsequently returns home only to discover that his wife, Lara, just died in a nasty falling accident. Language: Italian, English subtitles By Antonello Grimaldi.

26th November. Lemon Tree (2008)

A multifaceted drama straddling the Palestinian-Israeli divide that's full of irony, generosity, anger and pure crowd-pleasing optimism. Setting is Zur HaSharon, on the Israel-West Bank border, where handsome 45-year-old widow Salma Zidane from a Palestinian village, has a lemon grove her father planted half a century ago. When smooth new Israeli Defense Minister Israel Navon decide to build an upscale new house for him and his wife Mira right up against the grove, on the Israeli side of the fence. Salma's lemon trees are deemed a defense risk. Language: Arabic, Hebrew with English subtitles. Director:Eran Ricklis.

Dunmore Library History& Heritage Lecture

Dunmore History & Heritage Society's next lecture will take place on September 29th in Dunmore Library at 8pm.
This September is the 200th Anniversary of the Augustinian Eremites leaving Dunmore. To honour the occasion we will have a short prayer service in the Abbey at 7pm, which will be followed by a lecture. The talk will cover the period in Dunmore before the Augustinians arrived and their illustrious history in Dunmore until they were up-rooted from Dunmore on September 30th 1809. The speaker will be Hubert Birmingham.

Galway Culture Night 2009

On September 25th Galway City Library features a world of literary and arts celebration on Culture Night, headlined by a very special event. Reflecting on the exemplary life of poet and doctor William Carlos Williams " A River of Words" is an entertainment for all ages contemplating through words and images a great writer and a great man. Popular Galway wordsmith, the mellifluous Susan Millar Du Mars, narrates the story. Starts at 6.45pm

Following this at 8.00pm there will be a performance by the amazing Niceol Blue a locally based singer songwriter with great reputation.
Admission is free.

Europe Direct Exhibitions in Ballinasloe Library

An exhibition on "Climate Change" from the European Commission is at

Europe Direct Ballinasloe for the month of September. The exhibition shows the various ways in which we can save energy and looks at alternative forms of heating,fuels etc. It also looks at the importance of sharing this knowledge with our young children ie.the next generation.

This exhibition is touring all of the Europe Direct Centres throughout Ireland. Energy{Climate} is one of the 7 priorities of this Commission..the others being 1.EP Elections, 2.20th Anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain, 3.Growth,Jobs and Solidarity, 4.EU in the World, 5.Future of Europe 6.EU 10 Enlargement and 6.Energy{Climate}.

Also, Europe Direct Ballinasloe has an exhibition on the Lisbon Treaty,which will run up to early October.This is to inform the general public about the information already available in Ballinasloe ED Centre and also to refer them to other areas where they will get balanced information on BOTH sides of the debate.Copies of the White Paper produced by the Dept of Foreign Affairs are available free of charge together with the European Comissions Guide to the Lisbon Treaty and other bi-lingual pamphlets and leaflets.

A guide to voting ,in simple easy to understand language is also provided,together with a list of websites which discuss both sides of the arguments for and against the Treaty.

A simple guide on the language used in the Treaty is also provided.

Europe Direct Ballinasloe provides this information for the general public without bias to either side of the debate.

Arts Week in Clifden Library

The 32nd Clifden Arts Festival takes place from September 17-27th, showcasing the best of national and internation poetry, drama, artists and writers. The following events are taking place in Clifden Library.All are welcome. Admission charge applies.

17 September 2009 4:30pm

Readings: Maureen Gallagher, Patricia Burke Brogan, Alan Mc Monagle
18 September 2009 1:00pm

Galway Arts Centre’s Advanced Workshop
18 September 2009 4:30pm

Reading with poets Gerard Smyth and Enrique Juncosa
21 September 2009 1:00pm

Reading with Des Fogerty, historian, restaurateur and rugby coach
21 September 2009 4:30pm

Poetry & Prose reading with writers Aine Ui Fhoghlu and Ed Boyne
22 September 2009 4:30pm

Joint poetry reading with Michael Coady and Tony Curtis
23 September 2009 1:00pm

J.M.Synge’s The Aran Islands
23 September 2009 4:30pm

Actress Jeananne Crowley introduces the work of Sydney Owenson, Lady Morgan
24 September 2009 4:30pm

Reading with leading poet Eamon Grennan.
25 September 2009 1:00pm

Book Launch: Eugene O'Connell's The Diviner
25 September 2009 4:00pm

Reading with the poet Mary O’Malley

Mann Booker Prize Shortlist

The Mann Booker Prize, commonly known as the Booker Prize, aims to reward the best novel of the year written by a citizen of the Commonwealth or the Republic of Ireland. The Man Booker judges are selected from the country's finest critics, writers and academics to maintain the consistent excellence of the prize. The award was established in 1969.

In a lineup with a strong focus on historical fiction, favourite Hilary Mantel also made the final six, alongside Sarah Waters, but perennial Booker bridesmaids Colm Tóibín (who has been shortlisted twice before) and acclaimed Irish novelist William Trevor (shortlisted four times) failed to make the cut. Surprise longlist selection Me Cheeta, James Lever's "memoir" of the chimp who starred in the Tarzan films, was also overlooked.

