Irish Sports Book of the Year

Dónal Óg Cusack's autobiography Come What May has won the Williamhill.com Irish Sports Book of the Year Award for 2009. Written with journalist Tom Humphries, the book details Cusack's life from his upbringing in Cork through his three All-Ireland successes, his role in some of the most groundbreaking decisions in Gaelic Games history and his struggles to be true to himself.

Six books were shortlisted for the award. As the GAA celebrates its 125th anniversary this year, there were two other Gaelic Games themed books on the shortlist: Mickey Harte’s autobiography, Harte: Presence is the Only Thing and Damian Lawlor’s tale of a year with the Waterford footballers, Working on a Dream. In what was a memorable year for Irish rugby, two books from this genre have also made the shortlist. Eddie O’Sullivan’s autobiography, Never Die Wondering was listed in the top six as was Alan English’s detailing of Ireland’s historic Grand Slam victory, Grand Slam: How Ireland Achieved Rugby Greatness. The final book in contention for this year’s award was Kieran Shannon’s detailed account of the golden age of basketball in Ireland in the 1980s, Hanging from the Rafters. Tony Kenny, PR Manager for William Hill, believes Come What May is a worthy winner of this year's award. "The quality of the award this year was outstanding, especially when you look at some of the books that didn't even make the shortlist. Donal Óg's book is an excellently told story of a person with a huge dedication to their sport and someone who wasn't afraid to put themselves forward as a role model to many in sport and life not just in Ireland but across the world," Kenny said at the presentation. This year's judging panel is made up of ten of Ireland's best sports commentators and experts. The panel includes RTE rugby pundit and Newstalk presenter George Hook, RTE's Eamon Dunphy, Today FM and TV3 presenter Matt Cooper and Setanta Sports' Paul Dempsey.

The Williamhill.com Irish Sports Book of the Year award was established in 2006 to celebrate the quality of Irish sports writing and the standard of sports books that are produced in Ireland every year. The winner of the inaugural award was Paul McGrath with his harrowing tale of the ups and downs of his professional football career in Back from the Brink, which was written with Vincent Hogan. In 2007, Trevor Brennan's autobiography with Gerry Thornley, Heart and Soul detailed Brennan's journey through the professional rugby ranks in Ireland and France and his infamous altercation with a fan, which led to the end of his successful career. In 2008 the award produced one of the greatest Irish sports story's never told. Tommy Byrne's Crashed and Byrned was the story of an Irish racing driver hailed as one of the world's greatest, even better than World champion Ayrton Senna, but was never given a chance by the key figures in the sport. More information on the award can be found at www.irishportsbookoftheyear.com

Costa Book Awards shortlist

The shortlist for the Costa Book Awards 2009 was announced on November 24th. The Costa Awards recognise the most enjoyable books in five categories - First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children's Book - published in the last year by writers based in the UK and Ireland. The winner in each category receives £5,000. One of these five books is selected as the overall winner and receives a further £25,000. The Costa Book Awards started life in 1971 as the Whitbread Literary Awards. From 1985 they were known as the Whitbread Book Awards until 2006, when Costa Coffee took over ownership - the year that both Costa and the Book Awards celebrated their 35th anniversary. In the Costa Novel category, Colm Toibin’s Brooklyn is up against Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall. Wolf Hall – which tells the story of Thomas Cromwell's rise to prominence in the Tudor court – was the winner of the 2009 Booker Prize. Toibin’s Brooklyn was longlisted but failed to make the shortlist for that prize. The other shortlisted titles are Family Album by Penelope Lively and The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson. In the First Novel category Wexfordman Peter Murphy’s debut, John The Revelator, is shortlisted. The book tells the comic tale of a young boy growing up in a small Irish village whose life is altered by his friendship with a very free-spirited boy. The four books shortlisted for the Costa Children’s Award are young adult novels. Solace of the Road by Siobhan Dowd is about a girl who flees her foster home in search of her mother. War is a theme running through the other three titles on the shortlist. Troubadour by Mary Hoffman is a historical adventure story of love, war and romance set in 13th century France. The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness is the second part of a sci-fi thriller following a boy and a girl who are caught in a warring town where thoughts can be heard — and secrets are never safe. Guantanamo Boy by Anna Perera is about a teenage boy caught up in a modern-day nightmare. For further information on the Costa shortlist see http://www.costabookawards.com/

Challenging and Developing a Book Club

The Ennis Book Club Festival and Clare Library present a half-day workshop with Anne Downes on Friday 5th March 2010 from 2.00 – 4.30 pm at the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis. This workshop is designed for library staff who are members of a book club, organise or facilitate a group, or are thinking of starting one. A book club that meets regularly needs refreshing with new ideas and new members if it is to thrive. This workshop looks at practical ways to do that. We’ll try out games, discussions and exercises that will challenge a group to engage more deeply with a book and each other as readers. We’ll share examples of how a group can contribute to the library that hosts it and how a group might nurture new writers. Above all, a book club is social, so the workshop will also look at things that you can do to make it comfortable for everyone to contribute and get the most from being a member. The workshop is FREE to library staff nationwide but places are limited and bookings will be on a first-come, first-served basis. To reserve a place contact Frances O’Gorman, Clare Library HQ., Mill Road, Ennis. Tel 087 2262259 or email frances.ogorman@clarelibrary.ie. Festival details at www.ennisbookclubfestival.com. Anne Downes is the Training Director of Opening the Book, the company that pioneered the reader-centred approach to starting and running readers’ groups and developed the Reading Group Toolbox in partnership with Waterstone’s in the UK. Anne trains and supports co-ordinators on the Frontline course that is used throughout libraries in Ireland.

