Library News, 9th May 2012
Bealtaine off to a Flying Start
Circus!
Carnation Theatre brought their magical Circus! to Loughboy Library last week as part of the Bealtaine Festival. Actors Mairead Devlin and Mike Finn captivated the audience with their shinnanigans including the love triangle of Gobnait, Nellie and Desmond, jokes involving winning streaks, and a magician wearing the wrong spectacles who was very inaccurate with his saw. The actors doubled and trebled as butcher, baker and candlestick maker. Other songs that the duo sung and performed were The Daring young Man on the flying Trapeze and Catch a falling Star. The show, which lasted about an hour, was full of fun, music and mayhem. The audience were drawn in with their own parts to play and one piece included a lady who sang The Rose of Tralee.
Bealtaine got off to a flying start with this production from Carnation Theatre.
Sole to Soul
Bealtaine will continue at the library with a storytelling day in Graiguenamanagh and Castlecomer today, 16th May. Susie Minto, a professional storyteller, will host her show Sole to Soul: You do the Walkin’, Let your shoes do the Talkin’. Every pair of shoes we own has a story to tell, from where we bought them to the adventures we’ve had in them. Bring a pair to the library and share their story with other footies. All over 55’s and their families welcome . Graiguenamanagh at 10.30am ( 0567794178) and Castlecomer at 2pm.(0564440561)
Facebook Classes for over 55’s are available in Castlecomer, Graiguenamanagh, Loughboy and Urlingford libraries. Contact the libraries for dates and times. These classes are free of charge and individual tuition of 3 sessions will have participants ready to share in the facebook generation of communication. It’s not difficult and a free helping hand will get you there quicker.
Knitting groups in City and Castlecomer libraries have been sharing their skills with a younger generation during the Bealtaine Festival. In Castlecomer, the Nattering Knitters are sharing their knitting secrets with 5th class pupils from The Presentation Convent every Thursday morning for the month of May. In City Library, the K2TOG group has undertaken to teach a group of young people the techniques of this wonderful craft. If you are interested in sharing your knitting skills contact either of the libraries.
Creative Writing
Writing and Publishing - A workshop led by Declan Meade from The Stinging Fly will take place in Loughboy library on Thursday 17th May at 2pm. This workshop is fully subscribed.
Titanic Show
Michael Moylan of “Irish History Live” recently brought his Titanic Show to Loughboy and John’s Quay libraries. At Loughboy over sixty children from Gaelscoil Osrai and St. John of God learned all about that fateful night of April 12th 1912 in a fun and memorable way. The City library played host to pupils from Kells NS and St. John’s Snr. Ballybough Street.
Children, parents and teachers were fascinated by the sheer scale of this magnificent ship. It was larger than a hurling pitch. A three bedroom house would fit on one of its many chimneys and it took three million rivets to hold it together. Michael also explained that it was “hard on juice”-it burned a bag of coal in four seconds whilst travelling only forty metres. Prior to striking the iceberg at 11.40pm passengers were having a wonderful time on board. There were saunas, gyms, hairdressers, orchestra and 10,000 bottles of beer on board to entertain the travellers.
Michael wrapped up his show with a good laugh when he demonstrated how Mr Bruce Isme dressed up as a woman in order to get into a lifeboat!
The children may not have realised how much information Michael threw at them because he did it in a fun way with plenty of demonstrations, models of equipment, costumes and humour.
The Titanic Show will be in Castlecomer library on 29th May.
The Art Competition for Primary Schools, based on the Titanic, is now being judged. We had a huge entry and we hope to award individual and class prizes as a result of the tremendous effort made by teachers and pupils around the county. Watch this space for results.
All libraries have a selection of adult and children’s books about the Titanic.
News from libraries around the county
Urlingford Library
Exhibition
There is a wonderful Exhibition of Photographs by Transition Year Students on display at the library during the month of May. Don’t miss this opportunity to view some of the most original works by dedicated young people.
Free computer classes
Names are now being taken for the next free computer classes for beginners in internet skills. Tutors for these classes are supplied by Fas. What have you got to lose? Instead ask yourself ,what have I got to gain? New ways to book flights or hotels or talk to friends online. The choice is yours-the world is out there, get better acquainted with it!! Classes are open to all the community and participants learn at their own pace.
Facebook classes for over 55’s also available during May. Contact 0567794182.
Graiguenamanagh
Community Information on display in the Library
Do you provide a service or have something to offer your local community? for example- computer repair, ironing service, gardening, catering or tourist related. If you fall into any of these categories or have something else to offer locally why not drop in your info to the library and we will display & promote your business for free.
Storytelling for children
Free storytelling in the library on Friday May 18th at 11.30am. Parents/guardians and children welcome.
Storytelling for adults during Bealtaine.
Susie Minto’s storytelling morning at 10.30am on 16th May. Bring your shoes and tell their story. Booking 0567794178.
Exhibition
Titanic Art is the title of an exhibition by local children on display. Why not drop in and have a look?
Free Facebook classes
Some places are available on our FREE Facebook classes celebrating Bealtaine in the Library. All over 55’s are welcome. The classes take place on Fridays from 11 to 12.30, on May 25th, June 1st & 8th. To book phone 056 77 94178
Loughboy
Exhibition
The library is showing an exhibition of framed exerpts from The Book of Pottlerath from May 8th to June 1st. Margery Brady, Greenshill, Kilkenny has loaned this exhibition to the library.
The Book of Pottlerath is a rare and fascinating book which forms a major part of Kilkenny’s past. It lies in a vault at Oxford University in England. A potted history of the book is as follows:
The Book of Pottlerath came into the hands of Sir George Carew, President of Munster, who subsequently bequeathed it to Sir Thomas Stafford. Stafford either sold it or gave it to William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury who gave it to the Bodleian Library, Oxford University on 16th June 1636. The condition was that it would not leave Oxford University and it is still in their care to this day. Please call in to view this exclusive excerpt.
Facebook Classes
Free classes for over 55s will be held on May 30th, June 6th & June 13th at 10am. Please book at 7794176.
Castlecomer
Exhibition
“A beautiful Name” is the title of an interesting exhibition of cards and scrolls depicting a person’s name. It comes from Maria Watkins and Gillian Kelly Campden. Both work in the area of Alternative Therapies specialising in Colour Therapy. Each scroll/card has the same illustration of a tree with hearts instead of leaves. There is an explanatory note to go along with each one. They use a persons name, and add virtues attached to each letter. These cards/scrolls would make great birthday, christening and special occasion gifts. See www.abeautifulname.com. The display continues until May 26th.
Facebook classes
Interested in a free class to learn all about the social network Facebook? Ring 4440561 for availability next Friday May 11th and 2 other dates.
Adult storytelling during Bealtaine.
Susie Minto’s storytelling afternoon at 2pm on 16th May. Bring your shoes and tell their story. Booking 0564440561.
Census 2011-
Highlights from Census 2011 including population distribution and movement are now available at library branches.