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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 and welcome to Westmeath Libraries's podcast. My name is Caroline Barry and it's March already! so in this podcast I'm going to go through the more unusual events that'll be happening in March, take a little look back at February and then go through our regular events.
On Saturday the 24th of February libraries
around Ireland celebrated Ireland Reads, a national celebration of books and reading. Ireland Reads is an initiative of the government of Ireland to celebrate the joy of reading. It is funded by Healthy Ireland and supported by public libraries
and many organisations that promote reading literacy and the arts.
Now here in Westmeath we had a host of activities all around the county with monster doodles in all our libraries book club meetings and book clinics to help children discover their next great read. In Mullingar library we had a special event with spinner of stories and Weaver words Niall de Búrca. This was a booked out event, so thanks to everyone who came along and as if that wasn't enough we were delighted to host a number of a Reading Ambassadors online who shared their love of books and reading and
you can go to www.westmeathculture.ie You go and visit that website and simply search for Ireland Reads.
You can look at the many authors that spoke about their love of reading and their love of writing and the kind of books that inspire them. As a special treat we were also able to share
a short story written by a 5-year old from Lithuania which was read by one of our Reading Ambassadors Jack O'Sullivan. So remember taking time to relax and to do things you enjoy is important and reading is good for you. It relaxes your body by lowering your heartrate and easing the tension in your muscles. Studies have shown that reading boosts your mental health by reducing stress by up to 68% so pop into any library here in Westmeath and find out about our regular book clubs and other ways to share the joy.
Well, it is well over a century since the first International Women's Day was honoured. Imagine it happened in 1911 and back then they were campaigning for women's right to work, to vote, to be trained, and to hold public office and to end discrimination. So this year International Women's Day takes place on March 8th and as you know it's a global day celebrating the social economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This year the campaign theme for International Women's Day is in Inspire Inclusion.
So Castlepollard library are celebrating International Women's Day this March 8th at 11 a.m. They have Michelle Lyons who is a women's health physiotherapist and she will be there in the library to answer any questions on women's health and wellbeing. She'll be available to answer your questions on a range of topics including menopause, back pain, female athletes, pelvic health, postnatal recovery, fertility, menstrual health, bone health, breast health, or living well after cancer. And there'll also be a dropbox at the library desk if you would like to submit a question to Michelle prior to the event and there's no booking required and the entry is free.
So why not head over there at 11 am on March 8th.
The stars had great significance in the lives of the Irish neolithic culture, they were governed and influenced by the stars and the movement of our Earth around the sun. And that culture is responsible for creating Ireland's most remarkable monument of the test of time. At you know in Westmeath we have fabulous samples
of neolithic monuments. To that community and to us six thousand years later the night sky is still presented as a huge blanket of tiny specks of various brightness and colour, but indistinguishable from one another one most of us, so we do not pay attention to the sky only making the occasion advance but you really should. In March of this year we have astonomy week and that takes place between the 9th and 16th of March well to celebrate Irish astronomy week Mullingar library have a talk.
They have Ivan Maric coming in on the 12th March at 6:30 p.m.to 7:30 p.m. to talk about the story behind 12 different galaxies found in our universe. So all ages are welcome, but booking is required and just to give you a little background on Ivan, Ivan is the current chairperson of the Midlands astronomy club based in Tullamore.
He witnessed the Apollo mission from the 1960s to the 1970s and his interest in space and space exploration has continued. He studied natural sciences at university and he spent his career as an engineer. His current astronomy interest is in the new solar model based on Liquid metallic hydrogen which is found in the centre of the gaseous planets like Jupiter and Saturn so is the title of his Talk is "In a
galaxy far far away". And we all remember the fantastic film that quote comes from. That's certainly where my interest in the Stars began, so if you'd like to find out the story behind the 12 different galaxies found in our universe why not go online and book your place you go onto www.westmeathculture.ie. That talk is taking place on the 12th of March at 6:30.
Still staying with Irish astronomy week there is a talk over in Athlone library by astrophotographer Anthony Damien on the 14th of March at 6:30 p.m. unyil 7:30 p.m. nd Anthony is going to talk about the
skills and techniques he uses to capture his fantastic images of the night sky from various locations in the midlands. He has been a member of the Athlone photography club since creation and enjoys many stars photography from landscapes nightscapes to Deep Space imaging. So for anybody who is interested in attending this talk the talk is free, but you do need to book.
Early in the 17th century St Patrick's Day was made an official feast day. We've been celebrating that feast day ever since and it's now become a global phenomenon. Here in Westmeath libraries over in Mullingar on the 13th of March we're getting ready for St.Patrick's Day and we're going to do that by running an arts and crafts workshop, so this workshop is taking place at 3:30 p.m. And it suitable for5 to 9 year olds, all children have to be accompanied by an adult and you do need to book into this event is free but go online and book your place on the 13th of March at 3:30 over in Mullingar library.
