Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Join us for a monthly library chat. We'll talk about a variety of library related topics, from books to events, and plans for the future.
Hello, everyone. My name is Jack Carey and welcome to the Westmeath Library Podcast.
Sorry for being absent for so long. I was out of work and wasn't able to record this. A big thanks to Dearbhla for recording one in my stead.
Now as usual, this podcast will be giving you a rundown of events and services available to you
by the libraries of Westmeath County Council. If you have any questions about the content of this podcast or the newsletter that also covers many of these topics, please feel free to contact us
via library @ Westmeathcoco . ie
For queries about the events in this podcast are taking place in specific branches please reach out to the staff of that specific branch. You can find contact details for all Westmeath libraries by visiting your local branch library or by visiting our website. www.westmeathculture.ie
Westmeath is proud to host an exhibition on Paul Strzelecki, apologies if I got that name wrong,
The Polish hero who worked to save thousands during the Great Irish famine.
This exhibition will be open in Moate till May the eighth, but will also be coming to Athlone
Library in June.
Speaking of exhibitions for those who saw the EU exhibition in Westmeath over the past few months,
a number of events will also be taking place in May to celebrate Ireland's membership in the EU.
Dr. John Gibney will be talking on May the ninth in Athlone and David McCullough on May the 11th in Mullingar. Both will be giving talks on Irelands's entrance into the European Union.
There is also a European History Reading Group meeting on May the ninth in Mullingar discussing
understanding our European family through history with guest speaker Frances Jacobs.
Finally, there'll be a digital exhibition into Europe on display from the eighth to the 12th in all libraries during our normal opening hours.
All of this is to celebrate Ireland's 50 years in the European community.
Please speak with staff if you would like to learn more.
For more creative exhibitions, Castlepollard is hosting an exhibition on the celebration of crafts for Bealtaine from the ninth to the 19th of May. This takes local craft, works from the M4 Women's Group and the ICA group.
The launch will also feature a harp recital for those with a musical ear, and Mullingar library is also hosting a creative exhibition from the third to the 15th of May.
Threads of Calm by Mullingar Community College students will be using shapes and materials to create a fun and engaging exhibition so that viewers experience a sense of calm while visiting the exhibits.
All right. So as you all may noticed we have a lot of exhibitions going on this month and saving the best for last.
We have Westmeath Heritage Officer Melanie McQuaid here to introduce one of our most interesting exhibitions going on in the month of May.
Murmurations. How are you doing? Melanie?
- Hi, I'm good, thanks.
So first question, Murmurations. This the first time I've actually heard this word ever doing this podcast. So would you please explain what Murmurations are?
- Sure. So Murmurations essentially are when a flock of starlings gather and like a huge flock of starlings and form like different shapes moving across the sky, people might be familiar with one of the famous photographs that was taken and was on the cover of the Irish Times of a murmuration over
like annual. And in fact, this exhibition, all the photographs were taken in and around Loch and and it shows the birds in many different formations. And it's really it's really impressive phenomenon when that happens. So it makes for a great exhibition, really, and well, the different shapes of the the bird formations.
Okay. So, so whenever you see those, like I was always wondering if there, if there was ever a word
for when you see those large flocks of birds moving in that kind of almost rhythmic pattern.
So can you tell me why is the exhibition opening on the week of the 19th, the 28th of this month, specifically?
- So that's biodiversity week, the 19th to the 28th of May. And there are several events being planned around the county and around the country. And this exhibition has been scheduled to to fit into biodiversity week.
Okay.
So and what is biodiversity week for our viewers that are listening in?
- So essentially, it's a week to help raise awareness, people's awareness of biodiversity. Biodiversity basically is a term that refers to all living things from people to plants to creepy crawlies to larger mammals, birds. So it's raising awareness of the biodiversity and I suppose the issues concerning biodiversity because obviously we have some people know and we are in the midst of a biodiversity crisis, but we need to celebrate what we have and just I suppose and become more aware of what's around us and what we can do to help conserve biodiversity.
Okay, and for those who are going to be going into the exhibition, would you be able to let us know who took these pictures and why, besides being cool?
- Sure. So there are two photographers, John McCauley, who people may know. And he said a lot of photography around the county and his photographs are often in the Examiner and the the Topic and
and Rodney Cleary is the other photographer.
So there's ten photographs. They each have ten photographs that are in this exhibition. So it's 20 altogether.
And actually, John is going to be speaking about his photography 00:05:47:22 - 00:05:51:23
work and murmurations and why Murmurations happen actually, so that be worth checking out and coming along to his talk. It's going to be on the Tuesday, the 23rd at 6.30
All right. Thank you very much, Melanie.
That sounds really interesting.
- And just to say as well, John is offering to do talks to groups from schools. So if there are schools interested in coming in, seeing the exhibition and hearing John talk about the process of taking the photographs and the phenomenon of murmurations and why they happen, and I'm sure if they get in touch with the library, that could be arranged.
Well, for any teachers that are listening in on this, there's a there's an opportunity for your classes
right there.
All right.
Thank you very much, Melanie. Thanks.
- I will see you around.
Moving on.
Mullingar Library is hosting a healthy Ireland talk with Dr. Deirdre Ford from KLM Medical Center, Athlone. This event is called Menopause and Perimenopause and will help provide information and answer questions you may have on these medical topics.00:06:57:24 - 00:07:00:15
This event was originally to be hosted on the 11th, but has been rescheduled to the 23rd of May.
The event is free, but please register in advance.
Castlepollard Public Library is hosting English beginner classes on Mondays at 10 a.m. for adults in collaboration with Longford, Westmeath, ETB.
While these classes are primarily for the local Ukrainian community, anyone who needs basic
English is welcome to join in. Contact Castlepollard Library staff to learn more and make sure
to bring your PPS number for enrollment.
Athlone Library will be hosting a digital heritage workshop on May the 20th, providing hands
on training that teaches participants how to use photography to create 3D models of objects and spaces.
Find out more or register at digital heritage dot com forward slash workshops.
For those who don't know. Advice on your device is but a regular time slot where library staff will make themselves available to give advice on using digital library services from borrow books to printing.
Pop in to your local library to find out how to get the most out of your device in the library.
Westmeath Libraries are always hosting new groups for our community, such as our many book clubs, our Athlone Social Club run by the Alzheimer's Society, our mission and crochet groups
and even parents and toddler meetings. If you have specific interests, why not come to the library and find out if there's a group for you to start your own and set the trend?
And there you have it, folks. This has been the Westmeath Library podcast. I'm your host, Jack Carey.
Thank you. And have a wonderful day.