What's on A5 8Pp Booklet - Jul-Sep 2019 - Final.Qxp 11/06/2019 12:39 Page 1

Linen Hall Library - What's On A5 8pp Booklet - Jul-Sep 2019 - Final.qxp 11/06/2019 12:39 Page 1

Cover Image: From the Linenopolis Exhibition. Linen Hall Library - What's On A5 8pp Booklet - Jul-Sep 2019 - Final.qxp 11/06/2019 12:39 Page 2

July

EXHIBITION PERFORMANCE

The Weaver and the Factory Linenopolis Maid: Songs of the Linen Trade 1 July – 31 August • Free With Maurice Leyden and Jane Cassidy

This exciting new exhibition will celebrate Belfast’s Thursday 4 July at 6pm • £8 linen heritage and the many businesses connected to the linen industry in Belfast’s Linen Quarter. Maurice Leyden and Jane Cassidy are a husband Examining social history, working life, family life and and wife team of folk singers and song collectors from the health of the workers, it includes items loaned Belfast, who have been performing Ulster songs for from PRONI, Coleraine Museum and linen over 30 years. Maurice has published two collections specialists McBurney and Black. Artists Anna Smyth, of traditional songs Belfast, City of Song (1989, Claire Mooney and Nathanael Smyth will showcase Brandon Press), and Boys and Girls Come Out to current work reflecting the influence and use of linen Play (1993, Appletree Press). He is currently working today. Photographs created as part of a community on his latest book in which he examines the social outreach project in partnership with Belfast Exposed history of the Ulster linen industry through folk song. will also be exhibited.

This project has been funded by the Department for Communities, Tourism Northern Ireland and National LECTURE Lottery Heritage Fund as part of the European Year of Cultural Heritage. Looking for the ‘Northlight’: John

Hewitt and the Literature of Linen

With Dr Frank Ferguson, Ulster University Friday 5 July at 1pm • Free Exhibition Launch Throughout his adult life, the poet, critic and curator, Wednesday 3 July at 2.30pm • All Welcome John Hewitt, maintained a fascination with the work Includes short screening by Ann Donnelly of of poets who had a connection to the linen industry Northern Ireland Screen, Digital Film Archive. in Ulster. He collected and anthologised their work, made pilgrimages to their homesteads and tried to celebrate and maintain their memory in the public imagination. In this talk, Dr Frank Ferguson will trace the impact of the Rhyming Weavers on Hewitt's work and suggest that their influence and example has far reaching consequences for literature and culture today. Presented in association with The John Hewitt Society.

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BOOK LAUNCH

Field of Dreams With Sir Bob Salisbury Wednesday 31 July at 1pm • Free

This is the inspiring story of how the Salisburys - enthusiastic but amateur gardeners - transformed an unloved rural wasteland into a thriving, renowned wildlife garden, home to lapwings, hares, yellowhammers, otters, woodcocks, bats and many other species that had not been seen in the area for years. Field of Dreams celebrates the Irish countryside and its wildlife with great warmth, humour and lightness of touch, and reminds us of the profound importance of maintaining a connection to the land.

August

LECTURE

Linenopolis: the Health and Welfare of Mill Workers from Records in the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland With David Huddleston Thursday 1 August at 1pm • Free

This talk will look at the range of archives, including hospital, workhouse and mill records, held by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland that reveal the experiences of mill workers during the late nineteenth century.

PERFORMANCE

Bunting, Burns & Belfast Monday 5 August at 6pm • £10

A concert co-sponsored by the Harp Tour of Ireland and Linen Hall with Patrick Davey Gráinne Hambly, Patrick Davey and special guest artists. Gráinne Hambly from County Mayo is an internationally recognised exponent of the Irish harp, and is in great demand as a performer and teacher, both at home and abroad.

Belfast native Patrick Davey is a well-known Irish traditional musician who performs on whistle, flute and uilleann pipes. He has toured and recorded with amongst others, Craobh Rua, The Irish Rovers and the Belfast Harp Orchestra. Gráinne Hambly

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Linenopolis Walking Tours Friday 9, Friday 16, or Friday 23 August at 10.00am Tuesday 13 or Tuesday 20 August at 10.00am • £10

Join our Linenopolis tour guides as we celebrate the rich industrial linen heritage of Belfast. Hear insightful stories and wonderful histories of the area’s built heritage. A walking tour map will also be available to purchase if you would like to explore the area on your own.

