Libraries Blog

After two years of online talks and events, Fingal Libraries is looking forward to welcoming back live audiences to the Fingal Festival of History. The sixth annual Festival of History will run from Monday 10th to Saturday 15th October 2022 across Fingal Library branches culminating in the History at the Castle Day at Swords Castle on Saturday 15th October.

Now in its seventh year, the Fingal Libraries Write Time creative writing festival is not only designed for aspiring writers but for anybody interested in the craft of writing. Click here to learn more

Fingal Libraries has launched its annual Summer Stars Reading challenge for 2022 on Tuesday 14th June at St. Patricks Senior National School in Skerries with a special visit from the Fingal Mobile Library.

Up until the 19th century Howth was a remote place with the small communities living there able to produce much of what they needed for themselves. As a result, no real roads or routeways in and out of the peninsula were developed. It wasn't until 1901, however, before the ' Hill of Howth Tramway' was opened.

Fingal Libraries are delighted to bring to you our latest new eServices offering – LOTE Online for Kids – Storytime in your language.

Fingal Libraries has a wealth of books on LGBTQ+ interest in our catalogue, from fiction to non-fiction to picture books for children.

Our new Spring brochure is full of exciting events waiting for you to explore. Why not join one of Fingal libraries free online workshops or watch one of our many amazing videos on Fingal libraries YouTube Channel.

St. Brigid’s day marks the first day of spring, a turning point in the year when light begins to return and new growth starts to take root.

Local tradition has it that Bremore was the first place in Ireland where beekeeping was practiced. It was said to have been introduced there by St. Molaga, who settled for a short time at Bremore, close to Balbriggan and Balrothery.

As we make our way through December and towards the darkest time of the year our anticipation of the Christmas festivities grows. Decorating the tree, indulging in a Christmas feast and exchanging gifts are familiar seasonal rituals to many of us. What is less familiar to us now, however, are the old Christmas customs once practiced in Fingal.

Festive holiday cheer is a great way to balance out a winter cold spell. We have put together a list of children’s multicultural holiday books that Fingal Libraries has on offer for in-person and online borrowing.

About 5km off the coast of Skerries lie two rocky islets known collectively as Rockabill island. The official Irish name for Rockabill is Cloch Dábilla after the goddess Boand’s lapdog Dábilla who was said to have been dashed against the rocks there. However, the islets are also known as the Cow and the Calf after a local legend.

A stormy night in a mysterious old mansion… A sudden knock on the door… A shadowy figure passes you in the corridor… It’s that time of year when our thoughts turn to the spooky and macabre.

The Portrane peninsula is now synonymous with the gothic red brick buildings of St. Ita’s but before the hospital stood on these lands, they formed part of Portrane Demesne.

According to both medieval manuscripts and local lore, Howth was once ruled over by the legendary King Crimthaind. He was said to have resided in a fort overlooking the sea which he built after returning from a journey to the magical Otherworld.

It’s that time of year again. Our Summer Stars are now calling into the library in their school gear, ready to be back learning beside their friends. For some, the beginning of classes can be nerve-wracking and sometimes frightening, especially if they’re starting in a new school. Here is a mix of picture books and chapter books that each carry with it a positive or uplifting message around time spent at school.

Yinka had a candid interview, via email, with Niamh Sharkey, award-winning author and illustrator of children’s picture books.  Niamh has been very busy with a couple of Disney projects, but she took a few minutes out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions.

Whether you are a seasoned cook, a novice chef, or simply enjoy flipping through colourfully crafted pages, you’ll find something delicious in one of the new cookery books that have recently landed on our shelves.

On the south side of the hill of Howth, along the Carrickbrack Road, lies the holy well of St. Fintan. Although the well is no longer accessible to the public, local memory of its waters runs strong.

Welcome to the final week of our four-week blog series on Virtual Book Clubs for Primary School ages – just in time to help keep your kids engaged and entertained over the summer holidays!

Welcome to week three of our four-week blog series on Virtual Book Clubs for Primary School ages – just in time to help keep your kids engaged and entertained over the summer holidays!

Welcome to week two of our four-week blog series on Virtual Book Clubs for Primary School ages – just in time to help keep your kids engaged and entertained over the summer holidays!

If you missed Aoife Munn’s Live Events, Growing Your Garden, organized by Fingal Libraries for the Summer, this is your chance to get started on your garden, while reaping all the benefits.

