On the 6th October Roderic O’ Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and Heather Humphreys, Minister for Rural and Community Development announced the First 5 Little Book at Bedtime initiative, in collaboration with public libraries and the Local Government Management Agency. Free bedtime story books and library card wallets are available at […]
Do you know it’s never too early to start the reading habit? Westmeath Libraries is committed to supporting families in building their reading confidence and instilling a love of reading for fun. A new Reading to your Baby guide has been launched with partners from Westmeath County Childcare Committee, Westmeath Community Development’s Empowering Communities Programme […]
HANNA GREALLY, Author: was born in Athlone in 1925. She grew up in Pearse Street, and was a popular and happy young girl. At nineteen she was admitted to St Loman’s Hospital in Mullingar and remained there until she negotiated her own release in 1962 having agreed to go into the care of Coolamber Manor, […]
The launch of the 'Memories' Oral History Project by Athlone Community Services Council CLG took place at the Aidan Heavey Library, Athlone on Tuesday 3rd October from 4 - 6pm. The project, completed over the course of a number of months, records the oral history memories of older people living in the Athlone area. After […]
On 2nd October 1848 the first train pulled into Mullingar Station heralding an entirely new way to travel and conduct commerce for the inhabitants of Mullingar and its environs. Over the next 175 years, trains became an integral part of the town’s transport network with the rest of the country while creating employment and trade. […]
LEO DALY, Writer, Photographer and Broadcaster: was born in Mullingar in Mullingar in 1920. Leo Daly’s contribution to the literary and cultural life of Mullingar was enormous. In the 1950s and 60s he wrote several plays which were widely produced. A keen Joycean scholar Leo wrote two books and several articles dealing with James Joyce […]
It was up, up and away for our Crafternoon at Aidan Heavey Library last week. The children made hot air balloons! They turned out beautifully and each child made their own unique creation with different decorations and colours on the balloon. We were delighted to welcome our first cat to the group. Despite being tired […]
Moate Library welcomed some special guests for a sleepover in the library recently. Find out what happened in this short video Find out what's happening in your local library by subscribing to our News and Events newsletter, check out our events listings, or follow us on social media : Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.
This August we are delighted to welcome artist Emma Cassidy to Westmeath Libraries for workshops on Irish Crochet Lace. To whet your appetite before these events Emma has kindly written the following introduction to Irish Crochet Lace. Workshops funded by Westmeath's Heritage Office for Heritage Week 2023. A brief explanation of Irish Crochet Lace, it’s […]
Adolphus Cooke of Cookesborough (1792-1876) – Eccentric : Adolphus Cooke was probably the greatest eccentric Westmeath has yet produced. The illegitimate son of Robert Cooke, he was educated in England and served under Wellington in Spain and Portugal before traveling through Africa. Robert Cooke died in 1835; as his two legitimate sons had predeceased him, […]