"Around County Clare, Ireland"

"A short film on the West side of County Clare in Ireland."
Shot on Sony HVR-A1E by Allan MacDonald on November 07, 2008. Music - "Anach Cuain on the Box", played by Conor McCarthy, on the CD Late...in the Night.

Crime in a Cold Climate – New Book Promotion

Clare County Library’s latest book promotion for adults is entitled "Crime in a Cold Climate". This book promotion features crime novels by authors from Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Finland and Denmark. Although the Nordic crime novel has enjoyed huge popularity in Europe for decades, it has only become something of a sensation in the English-speaking world in recent years. Authors whose books are featured in this promotion include Arnaldur Indridason, Henning Mankell and Stieg Larsson – author of the Millennium trilogy which started with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. All of the novels featured in the promotion are prize winning novels - many having won The Glass Key Award for the best Nordic crime novel of the year. The prestigious prize, known across the Nordic countries as Glasnyckeln, is named after Dashiell Hammett’s classic novel and has been awarded every year since 1992. Like all good crime novels, these novels evoke a strong sense of place. The writers have consistently come up with great plotlines that are as cold and bleak as the locations in which they are set. However what sets Nordic crime fiction apart from other crime fiction is the use of the story to tackle social issues and to turn a critical eye on contemporary society. They deal with abuses of power and inequalities in society and the failure of modern society to effectively respond to social ills. It is the policy of Clare County Library to actively promote the reading habit by increasing access to and awareness of material via book promotions. We hope that this collection of Nordic crime writing will appeal to all those devout crime fiction fans out there as well as encouraging those as yet unfamiliar with the genre to try something new.

In these book promotions, readers are provided with reviews of the relevant titles, ensuring a suitable and enjoyable read according to one’s choice. Each promotion has an average of twenty-five carefully selected titles. Multiple copies of these - in paperback generally - are displayed together in prominent position on tables, similar to supermarket policy for ‘special offers’ or bookshop display for lead titles/bargain books. This informal display is undoubtedly part of the success of the venture. Each promotion is circulated in turn - for a period of three months - to our branch library network, ensuring a continuous supply of fresh promotions. Once a promotion has “done the rounds” of our branch libraries, the books are released into the general system, and may then be reserved by library members. Click here for more Book Promotions...

McCann wins the National Book Award.

Novelist Colum McCann became the first Irish author to win one of America’s most prestigious literary awards – The National Book Award for Fiction. The stated purpose of the awards is “to celebrate the best of American literature”. To be eligible for consideration, a book must have been published by a US publisher and its author must be an American citizen. McCann was born and raised in Dublin, but has lived in the US since 1994. Let the Great World Spin is set around the 1974 tightrope walk of French acrobat, Philippe Petit. McCann uses this event as a motif around which to assemble the stories of ten New York characters and to produce a dazzlingly rich vision of the pain, loveliness, mystery, and promise of New York City in the 1970s. His previous novels include Dancer and Zoli. Previous winners of the award include William Faulkner, Philip Roth, Saul Bellow and John Updike.

De Valera Telegram & first Minute book of Clare County Council (April 1899) conserved

The “De Valera Telegram” has been conserved and recently returned for exhibition to Clare Museum. The telegram was sent by Eamon de Valera in the 1917 By-election to his wife upon his victory over Patrick Lynch of the Irish Party. The conservation was seen through in a joint initiative between Clare County Archives and Clare Museum. The telegram was in a vulnerable condition and was not in fit state to be exhibited/handled-it was in a state of disintegration. The telegram, a printed carbon copy on wood pulp paper, had become brittle, discoloured and acidic. The simple message on the telegram belied the importance of de Valera’s victory, ‘It signifies a move away from constitutional to physical force nationalism and the beginning of a political career that would last until de Valera’s retirement as President of Ireland in 1973’, said John Rattigan, curator of Clare Museum.

The first Minute book of Clare County Council recorded in April 1899 was also included in the conservation project. Clare County Council held is first meeting in the Grand Jury room in the Courthouse in Ennis in 22 April 1899. Michael A. Scanlon was elected as the first Chairman of Clare County Council. ‘Clearly those present regarded the new councils as a stepping stone to national independence as nationalist fervour was the spirit behind a series of motions recorded in the minutes and preserved now in Clare County Archives,’ said Rene Franklin, County Archivist.

