Cork City Libraries Events Guide | May - June 2024

Find out what's happening in your local branch of Cork City Libraries!

May/June 2024 Edition 29 corkcitylibraries.ie Events

The City Library, September 1945

Sixty-nineth Cork International Choral Festival Performances

Join us across Cork City Libraries for the sixty-nineth Cork International Choral Festival. Performances by both adult and children’s choirs from all over the world.

Wednesday | 1 May Blackpool Library | 3.00 pm

Blarney Library | 12 noon – 1.00 pm Coro S’Ena Frisca, Putifigari, traditional singing in the Sardinian language, to be enjoyed by all. Friday | 3 May Bishopstown Library | 11.30 am Cór Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh Cailíní, Ireland, Cór Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh Cailíní is conducted by Maeve-Ann O’Brien and consists of girls from 4th to 6th class. The choir has achieved remarkable success in the past 12 years and won the Primary Schools section of Cork International Choral Festival. Coralia of the University of Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico, founded in 1982 by its current conductor, Carmen Acevedo Lucío, Coralia the University of Puerto Rico Concert Choir is a renowned ensemble. Allmänna Sången Visby Choir was founded in 1844 and is thus Sweden’s second oldest choir. It was formed as a male choir, and it was transformed into a secular mixed choir in the 1970s. Conductor Mats Hallberg has worked with the choir since 1995 and has put a lot of effort into renewing the choir’s repertoire, its Coro de Camara Aurora, Costa Rica, The Aurora Chamber Choir was founded in February 2011 in Alajuela, Costa Rica as an independent group with the purpose of promoting the city’s choral musical culture. Glanmire Library | 3.00 pm Ballincollig Library | 2.30 pm Allmänna Sången Visby Choir unique tone and expression. Tory Top Library | 3.00 pm York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir, United Kingdom, The York Philharmonic Male Voice Choir was founded in 1925, bringing together those who have a shared passion and love of music and singing.

Choir of the 18th Junior and Senior High School of Athens Greece. This Choir was formed in 2010 and have participated in many prestigious choral competitions in Serbia, Greece Pagani-Italy to name a few. All are welcome to this performance. Thursday | 2 May The City Library | 12 pm J oin us for the sixty-nineth Cork International Choral Festival, we have 2 choral performances featuring Allmänna Sången Visby a Swedish Choir and Coro S’Ena Frisca, Putifigari an Italian choir. All welcome to this joyous singing event! Two children’s choirs: Charleville CBS Primary School from Ireland Juvenalia Choir from Finland. All welcome Góðir grannar Choir from Iceland, this is a mixed choir that has been active for over 20 years and the members are all experienced choir singers. They have performed at the Reykjavikm Culture night and Winter festival. Mayfield Library | 2.00 pm Coro S’Ena Frisca , Putifigari Italy, this choir started in 1995 by a group of enthusiasts of Sardinian singing. They present a repertoire rich in history and ways of the Sardinian people, they sing of the joys, sorrows, and their people. Douglas Library | 3.00 pm Cór Choláiste na Toirbhirte is made up of students from second year to fifth year, most of whom are studying music in the school. The singers come from varying musical backgrounds including classical and traditional music. to this joyous singing event! Hollyhill Library | 12.30 pm

Contents The City Library..............................................1 Ballincollig .......................................................5 Music Library ..................................................6 Children’s Library ..........................................7 Bishopstown....................................................8 Blackpool..........................................................9 Blarney ...........................................................11 Douglas.......................................................... 12 Glanmire......................................................... 13 Exhibitions.............................................. 16-17 Hollyhill........................................................... 18 Mayfield ......................................................... 21 Tory Top..........................................................23

The City Library

Grand Parade

May | Thursday 2, 23 | 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm | Elder Writers Life stories of the extraordinary ordinary. How to write your life story.

May | Tuesday 7 | 11.00 am – 12.00 pm | Intentional Breathing Workshop Come along to this free one-hour workshop and learn how to incorporate a simple yet effective form of ‘stress response’ management into your day-to-day life. Experience a sense of calm and enhance your wellbeing. Let’s do our best to invite our minds and bodies to relax through harnessing the gentle but deep and effective power of our breath. No previous experience needed. No equipment necessary. May | Tuesday 7 | 6.00 pm | Poetry Readings: Greg Delanty and Gerry Murphy Come and hear two poets of Cork City, one at home and the other away (you’ll never be the same again!) May | Thursday 9, 23 | 11.30 am – 1.30 pm | Non-Fiction Writers Eclectic writing group. Welcomes new members. May | Friday 10, 24 | 11.00 am – 12.30 pm | Craft & Chat Do you knit, crochet, or sew? Bring your project to the City Library and chat with other crafters while you work. Everyone is welcome. May | Friday 10 | 1.15 pm to 2.45 pm | Macramé Workshop with Grace Austen Come and learn how to hand-knot your own colourful, bohemian bookmark using traditional macramé techniques. Grace, from West Cork fibre art brand ‘pacie grews’, will teach you the basics of macramé from a beginner’s level—so no prior experience is necessary. You’ll also tick all the sustainability boxes, as the fibres used in the workshop are all made of recycled cotton from the fashion industry. Booking required: nicola_lyons@corkcity.ie May | Saturday 11, 25 | 10 am – 11:30 am | Peann agus Pár Ceardlann Scríobhneoireachta Gaeilge le Colm O Ceallacháin. Filíocht agus Prós. An dara

Satharn de gach mí, saor in aisce agus failte roimh cách! May | Monday 13 | 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm | Cork Scrabble Adult Scrabble Club, new members welcome.