The shortlisted titles are:
The Children's Book by A S Byatt (Random House, Chatto and Windus)
Summertime by J M Coetzee (Random House, Harvill Secker)
The Quickening Maze by Adam Fould (Random House, Jonathan Cape)
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel (HarperCollins, Fourth Estate)
The Glass Room by Simon Mawer (Little, Brown)
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters (Little, Brown, Virago)

Wood of Life Exhibition in Galway City Library

The Wood of Life, a travelling, hands-on, interactive exhibition which deals with the social, economic and environmental importance of the world's forests, is currently on display in Galway City Library, Augustine Street, Galway.

Everyone in the world depends on nature and ecosystem services to provide the conditions for a decent, healthy, and secure life. The organization Just Forests, who have assembled the exhibition, use the state of the world’s forests as a tool to establish links between 'development' and poverty.

The Wood of Life exhibition has very broad appeal and impacts on many social disciplines.

The purpose of Just Forests activities is to heighten awareness of the implicit/explicit role which wood and trees play in our lives. Just Forests endeavour to guide society towards a more responsible stewardship of this finite resource before it’s too late.

The exhibition continues in Galway City Library until September 24th.

Oranmore Library to the Universe

From Earth to the Universe (FETTU) is a collection of astronomical images that showcases the most dramatic views of our Universe. The images represent the incredible variety of astronomical objects that are known to exist – planets, comets, stars, nebulae, galaxies and the clusters in which they congregate – and is being exhibited in over 250 locations throughout the world in 2009 and 2010.

The images in the "From Earth to the Universe" project have been selected to represent the wide range of telescopes and observations available in modern astronomy. All the images are in color. In the visible light or optical images, the colors are approximately how you would see them if you were close enough and your eyes sensitive enough

Oranmore Library is the latest venue for this fantastic exhibition. It runs until 18th September and was provided with the assistance of Astronomy Ireland.

Contempo Quartet in Galway Libraries

Tuam Arts Festival Events in Tuam Library

The seventh Tuam Arts Festival takes place from August 14 to 23 with more than 80 events taking place, showcasing the best of local and national talent. The following are events taking place in the Library.

Monday 17th August:
Storytelling with Eddie Lenihan at 11.00. Suitable for all the family.

Sole Dance Movement -This is an opportunity to explore how your body is moving in the moment through connection with music and the rhythm of the beat. Workshop for children at 2.00 p.m. and for adults at 3.00 p.m.

Tuesday 18th August:
Children’s Creative Writing Workshop with Bernadette McQuaid. Bernadette will use photographs, drama and group work to help children visualise and create stories and poems. 10.30 a.m.

Thursday 20th August:
‘The Way of the Heart’…Mags Furey presents a movement mediation workshop. Surrender to the magic of Tibetan singing bowls and dive into the eternity of sounds and silence! 11.00 a.m.

Two artists will also exhibit as part of the Arts festival Art Trail. Mary Trait recently completed a B.A. Hons. In Fine Art at GMIT and graduated with distinction. By collecting a multitude of imagery from every source available, she tries to create loose narratives with the many languages drawing has to offer. Eleanor Brennan’s work is rooted in the self and the way in which we can become self aware through the creative process. Eleanor has also completed a B.A. Hons. in Fine Art in the GMIT.

Dunmore library

- An observation by Jennifer Bignens, student of librarianship from the CHUV Medicine University Library in Lausanne, who is on internship with Galway County Libraries.

Even if Dunmore is a small and quiet town, interesting things happen there. The 6th August was a good example:
Thanks to the nice weather, everybody was outside enjoying the market which was held in the centre of the town and in front of the ruins of the Augustinian Friary. Not far away from that place, the new, just two year old library was busy.
A lovely art exhibition was launched few days ago and seemed to have been a success because a lot of people were visiting the library as well. The exhibition was varied not only by the age of the artists but by the paintings too. Local and foreign landscapes in each season were painted, local people and warships too. Some of them are already sold but they’re still on exhibition for our pleasure.
The library is colourful and welcoming; a lovely courtyard is sometimes open for events and brings light in the library whenever the sun is shining. If someday you drive through Dunmore, take a break and visit it as well as the library, you won’t be disappointed.

Man Booker Prize Longlist

Irish authors William Trevor, Colm Tóibín and Ed O'Loughlin are among the 13 writers on the longlist for the 2009 Man Booker Prize.
Trevor, who has been shortlisted four times for the Man Booker Prize, is longlisted for 'Love and Summer'.
Tóibín, who has been shortlisted twice, is longlisted for 'Brooklyn'.
'Not Untrue & Not Unkind' is O'Loughlin's debut novel.

The other 10 longlisted authors are: AS Byatt ('The Children's Book'), JM Coetzee ('Summertime'), Adam Foulds ('The Quickening Maze'), Sarah Hall ('How to Paint a Dead Man'), Samantha Harvey ('The Wilderness'), James Lever ('Me Cheeta'), Hilary Mantel ('Wolf Hall'), Simon Mawer ('The Glass Room'), James Scudamore ('Heliopolis') and Sarah Waters ('The Little Stranger').
The Man Booker Prize shortlist will be announced on 8 September, with the winner announced on 8 October.