The Uncharted Territory - Oisín McGann

Oisín McGann is an Irish author and illustrator. He writes in a range of genres for children and teenagers, mainly science fiction and fantasy, and has illustrated many of his own short story books for younger readers. He posted the following on his blog recently.

On the 10th of October, Phil Hogan, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, announced that the Library Council (An Chomhairle Leabharlanna) was being dissolved. Bad as this news was for the council, it was a far worse omen for the future of the nation’s libraries. Particularly given the burnt-earth policy that is causing libraries to close all over the UK.
In my view, the dissolving of the Library Council suggested that Mr Hogan, and the other people responsible for this decision, may not fully comprehend the value of public libraries. Perhaps this lack of comprehension is a result of the clumsy tools used when those in power attempt to assess and document that value.

Read the rest of Oisín McGann's article on his blog here

What is a Poet?

Do we read poems to find our views confirmed? Hardly. Those are the bad poems. We read poems because they express something we did not know.  Because they voice something we always felt but were unable to express. Because the best poems put into words what cannot be captured in words, which is a contradiction.

A consummate poem marks the poetic moment in which the contradiction is solved – in one verse, one line, one word, one syllable.
Günter Kunert gives the answer to a question that the poem does not pose. In other words: Kunert answers the one question that every poem poses, the question about the one who is speaking. What is that, actually, a poet? How do you recognize one?
According to Kunert, the poet is characterized by his instinct for the only right word, the only possible diction, the harmony of the metaphors, the apodictic irreversibility of what has been said. It makes hesitating and looking for words needless. A poet's studio is not an alteration shop.
Ossip Mandelstam once asked how poetry ideally would have to be. And he answered himself: “Maybe poetry does not have to do or be anything. It does not owe anything to anyone and all its creditors are forgers.” By this, he meant the ideologists of Stalinism, who put the poet in a labour camp, where he died. Some of his poems were only preserved because friends of Mandelstam had learned them by heart; manuscripts and copies were prohibited.
So there is something that poetry has to be. As Kunert writes, poetry has to be more than just a notice of a special style of writing and, as Mandelstam's example shows, it has to find a way to survive even in the most hopeless situations. Poetry also stands at the edge of the abyss, because the abyss is very often the place where poetry is written.

The Frankfurt Anthology is a collection of German poems and their interpretations. Every year it awards one of the interpreters with the Prize of the Frankfurt Anthology; in 2011, it was Günter Kunert. The above is an excerpt of a eulogy delivered in his honour.

Christmas Music Club in Loughrea Library

The Loughrea Music Club held it's monthly free concert in Loughrea Library on the 4th of December.

The theme this month was Christmas and the audience were treated to some festive carols and Christmas songs from the Gray Lake String Quartet and Piano, including For Unto us a Child is Born from Handel's Messiah.

Also performing on the night were the Kiltulla

Community Choir and the night ended with a grand finale performance of Adeste Fidelis by tenor Timmy Lynch.

Next concert takes place on February 4th 2012.

Tuam Library Arts & Crafts Session

Green Schools Exhibition at Loughrea Library

Green-schools, known internationally as Eco-Schools is an environmental education programme currently taking place in over 3,500 primary and secondary schools in Ireland. Participating schools focus on five themes, starting with Litter and Waste, and continuing on to Energy, Water, Travel and Biodiversity. Schools recieve a Green Flag for every theme they complete and so far 2,310 schools have been awarded a Green Flag.

Loughrea Library is currently hosting an exhibition of work from local schools participating in the Green-Schools programme on the Water theme.
As part of the exhibition pupils attended a wildlife and biodiversity workshop with wildlife expert Gordon D'Arcy at the library.The colourful exhibition consists of a range of collages, paintings and drawings by pupils highlighting the importance of water conservation as well as showing the local wildlife that depend on clean water for survival.

Polar Express will be stopping at Loughrea, Tuam, Ballybane, Westside & Dunmore Libraries

Christmas Storytelling will take place in a number of Libraries based on the award winning picture book The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. It won the Caldecott Medal in 1986.

It is a wonderful Xmas story based on an old fashioned steam train that brings children to the North Pole on Xmas eve to meet Santa and see him off on his annual sleigh ride. Santa selects one boy to receive the first present of xmas, rather than the usual requests the boy asks for one of Santa’s sleigh bells!

There will be bells and hot chocolate in keeping with the story!

The sessions are being held in the evening, darkness required and there will be 50 children approx at each session. The story is magical.

