This page includes the following sections:

• Library Services
• Arts
• Heritage

 

LIBRARY SERVICES

Service Points:

• Callan
• Castlecomer
• City Library, John's Quay
• Co. Library Headquarters (Administration and Local Studies)
• Graiguenamanagh
• Loughboy
• Mobile Service
• Schools Service
• Thomastown
• Urlingford

 

Library Stock

Borrowing of books continues to be the most popular library activity and this is reflected in the welcome and substantial increase in our annual bookfund from €100,000 in 2003 to €220,000 in 2005. You can also borrow music CD's, cassettes and magazines, or you can read newspapers in the library. Large print books, book-on-tape, language courses are also available.

We cater for all ages and stages. For teenagers, there are dedicated Young Adult sections and popular chart music selections. All our libraries have books, tapes and videos/dvds for children, while some branches have toys for playing with in the library. Lots of children's activities take place in our branches including: an annual Children's Bookfest, Storytelling for children and a Mother and Toddler group at Castlecomer library. Library membership for children under 14 years is FREE. Adults can share their reading experiences through our Reading Groups at Castlecomer and Loughboy Libraries - "Pageturners" and "Riveting Reads" respectively. We have comprehensive reference sections in all branches and staff can help to find what is needed, be it for study, interest, research or just for fun.

Libraries are for everybody especially for people who can't read very well and would like to improve their skills, and for people who can't read at all. We help by providing Adult Literacy collections in the City, Castlecomer and Urlingford libraries.

Ireland's society is becoming increasingly multicultural. Kilkenny is now home to many people of different nationalities and cultures, be they refugees, asylum seekers or immigrants. To support social inclusion in this area we have introduced a World book collection for our borrowers at the City Library, including Fiction in Arabic, Czech, German, Latvian, Lithuanin, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian and Spanish. Other Word language resources include dictionaries and International newspapers for Reference and English language courses and International Magazines for lending. Each branch has access to this World Book Collection at the City Library, as well a their own selection of English language courses

 

Library Services

We have 23 PC's for Public Internet Access between our branches. Our library website www.kilkennylibrary.ie incorporates our Library catalogue. Members of the Public can search the catalogue and view recommended titles. Library members can also view their account details and renew and reserve items. Microsoft Word and Excel are also available for Public use on a dedicated PC in each branch.

We have a PC with document scanner and software for the visually impaired and for readers with learning difficulties at Castlecomer Library . The software which includes Kurzweil 1000 and 3000, Zoomtext Magnifier and JAWS - converts print to speech, enlarges print, highlights and rearranges text to suit the reader with learning difficulties. This service will be extended to other branches during 2006.

Our Libraries are focal points in the Community and provide venues for: Adult Literarcy tutorials; Local History and Active Retirement Group activities; a Homework Club in Urlingford; Citizen Information, Housing and Planning Clinics; French classes in Castlecomer and Children's events during Kilkenny Arts Festival.

If you are doing a thesis for a Local Studies degree, writing a local parish history, interested in checking old newspapers for hurling match reports, looking up your family history, we can help in our Local Studies Department at Co. Library H.Q. You will also find some general local studies files on the locality in each branch.

 

Highlights of our 2005 Programme

 

Library Ireland Week

Library Ireland Week from the 5^th - 12^th March 2005 was a national celebration of the important role of libraries and librarians. Kilkenny County Library Service organised a plethora of events around this time in and outside of the library.

On World Book Day children's author Herbie Brennan visited Graiguenamanagh, Thomastown and Castlecomer Libraries.

Loughboy Library had a "Seachtain na Gaeilge" book display and a puppet show.

The City Library held an "Introduction to the Internet" with library staff - for young and old and a "Make a book workshop" for children.

There was an Irish Wildlife Trust Composting workshop at Castlecomer library and staff at the City Library, John's Quay, Graiguenmanagh Library and Castlecomer Library all held Coffee mornings for Daffodil day. While a FREE draw for book tokens took place in all branches.