On the 15th of March over in Athlone library there are music therapy Sessions for children & teenagers with additional needs. Croi na hEireann and presents two music therapy sessions and they will take place in the sensory room in Athlone library the sessions are suitable for children and teens with mild to moderate special needs and they're led by Bernadette Moran she's a qualified music therapist and a talented traditional Irish musician, so these therapeutic sessions offer children aged
between 6 and 17 and opportunity to engage in interactive musical activities. The first session will run from 3:30 p.m. to 4:10, suitable for ages 6 to 12 and then the second session will run from 4:15 until 5 p.m. and that's suitable for 13 to 17 year olds.
It is a free a free workshop or event but you do need to book and to book your place you email Athlone library at athlib@westmeathcoco.ie or just call the library and don't miss out on this enriching experience for children with special needs.
On the 21st of March at 7 p.m.over in the Aidan Heavey library in Athlone there is a heartfulness meditation session so you do need to go online and register for the event. This heartfulness meditation is 100 years old as a tradition and it continues to evolve with the times
Twice during the month of March there will be a Warhammer night taking place over in Athlone library, so it'll happen on 5th of March and 26th of March 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. If you are ready have an army of the following at combat Patrol or a legal 500 point army and if you do not have an army we will have armies available to borrow and will work to show new players how to play. They'll also have a kill team and a blood bowl available, so this game is suitable for age 16 + While the event is free, you do have to register so go online and register at www.westmeathculture.ie
Well that was a rundown of the more unusual taking place in Westmeath libraries during the month of March. Now I'm going to go through ours regular group that happen in different libraries throughout the county and just to say that these groups always welcome new members, so either go online to www.westmeathculture.ie and go to library events to find out what's happening in your local library or better still just pop in to your local library to find out what's going on and when the groups that you're interested in are meeting.
Well, do you have a baby or a toddler? so every Friday morning at 10 a.m. to 11 over in Mullingar library there's a baby book club and a toddler group everyone is welcome. The wonderful Catherine, she's a fabulous librarian over there. She reads books, sing songs. Babies dance, Mums get to know one another it's a lovely way to start a Friday so that's every Friday morning, pop in there's no registration required and the event is free.
After the baby book club and toddler group in Mullingar the breastfeeding support group meet up every Friday at 11 a.m. until 12 this group is led by a public health nurse her name is Colleen and should you need to contact her for any reason her number is where online at www.westmeathculture.ie That group is fantastic. It meets up every Friday 11 to 12 registration is not required to free. So for any of you there breastfeeding, if you would like to meet with other mothers who are breastfeeding and looking for advice or supportplease do come along.
And still staying with baby and toddler groups over in Moate library every Tuesday there's a baby and toddler group that meets at 10 a.m. to 12 you can meet other parents and carers with babies and small children and you can relax and chat together while the children play. The group is self- sufficient and there is a selection of suitable toys and handpicked books available. ALl are welcome, so that's over in Moate library every Tuesday from ten to twelve.
Meanwhile, on March 9th and Saturday the 9th of March over in Athlone library there's a toddler storytime and Rhyme so you do have to book for this and when you reserving a space one ticket is needed per group only and the ticket can be booked in the adults name, so that's March 9th toddler storytime and rhyme over in Athlone Library.
Now for older children from 7 to 9 years of age Mullingar library is starting a new children's book club and it's starting on
Wednesday the 6th of March at 3 p.m. Let the stories unfold and the imaginationsoar.
For this book club registration is required so if you're interested and your kids about that age and really interested in reading, come along to that book club on the 6th of March on a Wednesday afternoon and let them begin to enjoy other children who read and the wonderful books they can explore.
Over in Kilbeggan library there is an Under 12s Book Club that's been going since last year. We have lots of children interested in Reading , but they're also interested in creative writing so we read a book a month and then during the week so still reading the book we will also do a little bit of Creative Writing, so we have some very creative children attending this group. At the moment the book we're reading is Agatha Oddly so if you have a child between the 7 and 12 and they're interested in reading and interested in writing, come along and join the Kilbeggan under 12 Book Club. So they meet every Friday afternoon from 3:10 until after 4 and new members are always welcome.
Are you interested in knitting or crocheting or patchwork and needlecraft? If you are we have groups that meet regularly in different libraries throughout the county. So in Moate Library every Monday morning from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 there's a lovely knitting group who meet in the meeting room and they bring their own crafts and share ideas and inspiration with each other. There's about 12 members but they're delighted to welcome new members. This is a free group and no registration required so just turn up there at 10:30 in Moate library
And meanwhile in Castlepollard library every Tuesday morning from 10:30 to 12 the knitting club, the M4 Women's Group meet and new members are always welcome to drop in any Tuesday morning to Castlepollard library.
