Monday 9 April 2018

Two novels by Irish authors on 2018 International DUBLIN Literary Award shortlist

10 novels have been shortlisted for the 2018 International DUBLIN Literary Award. The list includes two novels by Irish authors, The Lesser Bohemians by Eimear McBride and Solar Bones by Mike McCormack; six novels in translation from France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Mexico and South Korea; and novels from South Africa and the USA.

Sponsored by Dublin City Council, books are nominated for the award by invited public libraries in cities throughout the world. Margaret Hayes, Dublin City Librarian said ‘Issues of violence and crime, isolation and reconciliation, identity and family are set in contrasting urban and rural landscapes. For readers, these stories reveal unfamiliar cultures and countries through memorable characters and their literary narratives.’

The winner of the award, worth €100,000, will be announced on Wednesday 13th June. If the book has been translated the author receives €75,000 and the translator received €25,000.

Images from Clare County Library's Foto archive to feature on RTE's "At Your Service"

Images from Clare County Library's photographic archive will feature on RTE One's "At Your Service" programme on Sunday 13th May at 8.30pm. Presented by expert hotelier brothers Francis and John Brennan of the five-star Park Hotel in Kenmare, County Kerry, the premise of the show is that business makeovers are given by the duo to B&Bs, guesthouses and small hotels across Ireland.

The episode will focus on the Spa Wells in Lisdoonvarna and the photographs featured are taken from our Michael John Glynne Collection. Michael John Glynne was the best-known freelance photographer in the North Clare area for over forty years. Born in Ennistymon in 1919 - where he lived all his life - he began his photographic career in the 1950s and worked both as a commercial photographer and as a photographer for the ‘Clare Champion’ newspaper.

The photographs in this collection date mainly from the 1950s through to the 1980s and reflect his many interests. He visited Lisdoonvarna each year for the September festival and recorded many interesting images. This collection is an extraordinary record of the life and times of the people and communities of North Clare. A colourful, gifted, and well-read man, Michael John Glynne died in 1998. This large collection of negatives was donated to the Clare Local Studies Project by Michael John, and is being made available through the Library’s website, a project which will take many years.