We introduced a Reading Corner, with a taster collection of children's library books in the foyer in County Hall, for young children, waiting with their parents to avail of Co. Council services. While Library talks and presentations were made to: 1st year students of CBS Secondary School, Kilkenny , Johnstown Active Retirement Group and Gowran National School pupils

 

READISCOVER your local library

READISCOVER your local library ran from 20^th - 27^th June as public libraries all over the Country, supported by An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Public Libraries Act. The week was launched in Kilkenny at Loughboy Library by Brian Cody, Manager of the Kilkenny Senior Hurling Team. Tom Doorley visited the City Library on 23^rd June and gave talk on food, wine and organic gardening and read from his book "Muckand Merlot". Mick Hanly, hosted an evening of music and reading at Graiguenamanagh Library on Friday 24^th June at 8pm and read from his book "Wish Me Well". Media events included library book club members and library staff appearing on "On the record", with Sue Nunn on KCLR96fm. While Dorothy O'Reilly, Assistant Librarian appeared on "Your Neighbourhood" with Carmel Brennan, to talk about the Library Service. Edwina Grace's VOXPOP on the Kilkenny People asked the Public what they were reading, and they made complimentary comments about the Library Service.

Our library website and catalogue at www.kilkennylibrary.ie was updated with a new selection of recommended reads by library staff. Each branch had a book display:

• Food and Wine in the City Library,
• Travel in Loughboy Library,
• Local Authors and Irish Writers in Graiguenamanagh, Urlingford and Thomastown Libraries and
• Hans Christian Andersen 200th Anniversary in Callan Library.

 

Heritage Week

For Heritage week in September there was a Heritage Quiz for children in Castlecomer and Loughboy Library had an ENFO history and heritage exhibition for secondary schools.

During Agatha Christie Week 12^th - 17^th September, the City Library had a colourful display of her works and those of other crime fiction writers, complete with props - a mouse trap and a magnifing glass! There was a lucky dip for all readers who borrowed crime/detective novels around that time.

 

 

Promotional Displays and material

Ceád Mile Fáilte @ your library, was the first of our bi-annual Library displays in St. Canice's Credit Union Window, High St , Kilkenny from March 15^th - 21^st. Our 2nd display which was targeted at Children took place just before the Children's Book Festival and highlighted our wonderful selection of children's stock.

Callan Library took part in a Community Group/ Organisations display in Friary Hall resulting in a number of new members for the branch. Library H.Q staff had a display of library stock on Health and Fitness issues at the Health Promotion day for staff in County Hall.

Castlecomer, Graiguenamananagh and the City Library all produced their own colourful newsletters during the year which inform the Public about Library services, stock and events. While we collaborated with Kilkenny County Council's Heritage Officer Dearbhala Ledwidge in funding History Ireland's "Kilkenny : Irish Historic Town's Atlas No. 10 " by John Bradley.

 

 

Children's Activities

Children's BookFest 2005 at Halloween included: Rosie's Exotic animal shows with 5 animal species - snake, lizard, polecat, owl and hedgehog, No cook party food workshop, card games and tricks, dominoes, First Aid, Poetry reading, bedtime stories, puppet making and puppet shows, a national bookmark competiton and an Inter-branch library quiz etc.

Summer Activities took place in all branches during July/August. This year these included, a Harry Potter fancy dress competition, maskmaking, weaving, puppet shows, arts and crafts, puzzles and library skills competions, storytelling. etc. We ran reading clubs in all branches to encourage children to keep reading during the school holidays and to use the Library Service. During the year we organized author visits for local schools. The authors included Irish and U.K names: Mary Arrigan, Brian Og Brady Dawson, Ann Jungman, Vincent McDonnell, Deirdre McCarthy , Aubrey Flegg and Niall de Burca.

 

 

askaboutireland.ie

www.askaboutireland.ie is a website which has been created as part of a Cultural Heritage Project for the digitisation of Local Sources online. It is an initiative of An Chomhairle Leabharlanna, funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government through the Information Society Fund and The Heritage Council. In Phase 1 and 2 of this project, Kilkenny County Library Service covered:

• George Berkeley of Dysart Court;
• the Tighe Family and Woodstock Estate;
• Woodstock Arboretum;
• Woodstock Estate and Woodstock House.