May | Wednesday 15 | 2.30 pm | Daragh Breen and Lani O’Hanlon, moderated by Afric McGlinchey | Cork International Poetry Festival Daragh Breen has three collections from Shearsman Books in the UK. Peter Riley has described him as an ‘Irish super-Ted Hughes’, but there is also something of Samuel Beckett’s deep compassion. Lani O’Hanlon’s poetry is widely published and broadcast on RTÉ’s Sunday Miscellany. She was the winner of the Poetry Ireland Trocaire Award in 2022 and other prizes include The Bridport Prize, Poetry on the Lake and the Hennessey New Irish Writing. In association with Munster Literature Centre May | Wednesday 15 | 4.00 pm | Mícheál McCann and Mark Ward, moderated by Patrick Holloway | Cork International Poetry Festival Mícheál McCann is from Derry City and lives in Belfast. His poems have been published in Banshee, Fourteen Poems, The Poetry Review, Poetry Ireland Review, Queering the Green (Lifeboat Press, 2021), The Stinging Fly and have been broadcast on BBC and RTÉ. Mark Ward’s poems have been published widely at home and abroad. He was Highly Commended in the 2019 and 2022 Patrick Kavanagh Awards and selected for the 2020 Poetry Ireland Introductions series. In association with Munster Literature Centre May | Thursday 16 | 2.30 pm | Trudie Gorman and Marie Iljašenko, moderated by James O’Leary | Cork International Poetry Festival Trudie Gorman is a poet, essayist and activist based in Dublin. Her debut poetry collection Trust the Damage was shortlisted for the Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award 2023. In 2022 she was awarded a residency with Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris and in 2023 she was a Dublin Fringe Festival Artist in Residence. Marie Iljašenko is a Czech poet, writer, and translator, laureate of the Tom Stoppard Prize (2023). She was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, into a family of Ukraine-Czech-Polish descent. Her collection of poems Osip míří na jih (Osip Heads South) was published in Czech in 2015 and won critical acclaim. In association with Munster Literature Centre May | Thursday 16 | 4.00 pm | Triin Paja and Breda Spaight, moderated by Róisín Legget Bohan | Cork International Poetry Festival Triin Paja lives in a small village in rural Estonia. She is the author of three collections of poetry in Estonian and a recipient of the Värske Rõhk Poetry Award, the Betti Alver Literary Award, and the Juhan Liiv Prize for Poetry. Breda Spaight is from Co Limerick. Her debut chapbook, The Untimely Death of My Mother’s Hens, is published by Southword Editions in the New Irish Voices series. In 2023, she was a Forward Prize finalist for Best Single Poem Written. In association with Munster Literature Centre May | Thursday 16 | 3.00 pm – 4.00 pm | The Safety of LGBT Art in Libraries. Join us for an afternoon of poetry readings followed by a discussion on the theme of LGBT literature in libraries. Local poet Julie Goo and poet and activist Sarah Clancy from Galway will be joined by Eibhear Walshe, Director of Creative Writing in the School of English, for an important and engaging discussion. May | Friday 17 | 11.00 am | Launch of Esker Box and talk on The Wildlife of Our City celebrating Biodiversity Week The ESKER Project is a collaborative partnership between the Heritage Council and the Library Services, which has received support from the Biodiversity Officer Programme. ESKER is an acronym for Environmental Science Kits for Ecological Recording. The project aims to support accessibility of environmental recording equipment to communities, to help support education and learning about biodiversity, but also the recording of flora and fauna. Recording of flora and fauna is an important exercise that can connect people with the outdoors. It is a process that can allow us to engage more with nature and appreciate the

nature on our doorstep, in our parks, or even growing in the stone walls surrounding where we live. This is a recording kit, that supports ‘Citizen Science’ and community involvement in the recording of nature.

Recording of nature can be extremely important, and also rewarding, as it can highlight where species are found, where they exits, if they disappear or where efforts can be made to support them in the future. Cork City Library will celebrate the launch of its very own ESKER box this Biodiversity Week. This event will be a celebration of the accessibility to this Environmental Science Kit for nature enthusiasts in the city. Launch by Usna Keating, Cork City Council Biodiversity Officer followed by a talk on The Wildlife of Our City. by Usna Keating, Biodiversity officer, Cork City Council. May | Friday 17 | 12 noon | 3D Printer Demonstration Bring your ideas to life! Learn all about the 3D printing services in the Local Studies and Learning Department, City Library. No previous experience of 3D printing required. Local Studies and Learning Department, City Library. Booking essential. reference_library@corkcity.ie 021 4924911 May | Friday 17 | 2.30 pm | Prebooked Poetry Introductions | Cork International Poetry Festival The Prebooked Poetry Introductions involves six individuals who have yet to publish a short chapbook or full-length collection of poems. Each poet, chosen through open submission, will read in a ten-minute reading slot, in many cases availing of their first opportunity to give a reading in a professional setting. Including Eoin Cahill, Paul Dylan, Patrick Holloway, Róisín Leggett Bohan, Lauren O’Donovan and Niamh Twomey. In association with Munster Literature Centre May | Friday 17 | 4.00 pm | Mererid Hopwood and Mikael Vogel, moderated by Lucy Holme | Cork International Poetry Festival Mererid Hopwood is Professor of Welsh and Celtic Studies at Aberystwyth and Secretary of Academi Heddwch Cymru (Wales’ Peace Institute). She won the Chair and Crown for poetry and the Prose Medal at the National Eisteddfod. In 2016 her collection of poems Nes Draw won the Welsh Book of the Year Prize in the poetry category, and in 2023 she received the Hay Festival Medal for Poetry. She has been Children’s Laureate for Wales. Mikael Vogel was born in Bad Säckingen, Germany, in 1975. He has been based primarily in Berlin since 2003. His numerous awards include Hermann Lenz Writing Grant (2002), a Yakiuta Travel Grant to Hōkkaido, Japan (2015), and the Arbeitsstipendium deutschsprachige Literatur für Berliner Autorinnen und Autoren 2021. In association with Munster Literature Centre May | Saturday 18 | 3.00 pm | Film Screening: Loafers A special screening of local historian, author and LGBT+ activist Orla Egan’s documentary on Cork’s iconic gay bar. May | Sunday 19 | 2.30 pm – 3.30 pm | Out-Lit Bookclub at the Rainbow Picnic. A special meeting of our resident LGBT book club, taking place in Fitzgerald’s Park, as part of this year’s Rainbow Picnic. It is open to all and welcomes new members. May | Sunday 19 | 3.30 pm – 5.00 pm | Fairytales for Everyone at the Rainbow Picnic. A rainbow storytime experience featuring music, song, dance and new and classic fairytales. Fun for the whole family! This event taking place in Fitzgerald’s Park, as part of this year’s Rainbow Picnic alongside face painting, fun & games for everyone. May | Tuesday 21 | 11.00 am – 12.30 pm | Mindful Colouring Join us for a relaxed and fun mindful colouring session. Bring your own colouring book or use one of the colouring pages provided. Beginner friendly. Colouring has been shown to help people relax and reduce stress in everyday life. So, take some time for yourself relax while doing something creative.