The Polar Express will be stopping at the following stations during December 2011:

Loughrea Library-- Tuesday the 20th of December at 5.30. --ph. 091 847220

Tuam Library -- Wednesday the 21st of December at 6.00pm -- ph.093 24287

Ballybane Library -- Wednesday 21st at 5.30. -- ph. 091 380590

Westside Library -- Thursday 22nd at 5.30. -- ph. 091 520616

Dunmore Library -- Thursday 22nd at 5 pm. -- ph. 093 38923

Some of these sessions are heavily booked. You should enquire at the relevant library.

Friels's 'Buaiteoirí' in Loughrea library

Splódar Theatre Company recently toured Buaiteoirí, (Irish language translation of 'Winners' by Brian Friel). Loughrea library hosted the play on 8 Samhain.

Friel’s masterpiece is surely the Romeo and Juliet of Irish literature as the ill-starred lovers Mag and Joe find societal and family pressures too much for them.
Strangely, this tale of tragedy with its hilarious humorous sequences awakens feelings of optimism rather than despair as it draws us deftly into the charged and changing world of the young lovers. Neasa Ní Chuanaigh and Iorras Ó Gallachóir played the characters of Mag and Joe.

Over the Edge in Galway City Library

Learning to Fly in Dunmore Library

This is a young girl in the Dunmore Library holding a book entitled For Those Who Want to Fly.

The Library Service is there for all those who want to fly!

This book of beautiful illustrations and text depicts a newly born bird going through life stages...the kind of life stages we all go through. The young bird falls several times before it eventually flies: as the book says: "Falling down can help us free ourselves from the superfluous".

Nurturing literacy and the imagination does transform people‘s lives: or as that great Italian writer Anna Maria Ortese put it: “the more books you read, the better you might express yourself.” She observed that “the possession of a means of self-expression – a means of self-expression and an education in its use - might provide us sometimes with what she called ‘a parachute in life’.”

That is what the Library Service tries to do...tries to teach us all to fly and provides us with a parachute whenever we hit turbulence!

Irish Successes Abroad Exhibition at ED Ballinasloe Library

An exhibition,compiled by the European Union Representation in Ireland,is now showing at the Europe Direct Centre, Ballinasloe Library until January 9th, 2012.

Entitled “Irish Successes Abroad” and taking its inspiration from the National Gallery's exhibition, which looks at Irish people who went abroad in the 16th Century, it puts the focus on 21st century Ireland and on the people and products who have achieved extraordinary success abroad, both in the EU and globally,in their chosen field. Categories include Business, Dairy products, Authors, Film, Irish horseracing, musicians, aviation, fashion, fishing, sport.

The exhibition consists of a collection of colourful panels and is a testimony to the achievements of Irish people,companies and organizations and serves as an inspiration for those who follow in their footsteps. It can be viewed during library opening hours.

Europe Direct Centres were set up by the European Commission with the purpose of making information on the EU readily available to the citizen.

There are 8 such centres in Ireland, with 2 in Galway ..at Ballinasloe and An Cheathru Rua.

MS Ireland Art & Photography Exhibition in Galway City Library

Loughrea Music Club in Loughrea Library

The Loughrea Music Club gave their monthly free concert on November 6^th in Loughrea Library.
The theme was ‘American Night’ to commemorate 150 years since the Irish involvement in the American Civil War.
Loughrea Comhaltas led by Michael Fahy, played a medley of traditional tunes. While Ray Gately read some pieces relating to the theme.
The ‘Loughrea Barbers Group’ also performed on the night

Oranmore Library - Oranmore Twins with French Town of Clohars-Fouesnant

Heritage Lectures in Oranmore Library - 30 November

Over the Edge Open Reading in Galway City Library

Social Inclusion Week in Loughrea Library

Social Inclusion Week

Students from Gaelscoil Riabhach gave a lunchtime song recital on 20^th October 2011 as part of Social Inclusion Week. Family, friends and some members of St. Brendan’s Day Centre all enjoyed the tuneful performance. An audience member said it was like ‘a trip down memory lane’.
Well done Gaelscoil Riabhach!

Europe Direct Ballinasloe Library Samaritans Exhibition

The Europe Direct Centre at Ballinasloe Library recently hosted an exhibition on the voluntary organization, The Samaritans. The aim of this was to celebrate the European Year of Volunteering and to bring together other voluntary organizations in the area.
The exhibition consisted of 24 panels consisting of photographs by Derek Spiers and showed volunteers at work in various locations throughout Ireland.....Samaritans volunteers work at helplines,throughout the community

in prisons,public events and they accept

emails and texts also.