Tours last approximately one hour. Meet at the Linen Hall main reception desk on Level 2.

LECTURE

Rambles Around Ireland: Humorous Travel Stories Along Irish Back Roads With Paul Clements Friday 9 August at 1pm • £5

From the mountains of the west coast, along the worm’s ditch and over the snake in the lake, Paul Clements delights in the joys and pitfalls of thirty years of gallivanting around the boreens of Ireland. Whether on a daft quest to find the highest point in the flattest county or strolling the Leitrim coastline, he chronicles magical places alive with eccentric characters. This talk reveals travel writing secrets and inspirations of life on the road. Paul is the author of five travel books on Ireland and Romancing Ireland, the biography of Richard Hayward.

WORKSHOP Craft Workshop Wednesday 14 August at 2pm • £8

Taking inspiration from the many textures found in textiles, learn how to make and decorate your own unique ceramic tea light holder with ceramicist Ashley Sheppard, using air dry clay. Take your creation home with you to keep or give as a gift.

LECTURE

Living with Linen: An Illustrated Talk With Fiona McKelvie Tuesday 20 August at 6pm • £5

Textile specialist Fiona will share her interest and passion for Irish linen. As well as recalling much of the history of the fabric so important to the city of Belfast, Fiona will bring us right up to date with the current uses for this sustainable fibre, and how it is being developed for the future.

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LECTURE

Reviving the William Liddell Archive – Past and Present With Trish Belford and Barbara Dass, Ulster University

Thursday 22 August at 1pm • Free

Trish Belford and Barbara Dass will discuss and show samples from a project funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund to restore a fragile collection of 1600 photographic glass plate images from the William Liddell weaving company in Donaghcloney (latterly Ewart Liddell Ltd.). The plates, featuring intricate patterns for napkins and tablecloths for a wide range of world-wide clients, including the White Star Line, were donated to the university in 2005. The project has enabled the plates to be digitised and conserved, as well as creating new woven and printed textile work inspired by them. This lecture will recall the history of this global company and show how the new work was developed. September

EXHIBITION LECTURE

Fifty Years of QFT 50 3 – 27 September • Free Queen’s Film Theatre With Dr Sam Manning

Tuesday 3 September at 1pm • Free

This illustrated talk uses archival material and oral history interviews to explore the cinema’s often turbulent history. The talk examines the films that were popular among QFT patrons over the years,and the Since opening its doors in 1968, Queen’s Film Theatre challenges of operating a cultural cinema in Northern has occupied a very special place in Belfast’s cultural Ireland. landscape. QFT 50 presents a fascinating insight into its extraordinary fifty-year history. It shows how Sam celebrates QFT’s history and achievements, QFT has repeatedly risen to social, cultural and showing that it has provided a great deal of enjoyment political challenges, such as the Troubles, declining for cinema-goers and made a significant contribution cinema audiences, the rise of the multiplexes, and to the social and cultural life of Belfast. changing cinema technology, to continue to be Northern Ireland’s leading cultural cinema.

EXHIBITION

People’s Democracy 50th Anniversary 16 – 27 September • Free

In August 1969 political and sectarian unrest saw barricades erected in Belfast and British troops on the streets. People’s Democracy, a radical student movement, provided political direction and publicity through Radio Free Belfast and the Poster Workshop. The People’s Democracy posters show the messages of that time.

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CONFERENCE

A Celebration of the Beath Collection and the Bicentennial of the Irish Harp Society of Belfast (1819-39) Thursday 12 September • 3.30-7.30pm • £20

To celebrate the bicentenary of the Irish Harp Society of Belfast (1819-39), we present a conference that draws together strands from the Linen Hall’s Manuscript Collection. The Beath Collection contains a wealth of material from the 18th and 19th centuries tied to music, social reform and politics.

Many of the manuscripts are connected with influential music collectors and musicians, including Edward Bunting, Patrick Lynch, Robert MacAdam, Mary Ann McCracken and William Ware.