Our contribution for Phase 3 is on the Castlecomer plateau and the influence of the physical geography on the subsequent history of the area. It is broken down as follows:

• Origins;
• The Wandesforde Legacy and
• Coalmining in Castlecomer.

We received funding of c.€23,000 for phases 1 and 2 and €27,000 for phase 3.

Carrigan Centenary

2005 marked the Centenary of the Publication of Canon William Carrigan's seminal work - "The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory". The County Librarian was an active member of the Committee, formed to mark this important occasion. Among the activities which took place were:

• An Autumn commemorative seminar in St Kierans College, for which the Library Service did a photographic exhibition of places in County Kilkenny pertaining to Carrigan's History.
• A CD-Rom of his four volume work and index.
• A commemorative garden and monument at Ballyfoyle his birthplace.

 

 

Statistics : 2007 :

• 18,685 Registered Borrowers
• 308,049 Items loaned
• 7,967 Internet Access Sessions

 

 

Service Indicators 2005

No. of items issued per head of population:

Books	3.58
Other Items	0.27

 

 

 

ARTS SECTION

Kilkenny is a City and County teeming with creativity, imagination, ingenuity and skill. It is home to an array of highly talented and resourceful arts practitioners and organisations and we host an array of Arts events and festivals annually.

Participating and involving yourself in the arts and creative endeavours offer and encompass many social, cultural and educational benefits. For many they can be purely for pleasure and liberation. Others recognise creativity as a tool for increasing confidence, encouraging people to take positive risks and assuring people that it's good to raise their values and expectations. The Arts also strengthen communities and further develop pride in our localities.

2005 was a very productive, vibrant and progressive year in relation to the projects undertaken. Many of our events involved and invited both arts practitioners and the community at large.

 

Exhibitions and Community

Three exhibition venues managed by The Arts Office are County Hall, The Gallery Upstairs in the Watergate Theatre and No 72 John Street. The venues offer artists platforms to expose their work not only to gallery visitors but they also catch the chance interaction of those who would not normally visit a gallery space. Shows range from groups and individual artists both established and early career artists. Exhibitions so far this year have included:

County Hall, John Street hosted Stepping Outside, a mixed media exhibition of work by patients from the Central Mental Hospital , Dublin , Re-mapped-drawing, painting and photography exploring the theme of cartography by David Beattie, On Line paintings and prints by the art group KUBE.

Gallery Upstairs in the Watergate Theatre hosted shows such as ARapa Das Betas an exhibition of photography by Gwen Wilkinson, All the Glories of Youth Dear Boy, paintings by Stephen Hennessy and Elements an exhibition of paintings by Louise Allen.

No 72 John Street was host to 3 Degrees mixed media by KCAT artists, Bealtaine an exhibition of works by Tony O'Malley and Patrick Scott in association with Butler Gallery, Requiem to A Fly by Paul Murnaghan  - sound work in collaboration with Butler Gallery, From The Portfolios, an exhibition of drawings by Patrick O'Connor and Violence Against Women 365 poster exhibition.

Residency - David Beattie completed an eight week residency from May to July at No. 72 John Street. David investigated and experimented with sound within the context of the local environment i.e. The County Hall, its grounds and the street immediately outside 72 John Street.

 

Literature

The Poetry Broadsheet publication gives local writers a platform for their work through involving a professional editor, Peter Denman Dean of Arts in Maynooth, in selecting poems from writers within the city and county, the culmination of which is the publication of an A1 Broadsheet.

The Rhyme Rag broadsheet is specifically for young people was launched in September 2005. A publication for young people edited by local writer Frank Marshall and contains the poems of seventeen young poets from 12 to 20 years.

LKJ literary event took place in April 2005 featuring Linton Kwesi Johnson, the world's first dub poet, and is the only living poet to be published by Penguin Classics. Two other poets who appeared with LKJ on the night were Gear ó id Mac Lochlainn and Rita Ann Higgins.