Thomas Blackall proposed the following motion:

‘while accepting the Local Government Act [1898] as a tardy instalment of justice, and while we are determined to work for the benefit of all classes in our country, we hereby declare that we will never relax our efforts in the National cause until we see a native Parliament in College Green’ (CC/MIN/1, 22 April 1899).’

This Minute Book and the telegram are both on view in Clare Museum. All minute books of Clare County Council are preserved and available for viewing to the public by contacting Clare County Archives at archives@clarecoco.ie or 065 6846414. The photo above shows County Archivist Rene Franklin showing the telegram and minute book to the Deputy Mayor of Ennis, Cllr. Michael Guilfoyle and Mayor of Clare, Cllr. Tony Mulcahy.

Scariff Science Week 2009

The Animal Magic Roadshow arrived at Scariff Library to celebrate Science Week 2009 on the 9th of November. Rosie Campbell was delighted to introduce her array of animal friends and to share her love of nature and wildlife with local school children. Performing two shows on the one day two groups of fifty children had the chance to drape a boa constrictor round their necks, “bravely” stroke a skunk, and hold a little owl and a turtle in their hands. Specifically designed to educate and entertain, the Animal Roadshow provided children from local schools with lots of new information about the animals they saw and got them thinking about the importance and necessity of treating animals with respect. Library staff thought Rosie Campbell was an excellent show facilitator and were impressed by how she managed both groups of children, incorporating quizzes into her informative talks. Her shows are educational and interactive with lots of hands on experience bringing nature to life.

Courthouse Gallery Ennistymon - 'A Festive Review'

A celebration of the creative achievements of the past year, the Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon, presents 'A Festive Review', opening on Friday 27th November at 8pm with live music by Christy Barry and Colin Nee to start the evening. Ennistymon Courthouse gallery is proud to look back on 23 artists who contributed to the artistic excellence and success of the Gallery in 2009. Each artist will show new works and this exhibition will include paintings, drawings, photography, ceramics, and sculpture. The show runs from the 27th November 2009 to 14th January 2010.

Ennis Book Club Festival 2010 line-up is announced

Some of the most recognisable names in Irish and international literature will participate in next year’s Ennis Book Club Festival - the largest event of its kind anywhere in Ireland and the UK – from the 5th to the 7th March 2010. Supported by Clare County Library, the three-day programme of events is expected to attract hundreds of Book Club members and book lovers from all over Europe and North America. The festival will also feature Ireland’s first ‘Book Club of the Year Award’ and a professional development workshop for library staff.

Among the contributors to the festival will be Lionel Shriver, prolific journalist and Orange Prize-winning author of We Need to Talk About Kevin and The Post-Birthday World; Joseph O’Connor, journalist, screenwriter and author of ten Irish number one bestsellers including Cowboys and Indians, Desperadoes, The Salesman and Inishowen; Tim Pat Coogan, biographer, historian, journalist and writer of Michael Collins and Ireland in the Twentieth Century; and Fiona Looney, columnist, playwright, scriptwriter and media personality.

Other authors scheduled to participate in the fourth annual festival include Diarmaid Ferriter, author, historian, and university lecturer; Paul Howard, journalist, author and creator of the cult character Ross O'Carroll-Kelly; Claire Keegan, award-winning short story writer and author of Antarctica and Walk the Blue Fields; and Thomas Lynch, essayist, poet, short stories writer, funeral director and winner of the American Book Award and The Heartland Prize for Nonfiction.

Academic contributors to the festival include Dr. Paul Delaney, School of English at Trinity College; Alan Titley, author, playwright, poet and Professor of Modern Irish and Head of Department at University College Cork; and Niall MacMonagle, reviewer, editor and English teacher at Dublin’s Wesley College.

Commenting on the 2010 Festival, Chairperson Frances O’Gorman said: “The festival is a wonderful social and literary event that brings together Book Club members, readers and authors from all over Ireland and beyond. It presents a unique opportunity for all literary enthusiasts to share their joy of reading, to meet authors, to discuss books, and to have a weekend break with friends.”

One of the highlights of the weekend Festival will be The Sunday Symposium, during which Tim Pat Coogan and Diarmuid Ferriter will join a panel discussion on the subject of “Reading History”. Elsewhere, the Festival is inviting library staff nationwide to a free workshop on how to start, develop and challenge a Book Club. Ciana Campbell of the Festival Organising Committee noted that the professional development workshop, which will be presented by Anne Downes of Opening the Book, has been designed specifically for library staff who are interested or involved in book clubs. She added: “It will cover areas such as managing group dynamics, injecting new life and bringing new ideas”. Meanwhile, the 2010 Festival features Ireland’s foremost ‘Book Club of the Year Award’. The winning Book Club (up to a maximum of six people) will receive a prize of free weekend passes to festival events and overnight accommodation at the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis. Entry forms, which are being distributed throughout the country, must be submitted by Friday 8th January 2010.

Further details on ticket prices and the festival are available from (web) www.ennisbookclubfestival.com, (t) www.twitter.com/ebcf, (e) info@ennisbookclubfestival.com and (t) 087-9723647/085-7758523.