According to local tradition the Gobbán Saor is associated with the Turvey area in Donabate (Bates 1988: 18; https://www.logainm.ie/en/1436734 ). This association comes from a dindshenchas (place lore) poem recorded in a medieval manuscript. 

You won’t want to miss out on Fingal Libraries’ latest eService: Tumble Books and Tumble Math.

Fingal Libraries will re-open their doors on Monday, 10th May with a Contact and Collect service which will allow members avail of a simple process to borrow books, DVDs and other items as well as self-service printing / scanning / photocopying service from their nearest library branch while adhering to public health guidelines.

Fingal Libraries annual Bealtaine Festival was officially launched Friday 30th April 2021.

Are you struggling to find the next exciting, thrilling or mystery books?  Here are a couple of quick reviews recommended by library staff.

This debut novel by Scottish author Stuart Douglas won the 2020 Booker award. The author has stated that the book is not autobiographical but is rooted in his own experience, growing up with a single parent in Glasgow, and the book is set in an impoverished 1980’s Glasgow.

The Táin Bó Cuailnge (or the Cattle Raid of Cooley) is one of the most famous ancient Irish stories. Everyone has heard of the young warrior Cú Chulainn and his epic defence of Ulster against the forces of Connacht lead by mighty Queen Maeve. What is not as widely known is how the story has been preserved, transmitted, and translated through the ages. This blog post is intended to introduce readers to several versions of the story while also providing links to modern translations of the text which can be accessed digitally.

My name is Ruth McCann and am based in Balbriggan Libraries. Since Covid-19 hit these shores last year, I rediscovered my love for photography, I find it relaxing, it takes my mind off things and makes me appreciate the world we live in more now than before.  Growing up I have always loved photography, nature, and history, taking my camera out wherever I was, either on holidays abroad, messing with my siblings, or being inspired by nature or of other things at home. 

Do you want to do general research on a topic but don't know where to start? Is your first step always a Google or Wikipedia search? If so, you may want to check out Credo Reference, an online reference database with access to over 1,300 titles from over 100 publishers. This resource covers a broad range of subjects, including health, medicine, psychology, biographies, history, science & environmental studies. 

More favoutite bakes brought to you by Theresa McNally

My favourite hero from Stephen Fry’s novel Heroes is Atalanta. I borrowed this book as a print copy from Balbriggan Library before lockdown, but it is available on Borrowbox through Fingal Libraries. She is the only female hero featured in the book and she is powerful and independent.

Would you like to learn a foreign language or brush up on your school French? Maybe 2021 will be the year you set about achieving this goal. Whether you want to learn a language or improve your skills, Fingal Libraries can help you on your linguistic journey.

A Gertrude Stein play performed at the Gate Theatre Dublin in 1940 turns out to be something of a subterfuge. On the eightieth anniversary of the event, Máighréad Medbh makes a chance discovery.

Here at Fingal Libraries we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to find new and relevant e-resources to offer our borrowers in 2021. Here’s a preview of 3 educational online resources we’re offering which will benefit children, teachers, parents and those looking to improve their literacy skills in the new year.

There was much more to 1970s science-fiction than Star Wars. Alan from Malahide Library recalls Logan’s Run, a film which he champions as a “jewel in the crown” of the golden era of sci-fi cinema.

Alan Dunne recalls his introduction to supernatural fiction, thanks to a special anthology which he discovered nestled amongst the paperbacks in his local newsagent’s, and describes the transformative experience this genre can bestow upon its readers.

Nadene reviews the debut novel, A Ghost in the Throat, by Irish poet Doireann Ní Ghríofa - the story of a woman’s journey as she attempts to uncover the mysterious, largely undocumented life of another, that of the 18th century poet Eibhlín Dubh Ní Conaill.

Marc from Blanchardstown Library takes us through the first 2 online DnD sessions run by Fingal Libraries recently – one for juniors and one for adults

The current restrictions mean that this year’s Halloween celebrations will have to be a little bit different. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy many of the fantastic traditions of All Hallows Eve

In a remarkable and moving memoir Edith Eger recounts how she was sent to the infamous concentration camp in 1944 and survived to become an internationally acclaimed psychologist. Fergus from Donabate Library reviews one of the most-borrowed books on our shelves.

You can access previous Libraries Blogs here.