In February we had the privilege of travelling to Omagh Library for our second Meet the Author event. Reading groups from Enniskillen, Cavan, and Leitrim Libraries met up to discuss ‘The Letter Home’. Written by author and RTE Radio Presenter Rachael English, the letter home is rich in historical detail and the readers had lots of interesting questions for Rachael.

Looking forward to our next ‘Meet the Author ‘ Event in Omagh Library in February in our Bridge Across Difference Literature/Reading Programme. The library groups from Leitrim County Library, Cavan County Library ServiceLibraries NI are reading at present ‘The Letter Home’ written by RTE Presenter Rachael English. The Letter Home tells the story of journalist Jessie Daly who loses everything she holds dear, she travels home to Ireland’s west coast and helps an old friend researching life during the famine. Jessie becomes drawn into the heartbreaking story of a brave young mother, Bridget Moloney, and her daughter, Norah.

On the other side of the ocean, in Boston, Kaitlin Wilson is researching her family tree. She unearths a fascinating story, but her research forces her to confront uncomfortable truths about the past, as she uncovers an unexpected connection to Ireland in famine times.

Generations before, in the small town of Boherbreen, a young mother faced a heart-wrenching choice: to watch her baby girl perish with hunger, or to start out for a new life in America, alone, in order to protect the one she loves most…

The Bridge Across Difference Literature/Reading Programme is now, unfortunately, fully subscribed to.

Thank you so much for everyone’s interest in taking part.

#internationalfundforireland #Crossborder #crosscommunity #Fermanagh #tyrone #Cavan #Leitrim #ballinamore #ballinamoreareacommunitycouncil

On Tuesday 22nd November, our groups from Omagh, Manorhamilton, Kiltyclogher, and Cavan Libraries travelled to Enniskillen Library for our very first meet-the-author event!

Our first author was Martina Devlin, who is an award-winning columnist for the Irish Independent and podcaster for Dublin City of Literature #CityofBooks, discussing and answering questions on her new novel Edith, which is based on the life of Irish novelist Edith Somerville

The book is set during the turbulent period of Irish Independence 1921–22, Somerville finds herself at a crossroads. Her position as a member of the Ascendancy is perilous as she struggles to keep her family home, Drishane House in West Cork, while others are burned out. After years in a successful writing partnership with Violet Martin, Edith continues to write after her partner’s death, comforted in the belief they continue to connect through automatic writing and séances.

Against a backdrop of Civil War politics and lawlessness erupting across the country, people across Ireland are forced to consider where their loyalties lie.

The story of Somerville and Ross is unique in the history of Irish women writers. Academic Shawn R. Mooney described these best-selling authors as ‘undeniably New Women: single, educated and economically independent writers whose lives and literary collaboration were unique manifestations of late-nineteenth-century feminist strivings toward political and sexual equality. Devlin depicts Edith in the round, suffering from loss, striving for safety, and keeping hold of hope in this captivating narrative set in the early years of a nascent state — a triumph of ventriloquism rooted in a society on the cusp of change.

Martina read from Edith and answered lots of questions from all our participants. Everyone was very keen to ask Martina questions about the book and her writing. very good conversations on #Peace #CrossBorder #Respect #Neighbors.

We would like to say a huge Thank You to everyone at all the libraries for making this possible and especially to Enniskillen Library for looking after us all, making us all very welcome, and of course the refreshments.

A lovely evening was had by all and we look forward to meeting again in Omagh in February 2023, to meet our second Author Rachael English – to chat about her book ‘The Letter Home’

Michael Mullin – Better Together – Níos Fearr Le Chéile Project Co-ordinator, Martina Devlin and Máirín Martin – Chairperson Ballinamore Area Community Council CLG