May | Saturday 23 | 3.30 pm – 5.00 pm | Out-Lit Book Club This rainbow book club meets on the last Saturday of each month. It is open to all and welcomes new members. May | Tuesday 28, June 11, June 25 | 11.00 am -1.00 pm | Narratives Unfolded, Cultural Companions Narratives Unfolded is a series of workshops from Cork Cultural Companions, aimed at enriching the lives of older adults in Cork City through engagement with visual arts and creative writing, the series of 6 workshops will provide participants with the opportunity to explore visual art exhibitions in Cork City and creatively respond to them through prose, poetry, or storytelling. 3 exhibition visits to art galleries in Cork City plus 3 writing sessions held in The City Library, grand Parade, providing participants with a structured environment to reflect on their experiences and express themselves creatively. Booking required email culture@muintircork.com or Tel.: 021-4500688 text to 085 867 0744. ‘Narratives Unfolded’ is supported through Cork City Council by the Creative Ireland Programme, an all-of-government five-year initiative, from 2023 to 2027, which places creativity at the centre of public policy. Further information from creativeireland.gov.ie.” June | Thursday 6, 20, | 2.00 pm – 3.30 pm | Elder Writers Life stories of the extraordinary ordinary. How to write your life story. June | Saturday 8, 22 | 10.00 am – 11.30 am | Peann agus Pár Ceardlann Scríobhneoireachta Gaeilge le Colm O Ceallacháin. Filíocht agus Prós. An dara

June | Saturday 15 | 10.00 am – 1.00 pm | Poetry Workshops as part of Cruinniú na nÓg In Alice in Wonderland, Alice eats a cake that makes her smaller and another to make her bigger. There’s a talking dormouse in a teapot and a cat that disappears and appears bit by bit. In Charlie and the Chocolate Factory there’s the magical Willy Wonka, an everlasting gobstopper and a boat ride through a tunnel of sweets. In Harry Potter there’s a flying car, Platform 9 ¾ and Diagon Alley to name but a few fantastical things. Many treasured books are amazingly imaginative and it is often the very imaginative bits we like best. So how do writers do it? Everybody is imaginative but not everybody knows where the switch is to turn the imagination on. In this workshop, Ian Wild, who has had over twenty children’s stories broadcast on RTE Radio One, will aim to help participants find the switch. In a series of simple exercises, he will take participants through a series of simple writing exercises that lead to thinking and scribbling down inspired thoughts for stories. Release your own wildest creativity with writer Ian Wild! Take your first steps as an author with Ian’s fun and user-friendly formulas for bringing out the best of your imagination and spreading it onto the page to share with others. For young people aged 12 -16 this workshop is limited to 15 participants. Booking: patricia_looney@corkcity.ie June| Friday 14, 28 | 11.00am – 12.30pm | Craft & Chat Do you knit, crochet, or sew? Bring your project to the City Library and chat with other crafters while you work. Everyone is welcome. June | Tuesday 18 | 11.00 am – 12.30 pm | Mindful Colouring Join us for a relaxed and fun mindful colouring session. Bring your own colouring book or use one of the colouring pages provided. Beginner friendly. Colouring has been shown to help people relax and reduce stress in everyday life. So, take some time for yourself relax while doing something creative. June | Tuesday 18 | 6.00 pm | Book Launch - Crash Centre by David McLoghlin (Salmon Press) Set at an elite boarding school in the early 1990s, this powerful, affecting work addresses

questions of mentorship and betrayal, trauma, memory and erasure, as well as pathways to recovery. David McLoghlin is a prize-winning poet and writer of creative nonfiction. The author of Waiting for Saint Brendan and Other Poems and Santiago Sketches (both from Salmon Poetry), his work has appeared widely in literary magazines and been broadcast on WNYC’s Radiolab. A Patrick and Katherine Kavanagh Fellowship Recipient in 2023, he was awarded second prize in the Patrick Kavanagh Awards. Reading by the author, introduced by Patrick Cotter, Director Munster Literature Centre. June | Saturday 29 | 3.30 pm – 5.00 pm | Out-Lit Book Club This rainbow book club meets on the last Saturday of each month. It is open to all and welcomes new members.

