Saturday, August 20, 2011

The 'Lifelines' exhibition- where you'll find Graham Norton, poetry, and Mother Teresa all in one place

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This exhibition from the National Library of Ireland, “Discover Lifelines: famous people talk about their favourite poems,”  is travelling around Ireland this year, and it will be in Graiguenamanagh for the Town Of Books festival! Starting life as the
Lifelines Project at Wesley College, Dublin in 1985, it began when ''pupils of the school wrote to famous people from all walks of life (some of whom are depicted on this poster) asking them to name their favourite poem, and what it meant to them. Four very successful Lifelines books have been published since 1992.

The National Library of Ireland purchased the original letters that were included in Lifelines 1 and the money was donated to Concern. Wesley College has since donated all correspondence, photographs and other related archival material to the Library. 

The Discover Lifelines exhibition was launched in February 2010 by Graham Norton (unsurprisingly one of the most hilarious launches ever), and the exhibition is on tour around Ireland for 2011, displaying letters in the Lifelines archive from writers, poets, actors, artists, media personalities and politicians.''  Some of who include:


  • There are now 4 different volumes of the Lifelines anthologies- keep your eye out for them when you are browsing for books on our book trail- they come highly recommended!:
''Lifelines was a magnificent idea from the start…a book in which poems re-enter the world refreshed rather than jaded by their confinement inside peoples heads, unsurprisingly varied and compulsively readable.''
Seamus Heaney

This is just one of the interesting exhibits on display at the Graiguenamanagh library during the Town of Books festival, (more on the others, later,) so be sure to call by to see them all on Friday 16 Sept, 10-5pm, or Saturday 17 Sept, 10-1.30pm. It is free and you'll enjoy it! 
Disclaimer: Actual Graham Norton not included :-)

Thank you to the National Library of Ireland for the information, and loaning us this wonderful display!