The exhibition in Ballinasloe was opened by the Mayor of County Galway,Mr Michael 'Mogie' Maher .

Europe Direct Centres were set up by the European Commission to provide information to citizens on the daily work of the European Union.There are 8 centres in Ireland ..including 2 in Galway at Ballinasloe and An Cheathru Rua.

Seamus O'Kelly Players in Loughrea Library

The Seamus O'Kelly Players present "The Collection", a series of excerpts, scenes and monologues taken from some well known, and not so well known plays, 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th November from 8.30pm in Loughrea Library.

Tickets €10/8 ( 2 for €15 in advance) from Connaughtons Foodstore, Barrack Street. Limited seating.
Further info. contact Fiona 086-8289918 or Martin 087-7996020.
Location: Loughrea Library, Church Street, Loughrea

Galway Best Library Service 2011

At the recent Chamber's Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards, Councillor Michael Maher, Mayor of the County of Galway accepted, on behalf of Galway County Council, the Best Library Service Award 2011 from Mr. Phil Hogan, TD, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. This is the second year in row Galway Libraries have won this award.

The mission of Galway County Libraries is to inspire more people to read more. Based on this, Galway County Libraries, in association with The Reading Agency (UK), has been running a Summer Reading Programme since 2006. This years Summer Reading Programme was themed: Nurturing Literacy and the Imagination

Each June children are invited to register for the programme at their local library where they receive a membership card/log card and other information. The programme is not competitive: children read at their own pace with the emphasis being on enjoyment, exploring different authors and genres, enabling the child to become a confident and discerning reader. Participation is free. As “Reading is the gateway skill that makes all other learning possible”: Galway County libraries have a key role to play in encouraging a love of books and reading.

Photographed left-to-right are: Eugene Cummins, Director of Services, Galway County Council, Councillor Michael Maher, Mayor of the County of Galway, Maureen Moran, Senior Executive Librarian, Galway County Council, Pat McMahon, County Librarian, Galway County Council.

Stupid Sock Creatures at Oranmore Library

As part of the Children's Book Festival in Oranmore Library local artist and crafter Roisin Cúre held a series of workshops on how to make toys from old socks. Using the book Stupid Sock Creatures by John Murphy as inspiration, children had great fun learning to cut sew and stuff old socks to create unique and wacky soft toys. This book is available to borrow from Oranmore Library and is full of fantastic ideas for Christmas gifts.

Loughrea Library - 5th BAFFLE Poetry Festival 2011

Loughrea library hosted ‘The BAFFLE Interview: Up close and Personal’ on Friday 28^th October. Author, psychoanalyst and former RTE producer/director and newscaster Michael Murphy was interviewed by author and broadcaster Liam Nolan for a very enjoyable event.

A musical introduction to the evening was provided by TheLoughrea Barbershop Group.Loughrea born Lola Montes regarded by many on the continent as a courtesan) was the inspiration for the 2011 theme of ‘Rumour has it’, maintaining BAFFLE’s reputation of being ‘Ireland’s quirkiest poetry society’.

The ‘BAFFLE Bard’ trophy, locally known as ‘the turnip’ is inscribed with the competition winner’s name each year and is housed in Loughrea Library.reputation of being ‘Ireland’s quirkiest poetry society’.

Best Library Service Award for Galway Libraries

At the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards ceremony in Dublin last night Galway County Council won the Best Library Service Award 2011 for its Summer Reading Programme: Nurturing Literacy & Imagination

The Mayor, Councillor Michael Maher, accepted the award on behalf of Galway County Council from the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Phil Hogan, TD.

This is the second year in a row in which Galway County Council has won the Best Library Service Award.

Library Banners @ LAI Public Libraries’ Section Conference 2011 –

Touring Puppet Theatre in Loughrea Library

Julie-Rose McCormick brought her touring puppet theatre to Loughrea Library on recently.
She preformed an interactive ‘Punch and Judy’ style show for 1^st class students of Ballymanagh National School. The children enjoyed the show, offering up great advice and their opinions to the puppets!

Children’s Book Festival in Loughrea Library

Children’s Book Festival: On Wednesday 12^th October 2011, storytellers Billy Teare and Kathleen O’ Sullivan visited Loughrea Library and entertained 2^nd and 3^rd class students from Ballymanagh National School.