Ballincollig Library May | Friday 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 | 10.30am | Storytime Library story time for pre-schoolers. An opportunity for children to learn through play. Parents & Carers also welcome! May | Friday 3 | 2.30pm | Choral Trail performance Come along and enjoy a performance by a choir from Sweden. Part of Cork Choral Festival 2024. All welcome. May | Tuesday 7 | 10.30am | Tuesday Book Club Adult book club discussing literary fiction. Share your opinion on the best and worst books you’ve ever read and move on to new volumes. All welcome. May | Saturday 11, 18, 25 | 3.00pm | Children’s Chess Club Chess for kids aged 6-12. Come along and play someone your age. Sharpen your skills! All welcome. May | Wednesday 15 | 11.00am | Ciorcal cainte Irish conversation group. Informal chat as Gaeilge over tea/coffee. New members always welcome. May | Tuesday 28 | 11.00am | Gramophone circle Music Morning. Relax and listen to the best of classical and contemporary music. Refreshments provided. All welcome. May | Wednesday 29 | 11.00am | Wednesday Book Club Adult book club reading fiction and non-fiction. Share your opinion on the best and worst books you’ve ever read and move on to new volumes. All welcome. June | Tuesday 4 | 10.30am | Tuesday Book Club Adult book club discussing literary fiction. Share your opinion on the best and worst books you’ve ever read and move on to new volumes. All welcome. June | Friday 7, 14, 21, 28 | 10.30am | Storytime Library story time for pre-schoolers. An opportunity for children to learn through play. Parents & Carers also welcome! June | Wednesday 12 | 11.00am | Ciorcal cainte Irish conversation group. Informal chat as Gaeilge over tea/coffee. New members always welcome. June | Saturday 8, 15, 22, 29 | 3.00pm | Children’s Chess Club Chess for kids aged 6-12. Come along and play someone your age. Sharpen your skills! All welcome. June | Tuesday 25 | 11.00am | Gramophone circle Music Morning. Relax and listen to the best of classical and contemporary music. Refreshments provided. All welcome. June | Wednesday 26 | 11.00am | Wednesday Book Club Adult book club reading fiction and non-fiction. Share your opinion on the best and worst books you’ve ever read and move on to new volumes. All welcome.

Music Library May | Wednesday 8 | 11-12 am | Music Appreciation

The Rory Gallagher Music Library presents a monthly Music Appreciation Society. The group will listen to a different artist’s work every month and will feature a deep dive how their records were recorded, who was involved in the studio and much more. Please feel free to join us. May | Friday 10 | 11-12.15 pm | Country Music Circle This an event for all country music lovers, listen to some of your favourite tracks and be prepared to hear some new pieces. Enjoy company and conversation with other like-minded Country music lovers. All welcome. May | Saturday 11 | 11-12 | Creative Dance Creative dance improvisation, exploring the dance books donated by Aruba Coghlan. Open to anyone over 18 years old. No Dance experience required. May | Wednesday 15 | 11-12 pm | Irish Circle Come along and enjoy a broad selection of Irish music from all genres, from rock to pop to trad music. All welcome. May | Thursday 16 | 6.30-7.30 pm | Celebrate Rio Day with Nathalie Salviano and her band. Natalie sings the best of Brazilian and international music. Come and listen to this energetic, very talented vocal performer, all welcome. May | Saturday 18 | 3-4 pm | Live at the Library We are Pleased to welcome Laura McCarthy to perform at our regular Live at The Library event. All welcome to join us for this free music performance. May | Saturday 25 | 11-12 pm | Creative Dance Performance Inma pavon and her creative dance student will provide a roaming dance performance through the library, with dance related readings. All welcome. May | Saturday 25 | 3-3.40 pm | Magic Moments from the musicals, movies and more An interactive music event aimed at lovers of nostalgia favourites, performed by singer Neasa de Baróid. All are welcome to this very upbeat and enjoyable event. May | Friday | 31 | 11-12 pm | Gramophone Circle Join us for a selection of classical, choral, and nostalgia music and songs. All welcome. There is a varied selection of music provided and well-informed discussion about the pieces played. All welcome. June | Wednesday 5 | 11-12 am | Music Appreciation The Rory Gallagher Music Library presents a monthly Music Appreciation Society. The group will listen to a different artist’s work every month and will feature a deep dive how their records were recorded, who was involved in the studio and much more. Please feel free to join us. June | Friday 14 | 11-12.15 pm | Country Music Circle This an event for all country music lovers, listen to some of your favourite tracks and be prepared to hear some new pieces. Enjoy company and conversation with other like-minded Country music lovers. All welcome. June | Saturday 15 | 3-4 pm | Live at the Library We are Pleased to welcome Adam Walsh to perform at our regular Live at The Library event. All welcome to join us for this free music performance. June | Wednesday 19 | 11-12 pm | Irish Circle Come along and enjoy a broad selection of Irish music from all genres, from rock to pop to trad music. All welcome. June | Friday 28 | 11-12 pm | Gramophone Circle Join us for a selection of classical, choral, and nostalgia music and songs. All welcome. There is a varied selection of music provided and well-informed discussion about the pieces played. All welcome. June | Saturday 29 | 3-4 pm | Live at the Library We are Pleased to welcome Ciarán Treacy to perform at our regular Live at The Library event. All welcome to join us for this free music performance.

7 Children’s Library May | Thursday 2, 16, 23, 30 | 10 am – 11 am | Storytime with Deirdre Ryan Enjoy the Story and Song Series for toddlers with local storyteller Deirdre Ryan. May | Saturday 11 | 2 pm – 3 pm | Storytelling with Cantonese in Ireland Celebrate heritage and culture with Peg and Cantonese in Ireland at the Children’s and Young People’s Library, The City Library. May | Saturday 11, 25 | 2 pm – 3 pm | Teen Committee Join our Teen Committee for discussion, books, zines and more at The Children’s and Young People’s Library, The City Library. May | Saturday 11, 18, 25 | 12 noon – 1pm | Lego Time Build Build Build! It’s time to create at The Children’s and Young People’s Library, The City Library. May | Saturday 25 | 11.30 am – 12.30 am | Fab’s Art Pod Fabiola Lobo is an artist who makes fun for kids. She sees Art as an opening into the freedom of creativity for all. Booking Essential. May | Saturday 18, 25 | 10 am – 11 am | Scealaiocht | Fáilte roimh cách. Saor chead isteach. Craic agus Ceoil le Nicole! Bain triail as cupla focal linn, bain taitneamh as. June | Tuesday 4 – Saturday 29 | Exhibition: Winners of Make a Model Boat Competition – Cork Harbour Festival 2024 at The Children’s and Young People’s Library, The City Library. June | Thursday 6, 13, 20, 27 | 10 am – 11 am | Storytime with Deirdre Ryan Fáilte roimh cách. Saor chead isteach. Enjoy the Story and Song Series for Toddlers with local storyteller Deirdre Ryan. June| Saturday 8 | 11 am – 12 noon | French Storytime with Antinea | Fáilte roimh cách. Saor chead isteach. Rejoignez-nous pour une historie et une chanson. June | Saturday 8 | 2 pm – 3 pm | Storytelling with Cantonese in Ireland Celebrate heritage and culture with Peg and Cantonese in Ireland at the Children’s and Young People’s Library, The City Library June | Saturday 8, 15, 22, 29 | 12 noon – 1 pm | Lego Time Build Build Build! It’s time to create at The Children’s and Young People’s Library, The City Library. June | Saturday 8, 22 | 2 pm – 3 pm | Teen Committee Join our Teen Committee for discussion, books, zines and more at The Children’s and Young People’s Library, The City Library. June | Saturday 15 | 10 am – 11 am | Scealaiocht | Fáilte roimh cách. Saor chead isteach. | Craic agus Ceoil le Nicole! Bain triail as cupla focal linn, bain taitneamh as. June | Saturday 15 | 11 am – 12 noon | Cruinniú na nÓg 2024 Join Film Poetry Project 2024 Students, Facilitator Colm Scully, and students from St. Columba’s National School with Facility for Deaf Children as they showcase their work visually. June | Saturday 15 | 10.30 am – 11.30 am | Fab’s Art Pod Fabiola Lobo is an artist who makes fun for kids. She sees Art as an opening into the freedom of creativity for all. Booking Essential. June | Saturday 22 | 11.30 am – 12.30 am | Fab’s Art Pod | Fabiola Lobo is an artist who makes fun for kids. She sees Art as an opening into the freedom of creativity for all. Booking Essential. June | Saturday 29 | 11am – 12 noon | Toddler Music Time Music Making Session through percussion, dance, singing and rhythm. Suitable for Children aged 3 – 5 years. No Booking Required.