There's also a knitting and crochet group over in Kilbeggan library and they meet every Monday afternoon from 2 pm to. 4 p.m. New members are always welcome. It's a free event and you don't need to register.
So if you are interested in patchwork and needlecraft is a group now meeting regularly in Mullingar library every Monday afternoon from 1 p.m. until 2pm. Bring along your projects and share ideas new members are always welcome. Remember it's free and you don't have to register, but you need to know that the materials for the group are not provided and if you want to find out any more about that group just call Mullingar library or email them.
Now moving away from knitting and crocheting there are English classes language classes being provided over in Castlepollard library , they're being run by the Westmeath Educational and Training board, the classes are free for adults over 18 and they start on the 6th of March and then run from 10 a.m. until 12. So you don't need to register if you're interested in learning English go along every Wednesday morning to Castlepollard library starting on the 6th of March.
So if you have a family member that may suffer from Alzheimer's over in Athlone in the library, there is a support club that meet every second week on a Wednesday afternoon. It's called the Athlone Social Support club the next meeting on the 6th of March is at 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. And the Alzheimer's Society Club in the library is a social gathering for people can access information and support ,meet other people as well as exchange ideas and experiences, so if you need to contact the organiser there if you go online to www.westmeathculture.ie, Eileen Kenny who runs the club has a mobile number there otherwise you can email Eileen at Eileen.kenney@alzheimer.ie for more information.
For anyone out there who is living with mental health difficulties or challenges there is a support group that meet regularly in Athlone library the Shine peer support group meet on Thursdays every fortnight so in March the first meeting will be on the 14th of March and the second meeting on the 27th of March and they meet at 1:30 in the afternoon till 3 p.m. The group is focused on recovery and the space that they create is a safe space where people can discuss some of the challenges they have faced in their journey of Recovery. They can be understood and supported by those who had similar experiences and they can share tips, knowledge and skills that have worked for them. So Jason runs that group and if you want to contact Jason Email him at Midlands@shine.ie or you can go online to www.westmeathculture.ie and jason's phone number is there if you need to give him a call. It is a free support group and you can register at the meeting.
Now, do you have questions about technology? It could be a common computer problems or signing up to the library app. If so the library staff are here to help you each library offers a session on advice on your device so go on www.westmeathculture.ie and find out when your local library is running their advice on your device session. And did you know that we offer free ebooks? free eAudiobook? free language learning apps? digital magazine apps? free online courses? and free digital newspapers?
So come into your local library on the day that they are offering advice on your device and find out how you can download apps and access all these resources.
For anyone interested in playing cards there is a wonderful Bridge Club over in Kilbeggan library and they meet every Thursday afternoon from 2:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. And they are only too delighted to welcome in new members. So if you're interested in playing Bridge it's on a Thursday afternoon the first one in March starts on March 7th at 2:30 p.m. New members welcome.
For any of you interested in joining a book club, there are any amount of book clubs in the libraries in Westmeath
Athlone has a bookclub that meets on the first Thursday of every month so the one in March is going to take place on the 7th of March and it's at 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. And new members are always welcome and meanwhile over in Moate Library they've set up an adult book club for beginners and that's on a Wednesday morning from 11 a.m. to 12 so if you're looking to getting back into reading, perhaps you've taken a taking a break, Moate library have setup this new book club. Registration is not required to just pop on in and join the group and meanwhile over in Mullingar library their bookclub meets the last Thursday of every month so in the month of March it's on the 28th of March and it's at 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. And new members are always welcome. You can always phone your local library and find out when the book club is running. Meanwhile over in Kilbeggan library there's a science fiction book club. They tend to meet when they have finished the book so really keep an eye on social media and you find out when the next meeting is . And if you don't have a book club in the library near you and you'd like to set up one by all means contact that library and they will assist you in setting up a book club.
Irish week is running in the month of March and if you have any interest in Irish perhaps you'd like to join the Kilbeggan Ciorcal Gaeilge, or Irish speaking circle. So we run a little Irish speaking group here over in Kilbeggan library and that runs every Thursday afternoon from 4:30 until 5:30 and we're very very lucky. We have a wonderful sister Maculato, who used to teach in the secondary school and she has just been the most amazing resource here. She's helped us all fheabhas a chuir ar a cuid gaeilge, she's helped us all improve our little bit of Irish. So try and say the cúpla focal i rith an mí Márta, try and say a few Irish words during the month of March and we hope that you will and join this local group and if you're interested in setting up a little Irish circle in your local library to pop into your library in there and have a chat. They'll definitely try to facilitate you.
So that's it for the month of March thank you very much for tuning into the podcast and I will be back again in April to let you know what's happening. Bye for now.