Presenters/performers will include Frank Bunting, Nicholas Carolan, Simon Chadwick, Philip McDonagh, Lily Neill and Dr Mary Louise O’Donnell.

LECTURE

European Heritage

Open Day (EHOD) Friday 13 September at 1pm • Free

Why Conservation Matters With Marcus Patton Nearly everyone likes historic buildings, and they are protected in law. This talk will look at some reasons you may not have associated with the scholarly field of architectural conservation.

Saturday 14 September • Free Tours at 11am & 1pm As one of Belfast’s most iconic buildings, the Linen Hall joins many historic institutions and throws open its doors to reveal the secrets within and celebrate our built heritage. Join us for a free tour with our experienced guides, or enjoy a drop-in session on linen heritage from 12pm.

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LECTURE

A Leap of Faith With Rev David Latimer Wednesday 18 September at 1.00pm • Free

In A Leap of Faith, David tells how a meeting with Martin McGuinness led to a strong and lasting friendship that was as close as it was unexpected, and cemented by their joint commitment to peace building and improving the lives of Northern Ireland's young people. He also explores how their joint work for peace had lasting impact in Derry and beyond. This lecture is part of Good Relations Week.

EVENT

Culture Night Friday 20 September Save The Date! Experience the biggest evening in the city’s cultural calendar.

LECTURE

The Darksome Bounds of a Failing World: The Sinking of the Titanic and the End of the Edwardian Era With Gareth Russell Tuesday 24 September at 1.00pm • £5

Join Gareth Russell for an original and meticulously researched account of the story of the Titanic, told through the stories of six first-class passengers. The story shines new light on both the bygone Golden Age and the iconic tragedy that marked the beginning of its end.

READING GROUPS Our popular reading groups are open The Informer to the public and free to attend. by Liam O'Flaherty

Thurs 26 September Meets on the last Thursday of the month at 1.10pm at 1.10pm. July & August - Summer Break.

Club Leabhar – Irish Book Club Reconvenes in October.

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AT A GLANCE

Exhibition Linenopolis 1 July – 31 August Performance The Weaver and the Factory Maid: Songs of the Linen Trade 4 July at 6pm With Maurice Leyden and Jane Cassidy £8 Lecture Looking for the ‘Northlight’: John Hewitt and the Literature of Linen 5 July at 1pm With Dr Frank Ferguson, Ulster University Book Launch Field of Dreams. With Sir Bob Salisbury 31 July at 1pm Lecture Linenopolis: the health and welfare of mill workers from 1 August at 1pm records in the PRONI. With David Huddleston Performance Bunting, Burns & Belfast 5 August at 6pm. £10

Lecture Rambles Around Ireland: Humorous Travel Stories Along Irish 9 August at 1pm Back Roads. With Paul Clements £5 Workshop Craft Workshop With Ashley Sheppard 14 August at 2pm. £8 Lecture Living with Linen: An Illustrated Talk. With Fiona McKelvie 20 August at 6pm. £5 Lecture Reviving the William Liddell Archive – Past and Present 22 August at 1pm Trish Belford and Barbara Dass, Ulster University Exhibition QFT 50 3 – 27 September Lecture Fifty Years of Queen’s Film Theatre. With Dr Sam Manning 3 September at 1pm Exhibition People’s Democracy 50th Anniversary 16 – 27 September Conference A Celebration of the Beath Collection and the Bicentennial 12 September of the Irish Harp Society of Belfast (1819-39) 3.30 – 7.30pm. £20 Lecture European Heritage Open Day 13 September at 1pm

Lecture A Leap of Faith With Rev David Latimer 18 September at 1pm Event Culture Night 20 September Lecture The Darksome Bounds of a Failing World: 24 September at 1pm The Sinking of the Titanic and the End of the Edwardian Era £5 With Gareth Russell Reading Group July & August – Summer Break. Thursday 26 September at 1.10pm. Irish Book Club Reconvenes in October

Linen Hall Library, 17 Donegall Square North, Belfast BT1 5GB T: +44 (0)28 9032 1707 E: [email protected] Mon-Fri: 9.30am–5.30pm