Bishopstown

Wilton

May | Friday 3 | 11.00 am | Cork International Choral Festival Bishopstown Library is delighted to welcome the acclaimed Cór Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh Cailíní. May | Friday 3 | 11.30 am | Cork International Choral Festival Bishopstown Library is proud to present Choralia, The University of Puerto Rico Concert Choir. May | Monday 13, 20, 27 | 2.30 pm | Art Group Using different mediums (pastels, oil, acrylics etc), the artists support each other in a pleasant social setting. Come along and give it a try! May | Tuesday 7, 14, 21, 28 | 10.30 am | Knit & Natter Pop in and see the beautiful work of the knitters! Enjoy a cuppa and become part of this creative and social group. May | Tuesday 7, 14, 21, 28 | 11.00 am | Storytime Story, song and rhyme with Deirdre! A fun-filled experience for children aged 4 and under. May | Wednesday 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 | 2.30 pm | Adult Chess Test your wits against your opponents! This group meets weekly and are delighted to accept new members. May | Thursday 30 | 3.00 pm | Gramophone Recital With different presenters each month, you can enjoy and discuss all types of music. All welcome. May | Thursday 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 | 6.30 pm | Caint is Comhrá Caint agus craic sa leabharlann – bígí linn! Beginners are very welcome to come along and practise their cúpla focal in a relaxed social setting. June | Monday 10, 17, 24 | 2.30 pm | Art Group Using different mediums (pastels, oil, acrylics etc), the artists support each other in a pleasant social setting. Come along and give it a try! June | Tuesday 4, 11, 18, 25 | 10.30 am | Knit & Natter Pop in and see the beautiful work of the knitters! Enjoy a cuppa and become part of this creative and social group. June| Tuesday 4, 11, 18, 25 | 11.00 am | Storytime Story, song and rhyme with Deirdre! A fun-filled experience for children aged 4 and under. June | Wednesday 5, 12, 19, 26 | 2.30 - 5.00 pm | Adult Chess Test your wits against your opponents! This group meets weekly and are delighted to accept new members. June| Thursday 6, 13, 20, 27 | 6.30 pm | Caint is Comhrá Caint agus craic sa leabharlann – bígí linn! Beginners are very welcome to come along and practise their cúpla focal in a relaxed social setting.

Blackpool

Bowler House, Redforge Road, Blackpool

May | Every Wednesday | 10.00 am - 1.00 pm | Cardcraft An informal gathering of ladies who create cards for personal use for all occasions and none. May | Every Tuesday & Thursday | 10.00 am - 12.00 pm | Knitting/Crochet Groups Knit one, purl one....do yourself a favour and join one of our knitting and crochet groups. We’ve got two so you’re spoiled for choice! They get together without a hint of rivalry on Tuesday and Thursday mornings same time, same place. And don’t worry if you’re a novice with the needles, it’s as much about the chat as it is about the crochet. May | Every Tuesday | 2.00 pm - 5.00 pm | Tuesday Artists This group welcomes potential artists of all abilities and none as the reward of involvement in art comes through watching your skill gradually but noticeably improve. Our informal and encouraging setting is ideal in encouraging you to create artworks that you’ll want to share. May | Every Friday | 10.00 am - 12.00 pm | Art Group Matisse, Magritte....Murphy?? Well, why not?! This group welcomes potential artists of all abilities and none as the reward of involvement in art comes through watching your ability to paint gradually but noticeably improve. Our informal and encouraging setting is ideal in encouraging you to create artworks that you’ll want to share. May | Every Wednesday | 3.30 pm - 4.30 pm | Chess Academy This children’s chess club meets and trains under the tutelage of informed volunteers. May | Every Saturday | 2.00 pm - 3.00 pm | Lego Time Free-play Lego group, all welcome and free of charge. Booking a place is suggested. May | Every Wednesday | 10.00 am - 11.30 am | Toddler Time An informal gathering of parents and toddlers who want to chat, play, and discuss parenthood and life. May | Wednesday 1 | 3.00 pm - 3.30 pm | Choral Festival Performance The Choir of the 18th Junior and Senior High School of Athens performing as part of the Choral Festival.