 

Theatre

In February "Stuck in the Mud", a production by Barnstorm Theatre Company, was shown in the Watergate Theatre. The experience of attending high quality professional theatre like the Barnstorm productions should be part of all children's education. The Arts Office provided subsidies to a number of County Kilkenny based schools to enable them to attend this production in 2005.

 

Music

Faust 1920's black and white silent film by F.W. Murnau's was screened in April 2005. The film was accompanied by a live performance of a new soundtrack by 3epkano.

Collaborations with Kilkenny Music Club in their series of Autumn concerts allowed for a number of classical concerts in 2005 such as the Royal Irish Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra performance. Duiske concerts series featuring the Chieftans was also supported by the Arts Office in November 2005.

 

Multi-Disciplanary Events

2006 multi disciplinary events included 3Epkano, who performed live music accompaniment to classic 1920's films with support from Dublin band The Ruby Taillights and up and coming Kilkenny band A Safe Dry Place. ReProduction, a focussed weekend of events including performances, installations, films, dancers, DJs and visual arts by both national and internationally based artists took place during the Kilkenny Arts Festival. This event was co curated by Mary Butler, Arts Officer and Louise Allen education curator at the Butler Gallery. It was described as a 'wild experience of untammed, bizzare and curious art'. The event was also commended by the Arts Council for its daring initiative and aspects also featured in the Kilkenny Peoples top ten arts events of 2006.

 

Professional Development

The professional development programme broadened the knowledge and developed the skills of arts practitioners in "Making an arts career a realistic ambition for excellent and innovative artists". Two series of courses have been completed this year in collaboration with the Butler Gallery.

March Series:

• Artists as Educators with Kate Buckley & Chrissie Poulter.
• Photographing Your Work with local photographer Suzanna Crampton.
• Tax Exemption / Self Employment with Brendan Allen, Chartered Accountant. Case Studies & Career Paths with Maria Kerin Curator, Clare Dave Begley, Hopewire, Wexford.

May Series :

• Career Paths or Musicians, Ken Allen (Factory Studios Faction Records), Angela Dorgan (Federation of Music collectives), Keith Johnson (IMRO) and Canice Kenealy (ex Engine Alley).
• Arts Council of Ireland information session with Paul Johnson, Arts Council.
• Approaching Galleries + Exhibition Proposals, Anna O'Sullivan (Butler Gallery), Robert Miller (Gallery NY), Paul O'Reilly (ev+a, Limerick) and Josephine Kelliher, (Rubicon Gallery).
• New media and Technology in contemporary art with John Gerrard and Anna Hill.

 

Freeform

Freeform is a project designed to allow maximum exposure, access and engagement to the contemporary arts using accessible media technology. Freeform aims to develop an innovative model for engaging young people in an interactive way with the arts. The Freeform project assesses the potential for museums, galleries and arts venues to use a similar model to engage young audiences in collections and exhibitions nationally and internationally.

Freeform primarily target schools, youth groups, community groups, special needs groups and people with learning disabilities. In November 2005 the Butler Gallery and Kilkenny County Council Arts Office hosted a series of workshops in collaboration with Saffron pictures introduced a selected number of participants from a cross section of the community to the Butler Gallery collection and to Audio Visual Presentation Software. The project used recently developed animation software (AVP) and allowed groups to animate objects in real time. Images from the Butler Gallery Collection were used as source material. Using AVP software participants were able to select aspects of the work and animate them instantly.

Overall, Freeform addresses the needs of the various groups in relation to technological developments in the contemporary arts and will extend into 2006.

 

MOOT

Kilkenny County Council's Arts Office in collaboration with the Butler Gallery presented "MOOT III", the third in a series of discussions and seminars. This event consisted of a panel of professionals and the audience engaged in heated debate and discussion. The panel were chosen to provide a good balance of artists whose work is involved with new media and digital technologies and artists who work in a contemporary field, where work is dependant on technology to some degree but not exclusively.

"shutdown : restart" considered the changes facing the contemporary arts in terms of new media and digital technologies. This was the third event in what will be a continuous creative process providing a forum for powerful, focused and inspirational debates and discussion on a variety of subject matters. These events will, potentially, transform expectations, citing shifts in attitudes, perceptions and beliefs.