Billy and Kathleen preformed stories, songs and poems. They also showed the children some arts and crafts.

More information on the storytellers at: www.billy teare.com

Oranmore Heritage lecture in Oranmore Library

Laoise Ní Chomhraí visits Loughrea Library

Children’s Irish writer Laoise Ní Chomhraí visited Loughrea library. 1^st and 2^nd class students from Gaelscoil Riabhach listened as Laoise explained about Japanese and Polish cultures.

Laoise used visual aids and her two books ‘Ag Taisteal le Tarlach sa tSeapáin’ and ‘Ag Taisteal le Tarlach sa Pholainn’ to enthuse the students.

Scavenger Hunt in Oranmore Library

Oranmore Library is teaming with library detectives this month as part of the Children’s Book Festival 2011.

Local children have been trying their hands at detective work by taking part in a new Scavenger Hunt which is ongoing in Oranmore Library.
Participants must answer a set of questions using a map and clues and find the answers hidden around the library. There are six levels to complete in total, starting at the super-easy Bookworm all the way up to the mindbendingly difficult Wise Owl.

Not a Booker Winner?...Stephen Kelman's Mum

When I think of my mother I think of a childhood summer spent waking to the smell of solder and the sound of Abba drifting up from a tinny transistor radio in the kitchen, in an unremarkable council house where I learned to read from the books she gave me.
I think of a winter walking her home from the evening job she'd taken packing peanuts so she could buy me the complete Hitchhiker's Guide series that I'd set my heart on for Christmas.
More than any writer, it was my mother who taught me the value of words: how the most prosaic, such as "family" and "duty" and "work", take the most living up to, and how a respect for words might one day bring me the compensations and comforts that she was doing her best to provide by working at two, sometimes three jobs at a time.

My mum is the product of a class who accepted their lot, whose toils were largely thankless and whose dreams defaulted to the modest – a yearly caravan holiday and decent coats for the kids. I'm also a product of that class, but one generation further along and with the benefit of her example – an example given quietly in unfussy acts of generosity – I am able to enjoy the kind of life that she could only aspire to on my behalf.

Stephen Kelman's Pigeon English (Bloomsbury) was shortlisted for the 2011 Man Booker prize and longlisted for the Guardian First Book award.

A version of this article appeared on p5 of the Guardian review section of the Guardian on Saturday 15 October 2011.

Loughrea Library - Free concerts

Sunday 29^th September saw the Music Club stage their monthly free concert in Loughrea Library.
The Sunus Chamber Choir, conducted by Audrey Corbett, and the Yukatope String Quartet gave an uplifting performance. Songs performed included ‘Who shall have my lady fair’ by Pearsal and the amusing ‘Marry an ugly woman’ by De Paur.

Musical pieces included; Andante Cantabile from Quartet Number 1 in D, Opus 11 by Peter Tchaikovsky and Take the ‘A’ train by

Billy Strayhorn.
Two solo cello pieces were performed by Peter Sebestyen; Prelude from Cello Suite in G and Sarabande from Cello Suite Number 1 by J.S. Bach.

Date for your diary: Saturday October 22^nd at 8pm Leisureland- ‘Gilbert and Sullivan Extravaganza’- Galway Baroque Singers and RTE Concert Orchestra.

Tuam Library - Children’s Book Festival

Tuesday 11^th October: Author Patricia Forde visited Tuam library entertained children from Castlehackett, Belmount and Mercy Primary.

• Wednesday 19^th October: 11.00 – 12.00 Class visit from Sylane school 12.00 – 1.00
• Mercy Primary school Yellow Flag Launch for Social Inclusion Week
• Thursday 20^th October: Talk on Tuam Library for the Carers Association
• Saturday 22^nd October: Latin American Spanish Workshop for adults.

Loughrea Library News

On Saturday 24^th September 2011, Loughrea Library hosted the award ceremony for the Circus Stars Summer Reading Challenge.
Certificates, medals and goodie bags were administered by Mayor of Galway, Cllr. Michael Maher, County Librarian Pat McMahon and Senior Executive Librarian Maureen Moran, along with library staff Anne Callanan, Gretel Sullivan, Sheila Reilly and Stephanie Ronan.

Almost 200 children completed the reading challenge at Loughrea library and received their award on the day, along with prizes for best review, colouring and a raffle.

Our photo shows Mayor Maher with some young prize winners.