May | Tuesday 7 | 10.30 am - 11.30 am | Entitlements for Retirees A talk from Citizen’s Information on entitlements for retirees, particularly on pensions,

as part of the Bealtaine festival and Age Friendly Libraries. May | Tuesday 7, 14 | 3.00 pm - 4.00 pm | Chair Yoga

Chair yoga is a gentle and supportive style of movement. It enables us to maintain mobility and build flexibility while providing benefits for both mental and emotional health. Each session includes seated yoga movements and breathing exercises along with time for relaxation so you will leave feeling both refreshed and rested! Offered as part of Bealtaine and Age Friendly Libraries.

May | Thursday 9 | 10.30 am – 11.30 am | Positive, Independent, and Safe Living with ALONE To mark the Bealtaine festival and Age Friendly Libraries, Veronica Reidy will talk about ALONE’s work, and how the charity enables older people to live independently at home as well as providing befriending services, advocacy, and support. May | Saturday 11 | 11.00 am – 11.45 am | French Language Storytime For little ones, with Antinea. May | Tuesday 14 | 10.30 am - 11.45 am | Cuinne na Gaeilge Learn to be comfortable with your conversational Irish or take it to the next level in a relaxed and comfortable setting. Bain triail as! May | Saturday 18 | 2.00 pm - 3.00 pm | Bookclub Share your opinion on the best and worst books you’ve ever read and move on to new volumes with our newly relaunched book club. May | Tuesday 21 | 10.30 am - 12.00 pm | Creative Writing Get that essay/letter/book that’s in you out there through the encouragement of our creative writing group. June | Every Wednesday | 10.00 am - 1.00 pm | Cardcraft An informal gathering of ladies who create cards for personal use for all occasions and none. June | Every Tuesday & Thursday | 10.00 am - 12.00 pm | Knitting/Crochet Groups Knit one, purl one....do yourself a favour and join one of our knitting and crochet groups. We’ve got two so you’re spoiled for choice! They get together without a hint of rivalry on Tuesday and Thursday mornings same time, same place. And don’t worry if you’re a novice with the needles, it’s as much about the chat as it is about the crochet! June | Every Tuesday | 2.00 pm - 5.00 pm | Tuesday Artists This group welcomes potential artists of all abilities and none as the reward of involvement in art comes through watching your skill gradually but noticeably improve. Our informal and encouraging setting is ideal in encouraging you to create artworks that you’ll want to share. June | Every Friday | 10.00 am – 12.00 pm | Art Group Matisse, Magritte....Murphy?? Well, why not?! This group welcomes potential artists of all abilities and none as the reward of involvement in art comes through watching your ability to paint gradually but noticeably improve. Our informal and encouraging setting is ideal in encouraging you to create artworks that you’ll want to share. June | Every Saturday | 2.00 pm – 3.00 pm | Lego Time Free-play Lego group, all welcome and free of charge. Booking a place is suggested. June | Every Wednesday | 10.00 am - 11.30 am | Toddler Time An informal gathering of parents and toddlers who want to chat, play, and discuss parenthood and life. June | Saturday 15 | 11.00 am – 12.00 pm | Storytime with Deirdre Ryan Stories, rhythm, and music with popular storyteller Deirdre Ryan, as part of Cruinniú na nÓg. June | Saturday 15 | 2.00 pm - 3.00 pm | Bookclub Share your opinion on the best and worst books you’ve ever read and move on to new volumes with our newly relaunched book club.

Blarney Library

The Square

May | Wednesday 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 | 11.00 am – 12 noon | Blarney Irish Speakers Fáilte Roimh Cách. Saor chead isteach. Bain triail as cupla focal linn, bain taitneamh as. May | Wednesday 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 | 3.30 pm – 4.30pm Meet bishops, pawns, knights, rooks a queen, a king and our tutor, Jack, at Blarney Library’s Junior Chess Club. May | Thursday 2 | 12 noon – 1.00 pm | Cork Choral Festival at Blarney Library Coro S’Ena Frisca, Putifigari, traditional singing in the Sardinian language, to be enjoyed by all. May | Thursday 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 | 10.00 am – 1.00 pm | Music Morning Take some time out and sample an artist from an extensive music collection at Blarney Library. May | Friday 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 | 11.00 am – 12 noon | Knitting for Blankets of Hope Knitters gather and create for this well-known Cork charity founded by Ann Downey Spillane in 2014. Cork Cancer Care Centre has donated 25,000 blankets across the country. May| Saturday 4, 11, 18, 25 | 10.00 am – 1pm | Lego Time Build Build Build! It’s time to create…at Blarney Library. June | Wednesday 5, 12, 19, 26 | 11.00 am – 12 noon | Blarney Irish Speakers Fáilte Roimh Cách. Saor chead isteach. Bain triail as cupla focal linn, bain taitneamh as. June | Wednesday 5, 12, 19, 26 | 3.30 pm – 4.30 pm | Junior Chess Meet bishops, pawns, knights, rooks a queen, a king and our tutor, Jack, at Blarney Library’s Junior Chess Club. June | Thursday 6, 13, 20, 27 | 10.00 am – 1.00 pm | Music Morning Take some time out and sample an artist from an extensive music collection at Blarney Library. June | Friday 7, 14, 21, 28 | 11.00 am – 12 noon | Knitting for Blankets of Hope Knitters gather and create for this well-known Cork charity founded by Ann Downey Spillane in 2014. Cork Cancer Care Centre has donated 25,000 blankets across the country. June | Saturday 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 | 10.00 am – 1pm | Lego Build Build Build! It’s time to create…at Blarney Library.

