biographies

If like me you have been following Wimbledon over the past few weeks and will soon begin to have withdrawal symptoms why not pop by to your local library and learn some more about your favourite players. We have a range of books and also some DVDs which document the lives of some of the greatest players of all time, as well as some of the current tennis pros.

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Burma pro-democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi is in Dublin today as part of her European tour. On Saturday last, she  finally accepted her 1991 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. As part of her short visit here, she is meeting with President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin, and later being presented with the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award at a concert in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre (at Grand Canal Square just up the road from library headquarters here in Pearse Street).

As part of the event in the Grand Canal Square, Lord Mayor, Andrew Montague, will receive Aung San Suu Kyi, who will sign the Roll of Honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin. The Freedom of the City was awarded to Ms Suu Kyi on 18th March 2000, the award was accepted on her behalf by her son Kim at the time. Read more »

Doc Watson was the best American Folk guitarist that lived. He died on the 29th of May 2012 at the age of 89. He was born into a musical family and lost his sight before his first birthday. Although he never had a hit record or was in the American Billboard chart, he was a leader of the American folk music that became commercially popular particularly through the Coen Brothers film, "Oh Brother Where Art Thou". His distinctive style was born out of playing fiddle parts in a country swing band. Before that the guitar was a background instrument to the ukulele and fiddle. Read more »

A quick blog for Musical Books, just want to tell you that I went to an amazing gig in Belfast last week to see Martin Carthy. This folk singer sings ancient songs from Irish, English and Scottish descent. His unusual and rythymic guitar playing coupled with a distinctive voice keep ancient sea chanty and tales of war, woe and love alive in their purest form. His music has influenced Bob Dylan and his arrangement of Scarboroug Fair was used by Simon and Garfunkel. His no nonsense stage presence and self deprecating humor was a refreshing cherry on the top of a an amazing performance. Check out this amazing album by him in the Music Library. Read more »

In a small village in County Kerry called Annascaul, there is a pub called "The South Pole Inn". It is an unusual name for a pub found in a small village in Ireland, thousands of miles away from the Antarctic. But the pub has direct links to Tom Crean, the man who originally owned it.

An unsung hero, Tom Crean - Antarctic survivor by Michael Smith

Tom Crean was born on 20th July 1877, near Annascaul. He was one of ten children. Times would have been hard on the farm and Tom Crean officially enlisted in the Royal Navy in 1893. He had not yet celebrated his sixteenth birthday. Read more »

There's some lovely stuff in our new stock, I came across these gems.

I'll start with Under the Ivy: The story of Kate Bush. Kate Bush.... need I say more? No, but I will remind you that she was the first female artist ever to have a UK number one with a self penned song at the age of nineteen. This book is a series of interviews with people who worked closely with her throughout her carrerr. To quote the Mojo Magazine (which is held in the Music Library) it's a "compelling examination of her music". Get your boxfresh copy now.

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