This year’s Great Irish Famine Commemoration will be held in Kilrush, Co Clare on 12th May. President Michael D Higgins will speak at the ceremony which will include music, readings, poetry and prayers and a theatrical piece in remembrance of those who suffered and died during the Famine. The Kilrush area was severely affected during the Great Irish Famine. It is good to see ‘The Famine’ remembered annually around the country with such an occasion. In August, Sydney will mark the commemoration of this historic event which brought so many Irish people to Australia.
Author Archives: fionaconlonmckenna
New Dublin City Library for Parnell Square
Good news for readers and Dubliners with the announcement by Dublin City Council that the new Central Library will be situated on Parnell Square which will be part of a new Civic Cultural Quarter which will include The Hugh Lane Gallery and the Gate Theatre and a new Civic Plaza. All very exciting and the new library will be part of one of the city’s oldest Georgian squares but at the rear it will be modern with lots of space for exhibitions and visitors. Like all bookworms…I just can’t wait!
The Rose Garden is going to print
It’s always the same…frantic and hectic- almost manic, reading and re-reading and checking the final manuscript of my new book ‘The Rose Garden’ before it goes to print. You feel an immense high that you have finished and are happy with your story …but the low is that the book is gone….the only thing to do is to start writing the next one…
The Great Katherine Paterson!
Lovely to hear that the renowned and respected American children’s writer Katherine Paterson is the winner of the 2013 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for her substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children. Her books include ‘Jacob Have I Loved’, ‘Bridge to Terabithia’ and ‘The Great Gilly Hopkins’. Previous winners of this American Award include E.B. White and Maurice Sendak.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day
Let’s celebrate being Irish and our small green island that has sent its spirit around the world!
The garden is full of daffodils as we welcome the Spring and as part of The Greening Season 2013 and St Patrick’s Day Celebrations around the world – The Pyramids, Sydney Opera House, and Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro along with lots of Dublin landmarks will all be turning Green.
Today everyone is a little bit Irish!
Marita Conlon-McKenna 