Children’s Book’s Ireland Celebrates 20 Years!

Posted on 02/10/2017 by fionaconlonmckenna

Kate Di Camillo & Marita Conlon-McKenna

Culture Night 2017 was such a balmy evening, that Dublin was packed with culture lovers of all ages keen to enjoy the events and to explore some of the great buildings that were open to the public.

I was one of the writers in the big glass shop window of ‘Dubray Books’ on Grafton Street reading for the charity ‘Aware’, to the passing crowds all about. It was a bit strange at first standing there with a microphone that could be heard out on the busy street but we all soon got used to it.

I was delighted to meet one of my all- time favourite American authors Kate Di Camillo, who was also taking part and reading from her new book ‘Raymie Nightingale’.

Saturday was the annual Children’s Book’s Ireland Conference at The Lighthouse Cinema. It is hard to believe that CBI is celebrating 20 years!!

It was a privilege to listen to the wonderful Lucy Cousins, creator of the much loved Maisie books talk about her work and even see some of her early childhood drawings.

Illustrators Chris Judge and Rob Biddulph chatted about the life of an illustrator as they showed us some of their work, followed by Anna Carey and Lucy Adlington talking about writing history, and the importance of research and detail. Shane Hegarty , John Boyne and Cecelia Ahearne discussed the difference between writing for adults and children.

However the highlight for me was the wonderful Kate di Camillo, who talked about her childhood and growing up and the importance of learning to look at the world.

A reserved child, she discovered this after a trip in a glass bottom boat, when the old lady sitting beside her touched her arm when she saw the silver swish of a big fish below them. The shy, Kate looked down and seeing a turtle, told the stranger.

Oh my…This world.’ the old lady said.

‘Oh my…This world’….. One for all of us to remember…

Anna Carey, Marita Conlon-McKenna and Alan Nolan

Monica McInerney’s Book Launch

Posted on 17/08/2017 by fionaconlonmckenna

Monica McInerney’s Book launch of ‘The Trip of a Lifetime,’ –Marita with Monica , Sinead Moriarty and Martina Devlin.

Great to get along to Dubray Books on Grafton Street for Monica McInerney’s Book launch of ‘The Trip of a Lifetime,’ the third book in the Australian Quinlan family series which began with ‘Alphabet Sisters’. This book has the indomitable Lola Quinlan returning to visit her homeland in Ireland with her granddaughter and great- grand daughter in tow.

Author Sinead Moriarty, a close friend of Monica’s launched the book, which is already top of the bestselling charts in Australia. Lots of writer friends came along to join in the celebrations with Monica who divides her time between living in Australia and Ireland- The best of both worlds!

Bloomsday Party in ‘The Park’

Posted on 23/06/2017 by Philippa Harvey

On Saturday as Dublin sweltered, it was straw hats and sunshades for The Bloomsday Garden Party at Aras an Uachtaran, where everyone got a warm welcome from President Michael D. Higgins and his wife Sabina. There were bands playing as everyone mingled and chatted and strolled around the magnificent gardens, with plenty of entertainment as we lolled under shady parasols.

Then it was full afternoon tea served in the marquee on the lawn as we listened to Joycean inspired opera and readings including a brilliant section of Ulysses read by the president’s wife Sabina. There was more poetry, prose and music with the President joining in with a poem of his own. The Stunning set everyone’s feet hopping before heading back outside.

Afterwards we dallied listening to some mellow jazz in that most beautiful of gardens.

What a swell summer party!!

Hans Zimmer Concert and The Dalkey Book Festival

Posted on 21/06/2017 by Philippa Harvey

Hans Zimmer concert

Sunny Dublin was at its very best this week and I was over the moon to get along to the Hans Zimmer concert in the 3 Arena.

Zimmer is an extraordinary composer who creates such mood and atmosphere and tells story with his music and film scores. He talked about his work, the directors he has worked with, and the inspiration for many of his projects. He and his incredible musicians, orchestra and choir gave us everything from Gladiator to The Lion King, and Batman to Interstellar. A packed audience of all ages gave a well- deserved standing ovation to one of the greatest composers of modern times.

On Bloomsday itself I was at ‘The Dalkey Book Festival’ where in the Big Marquee overlooking the water, North Korean writer Hyeonseo Lee talked with Michael Breen about the difficulties of growing up in North Korea. She talked candidly about her family and the day to life they lived under a harsh regime where everyone is under suspicion and watched. A wonderful writer and speaker she explained to the large crowd about the title of her book, ‘The Girl with Seven Names’- which is how she has somehow managed to try to protect herself and her relations from the regime as she escaped to China and eventually to South Korea.

President Higgins – start of National Famine Way

Posted on 30/05/2017 by Philippa Harvey

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Caroilin Callery and Famine Way Walkers with President Michael D. Higgins.

President Michael D. Higgins came to Cloondara to celebrate and mark the Two Hundred Year Anniversary of the opening of The Royal Canal, which has been restored and is an important part of our waterways. He also launched the National Famine Way Walk which follows along the Royal Canal from Cloondara in County Longford to Dublin.

The National Famine Way commemorates the 1490 evicted tenants forced by landlord Denis Mahon of Strokestown Park House in Roscommon to walk to Dublin to board ships that would take them to Liverpool and then on to Canada in May 1847. Many unfortunately perished on the arduous journey.

Young and old, women and children, the evicted tenants, who were being escorted by a bailiff, had to be given shoes to help them walk as they did not even possess any of their own.

President Higgins spoke movingly to the large crowds about The Great Irish Famine and all those who were forced to emigrate. He unveiled a sculpture of a bronze pair of child’s shoes to represent the 1490 tenants, before sending The National Famine Way Walkers off on their five day journey.

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The Famine Way Walkers with Jim Callery of Strokestown Park House

I found it strangely emotional to watch The Famine Way Walkers as they are a grim reminder of all those who footsore and hungry had to make such journeys during Ireland’s Great Famine.

The walkers include Caroilin Callery of Strokestown Park House and a number of Irish Famine academics and experts who set off in torrential rain on their long 155km walk from Richmond Harbour in Cloondara, County Longford to Dublin’s Eden Quay.

I am hoping lots of walkers and walking clubs, schools and students and history lovers will come out to join them on their way.

Check out their route on nationalfamineway.ie