Douglas Village Shopping Centre Douglas Library May | Monday 6, 13, 20, 27 | 7.15 pm – 9.00 pm| Adult Chess Club All new members welcome. Important: you must be a My Open Library patron to join this group so please talk to a member of staff and we’ll be delighted to organise this with you. May | Tuesday 7, 14, 21, 28 | 10 am – 12.30 pm | Social Sketchers Our highly talented social sketchers meet weekly to paint and sketch and new members are always welcome. There may be a waiting list so we encourage you to pop in and chat with the group for more details. May | Wednesday 8 | 11.00 am – 12.30 pm | Douglas Reading Circle New members are always welcome! May | Wednesday 15 | 10.00 am – 12.30 pm | Hillside Book Club New members are always welcome. May | Wednesday 15 | 11.30 am – 12.30 pm | Bealtaine Event: A Reading with Ying Tai Chang. Douglas Library is honoured to host a special reading by award-winning Taiwanese novelist and short story writer author Ying Tai Chang. Special guests also include Cork novelist and short story writer Billy O’Callaghan. All are very welcome and refreshments will be provided. May | Wednesday 15 | 6.30 pm – 9.00 pm | Pursuit of Mighty Sisters Book Club This is a new book club in Douglas Library and all new members welcome. Important: You must be a My Open Library patron to join this group so please talk to a member of staff and we will be delighted to organise this with you. May | Wednesdays 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 | 11.30 am – 12.15 pm | Duplo Club Enjoy some fun Duplo time with your little one in the library. Suitable for toddlers and preschoolers with their parents or guardians. The library will provide the Duplo and all are very welcome! May | Thursday 2 | 3.00 pm – 3.30 pm | Choral Festival Event with Cór Choláiste na Toirbhirte Douglas Library is delighted to celebrate the 2024 Choral Festival with a performance by Bandon choir Cór Choláiste na Toirbhirte. Come along to this special choral performance and all are very welcome! May | Friday 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 | 11.30 am – 12.30 pm | Storytime with Deirdre Ryan Join Deirdre for a lovely morning of songs and rhymes. All welcome! May | Friday 3 | 11.00 am – 1.00 pm | Gramophone Circle Enjoy a morning of music with the Douglas Library Gramophone Circle. All welcome. May | Friday 3 | 6 pm – 7.30 pm | The Douglas Writers New members are always welcome. Important: you must be a My Open Library patron to visit the library at this time. Please talk to a member of staff for more details. May | Friday 10, 17, 24, 31 | 6 pm – 7.30pm | Writing is for Fun New members are always welcome. Important: you must be a My Open Library patron to visit the library at this time. Please talk to a member of staff for more details. May | Saturday 11 | 12.00 pm – 12.30 pm | Lunchtime at the Listening Lounge with the ICA Choir. Douglas Library is honoured to host a special recital by the ICA Choir. All are very welcome!

June | Monday 3, 10, 17, 24 | 7.15 pm – 9.00 pm| Adult Chess Club All new members welcome. Important: you must be a My Open Library patron to join this group and please talk to a member of staff and we’ll be delighted to organise this with you. June | Tuesday 4, 11, 18, 25 | 10 am – 12.30 pm | Social Sketchers Our highly skilled social sketchers meet weekly to paint and sketch and new members are always welcome. There may be a waiting list so we encourage you to pop in and chat with the group for more details. June | Wednesdays 5, 12, 19, 26 | 11.30 am – 12.15 pm | Duplo Club Enjoy some fun Duplo time with your little one in the library. Suitable for toddlers and preschoolers with their parents or guardians. The library will provide the Duplo and all are very welcome! June | Wednesday 12 | 11.00 am – 12.30 pm | Douglas Reading Circle New members are always welcome. June | Wednesday 19 | 10.00 am – 12.30 pm | Hillside Book Club New members are always welcome. June | Wednesday 19 | 6.30 pm – 9.00 pm | Pursuit of Mighty Sisters Book Club This is a new book club in Douglas Library and all new members welcome. Important: You must be a My Open Library patron to join this group so please talk to a member of staff and we will be delighted to organise this with you. June | Friday 7 | 6 pm – 7.30 pm | The Douglas Writers New members are always welcome. Important: you must be a My Open Library patron to visit the library at this time. Please talk to a member of staff for more details. June | Friday 14, 21, 28 | 6 pm – 7.30pm | Writing is for Fun New members are always welcome. Important: you must be a My Open Library patron to visit the library at this time. Please talk to a member of staff for more details. June | Friday 7, 14, 21, 28 | 11.30 am – 12.30 pm | Storytime with Deirdre Ryan Join Deirdre for a lovely morning of songs and rhymes. All welcome! Glanmire Library 7A Hazelwood Centre May | Wednesday 1 | 10.30 am - 12.30 pm | Active Retirement The Glanmire branch of the A.R. organisation, run by voluntary committees with all the activities are aimed at keeping older people active and well. Active Retirement Associations are a lifeline for many older people who would otherwise feel isolated and lonely. May | Thursday 2 | 10.15 am | Crochet Group Local area groups regular meeting to crochet up a fashion piece over a friendly chat for likeminded enthusiasts.

Compare and contrast, discuss, identify, and support your conclusions in a relaxed social circle of like-minded book readers, which covers the everything from the latest and greatest to the oldest of classics. No page left unturned in the bookclub. May | Every Wednesday | 10.15 am - 11.15 am | Walking Group A refreshing walk around the local Glanmire area. A nice opportunity to meet new people from the community and to meet your local library staff.

May | Wednesday 2, 4 | 10.30 am - 12.30 pm | Knitting Group Knitting group regular meeting with people from the local area.

May | Thursdays | 10.30 am | Scrabble Group Stretch the brain cells with Local area Scrabble group at the regular meeting and some

alphabetical gymnastics. New members welcome. May | Thursdays | 4-5 pm | Tournament Chess Theory