 

'5 to 6' Kilkenny Womens Art Project

"5 to 6"is an inclusive arts based programme accessible to all women. It will provide life long learning by supporting womens development at a personal, social, cultural, political and ecomomic level and will forge links with the wider community. The project aims to address issues of gender, equality, value, community, self esteem and empowerment through the arts. The arts can be used as a tool for learning and as a mechanism to address sensitive issues in a safe, creative and relaxed environment.

 

Young People and the Community

The arts office works with others to help bring the arts closer to local communities'. Projects are undertaken within a variety of community settings and contexts. These "broaden and enrich participation" and also serve to "enhance audiences"

 

Arts Act Grants

Arts Act Grants and Bursaries were received by individuals, groups and organisations in the community assisting the development of the arts in a diverse range of art practices.

Kilkenny County Council Arts Act Grants and Bursaries are available to those falling into three categories:

1. Groups and Organisations promoting the Arts
2. Equipment Purchasing Grant
3. Individual Artists - all art forms

Applications were also invited for the Tyrone Guthrie Centre Regional Bursary Scheme, a two week residency in Annaghmakerrig for practitioners in all art forms, of which two Kilkenny Artists accepted.

 

Contributions to Other Bodies

The Arts Office supports and contributes to other bodies - Rothe House, the Watergate Theatre, Barnstorm Theatre Company and Kilkenny Arts Festival.

 

Strategic Arts Plan

The completion of the Strategic Arts Plan is our vision for the future of the Arts in Kilkenny and it is paramount for us as a people and for our economy. This Strategy is a necessary tool for Kilkenny to develop its vision for the future of the Arts within the City and County. It will provide the framework within which the arts can develop and flourish into our future. Kilkenny and its population can only benefit from the development and implementation of this strategy.

At present the Kilkenny Arts Strategy 2005 - 2009 is available online on the Kilkenny County Council website www.kilkennycoco.ie and will be published in the coming months.

 

 

 

HERITAGE:

County Kilkenny Heritage Office

The role of the Kilkenny County Council Heritage Office is to provide advice and information on heritage issues and to develop policies and priorities for the identification, protection, conservation and enhancement of Kilkenny's heritage. A key objective is to establish and work with a Heritage Forum in the preparation and implementation of a County Heritage Plan. In addition, the office promotes heritage awareness and education throughout the county.

Below is an overview of some of the achievements of the Heritage Office in 2005:

Raising Awareness about Heritage

• Co-ordination and promotion of National Heritage Week activities throughout the county.
• Promotion of Heritage Council "Heritage in Schools" Programme.
• Co-ordination of county-wide "Pride in Place" Competition to promote and encourage best practice in natural and built heritage management in towns and villages around the county, in conjunction with BNS LEADER.
• Production of Kilkenny Local Authorities Environment & Heritage Calendar, in partnership with Environment Section.

 

Heritage Training

• Co-ordination of "Historic Graveyard Management Training Seminar" for community groups, graveyard committees, local authorities and statutory agencies.

 

Collection of Heritage Data

• Commissioned an audit of Historic Graveyards of Kilkenny City and County.

 

Heritage Policy

• Reporting to Strategic Policy Committee 5 (Arts, Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Education) regarding heritage projects and programme.
• Input on heritage aspects of Local Area Plans.

 

Physical Heritage Management Projects

• Co-ordinated Feasibility Study for a proposed Integrated Cultural Facility
• Launched and co-ordinated the Historic Graveyard Grants Scheme, in partnership with Environment Section of Kilkenny County Council.

 

Promoting Best Practise in Heritage Management

• Launch and implementation of "St. Mary's Church and Graveyard Conservation Plan", in partnership with the Church of Ireland and the Heritage Council
• Launch and implementation of "Kilkenny City Walls Conservation Plan", in partnership with the Heritage Council
• Joined the Irish Walled Towns Network
• Commissioned Management Plan for Talbot's Tower, part of the Kilkenny City Walls structure

St. Mary's Graveyard