You know the moves but now want to take your chess to the next level. Chess theory for advanced players is a theory focused discussion session lead by a competent volunteer. May | Saturdays 11, 18, 25 | 10.45 pm - 11.30 pm | Toddler Music Hour Kate Jacques leads children aged 3-5 years can learn singing, dancing and rhythm through play. These fun music making sessions are free of charge, booking not essential. May | Saturdays | 11.30 pm - 12.30 pm | Kids Hour An interactive hour on Saturday morning dedicated to childrens free play with available games such as Lego, Chess and puzzles. June | Wednesday 5 | 10.30 am - 12.30 pm | Active Retirement The Glanmire branch of the A.R. organisation, run by voluntary committees with all the activities are aimed at keeping older people active and well. Active Retirement Associations are a lifeline for many older people who would otherwise feel isolated and lonely. June | Thursday 6 | 10.15 am | Crochet Group Local area groups regular meeting to crochet up a fashion piece over a friendly chat for likeminded enthusiasts. June | Tuesday 18 | 11.00 am - 12.00 pm | Music Morning A selection of musical numbers selected by a knowledgeable presenter from Corks Gramophone circle group. June | Tuesday 25 |11 am -12.30| New Book club. Compare and contrast, discuss, identify, and support your conclusions in a relaxed social circle of like-minded book readers, which covers the everything from the latest and greatest to the oldest of classics. No page left unturned in the bookclub. June | Every Wednesday | 10.15 am - 11.15 am | Walking Group A refreshing walk around the local Glanmire area. A nice opportunity to meet new people from the community and to meet your local staff. June | The Wednesdays 2, 4 | 10.30 am - 12.30 pm | Knitting Group Knitting group regular meeting with people from the local area. June | Thursdays | 10.30 am | Scrabble Group Stretch the brain cells with Local area Scrabble group at the regular meeting and some alphabetical gymnastics. New members welcome June | Saturdays 8, 15, 22 | 10.45 pm - 11.30 pm | Toddler Music Hour Kate Jacques leads children aged 3-5 years can learn singing, dancing and rhythm through play. These fun music making sessions are free of charge, booking not essential. June | Saturdays | 11.30 pm - 12.30 pm | Kids Hour A kid’s hour on Saturday morning dedicated to games such as Lego, Board games and puzzles.

The highly anticipated Irish Historic Town Atlas of Cork will be available in late May. This new historical atlas of Cork explores the city from its origins to the present day. The emergence of Cork from a monastic settlement on a marshland site through to the thriving city we know today is explained in a thoroughly researched text, illustrated with newly created thematic maps, early views and photographs. A gazetteer of over 13,000 sites and accompanying essay gives the detailed topographical history of the city up to c. 1900. The Irish Historic Towns Atlas of Cork is published by the Royal Irish Academy in association with Cork City Council. Maps are produced in association with Ordnance Survey Ireland. A Digital Atlas of Cork/Corcaigh was released in December 2023 that contains 6,245 historic sites on layers of maps in a Geographical Information System (GIS). It is free to search and available at https://www.ria.ie/digital-atlas-corkcorcaigh. The print version of the Atlas will be available in all branches of Cork City Libraries this Summer. The digital version of the map is available on any of our public PCs during opening hours.

Exhibitions

MAY /JUNE

Bishopstown Library May | No longer Forgotten: Cork Women of the Revolution This exhibition remembers the contribution made by Cork women during the revolution. June | Diarmuid’s World : The art of Diarmuid Moynihan Enjoy perusing Diarmuid’s beautiful art. Bryan, presenting portraits she undertook during the summer of 2023 with residents and volunteers at Cork Simon Community. Launch Wednesday June 5th at 6.00 pm. June | Winners of Make a Model Boat May and June | Historic Maps of Cork. With the highly anticipated launch of the Irish Historic Town Atlas of Cork, view some of the city’s historic maps from the Local Studies and Learning collection. Maps are among the most important sources for tracing the development of a city through time. The geography of Cork city is unusual. The centre of the city is built on what was a series of marshy lands in the tidal estuary of the river Lee. Many of the main streets were formed in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries when the waterways between the islands were arched over with culverts carrying the water which still flows under the streets of the city. Local Studies and Learning Department, City Library. All welcome to view. June | An exhibition by artist Marie Competition – Cork Harbour Festival 2024 at The Children’s and Young People’s Library, The City Library.

The City Library

May | Two Photographers, One Story by Artem Trofimenko and Hermann Marbe and Botanical Adventures in Analogue Photography by Ashleigh Ellis in collaboration with Willie Farr and Herman Marbe. Presented by the Slow Camera Exchange. theslowcameraexchange.com May | Gladys Leach. View the beautiful drawings of Gladys Leach, a beloved Cork artist who specialised in line drawings of gracious historic buildings. The exhibition includes her collection of 8 drawings commemorating the 800 years of Cork’s Charter as a city ‘A Portrait of Cork, 1985’ and the 1974 limited edition book of her Cork drawings ‘The Scenery and Character of Cork’. The drawings are accompanied by text by Sean Feehan, each description full of fascinating snippets about specific buildings. May and June | The Stanford Centenary Celebrations and its Cork Connections. This exhibition celebrates the Charles Villiers Stanford centenary. Charles Villers Stanford was a prolific Anglo-Irish composer. The exhibition highlights one of his operas based in a fictional west Cork village, named Shamus O’Brien. The main female role in this opera was given to Cork soprano, Kate ‘Birdie’ Conway known as the ‘Cork Nightingale’ internationally. A focus will be given to this extraordinary woman in the exhibition, who went on to become one of the founding members of Cumann na mBan. May and June | Grief’s Broken Brow. We are delighted to exhibit this fine press book featuring poetry and art inspired by archival material and artefacts from the War of Independence or the Civil War. The book was part of Poetry as Commemoration, a UCD Library project, supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media under the Decade of Centenaries programme 2012-2023, a project in which Cork City Libraries took part. May and June | Leeside Lingo! - an exhibition of language reading materials and resources for Children and Young People at The Children’s and Young People’s Library, The City Library.

Blackpool Library

May and June | Beatha agus buanna Phádraic Uí Chonaire. The life and literary legacy of Pádraic Ó Conaire. This exhibition considers the historical and literary importance of Ó Conaire’s Seacht mbua an éirí amach. It also discusses Ó Conaire’s life and other works. May and June | Ár seoda leabhar Gaeilge. To coincide with our Pádraig Ó Conaire exhibition, come and see a display of his work (among others) taken from our collection of rare Irish language books.

Blarney Library

May | Scenes of Blarney - An exhibition of work by local artist Anne Gabriel. June | Our Place Our Space a photographic exhibition from Blarney Library Patrons.

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