State of Play Exhibition, Lecture on Anne Brontë, Reading of Nine Rhymes with Liam Logan, Burns and Ulster Lecture

Cover Images from top: State of Play exhibition, lecture on Anne Brontë, reading of Nine Rhymes with Liam Logan, Burns and Ulster lecture. January

EXHIBITION LECTURE

Andrew Gibson: Take Courage: The Brontë Sister Who An Ardent Son 10 – 31 January • Free Took on the Victorians With Pauline Holland Examines the life of former Linen Hall Governor Andrew Gibson (1841 - 1931). His extensive Friday 17 January at 1pm • £5 collection of Scots poet Robert Burns and Burnsiana forms the basis of the world- Despite being the author of two classics, Anne renowned Gibson Collection held by the Library. Brontë is overshadowed by her sisters Charlotte Discover how this collection came to be in and Emily. Why? Come and hear about Anne’s Belfast and learn more about the treasures it tragic yet courageous life, her trailblazing second contains. novel and how she exposed the injustices and outrages that women suffered in Victorian society, the family scandal that broke her heart, and the suppression of her ground-breaking feminist novel that ultimately side-lined the youngest Brontë sister for good. Part of Brontë 200 celebrations.

ANDREW GIBSON MEMORIAL LECTURE 2020

Burns and Ulster: The Gibson Collection in a Wider Cultural Context With Ian Crozier, Chief Executive, Ulster-Scots Agency

Tuesday 21 January at 1pm • Free

The Linen Hall Library’s Gibson Collection is the largest collection of material relating to Scots poet Robert Burns outside Scotland. Discover how the enduring appeal of Burns’ works give the collection a continuing significance within a wider cultural setting. Following the lecture there will be a wreath laying at the Robert Burns’ statue on the Library’s 2nd floor. 2 READING

Nine Rhymes With Liam Logan Wednesday 22 January at 1pm • £5

Join local author Liam Logan who will read from his new book Nine Rhymes, a humorous series of rhymes about life.

Liam is one of Northern Ireland's leading Ulster-Scots enthusiasts and commentators and he “brings to light the depths and riches of our Ulster-Scots language.” Books will be available for purchase on the day.

SCREENING AND DISCUSSION

‘Two Angry Men’

With Toto and Robina Ellis Friday 24 January at 6pm • Free

This is the story of the struggle of James Ellis and Sam Thompson to stage the play Over the Bridge in Belfast, a play that tackled the build-up of sectarianism and religious division in the Belfast shipyards. Despite artistic director James Ellis agreeing to stage the play at the Group Theatre, he and Sam Thompson ran into censorship from the theatre's chairman, Ritchie McKee, who believed the play could cause civil unrest. This short film documents their battle to stage the play against the odds and their eventual success in doing so, with 42,000 people coming to see the play and Laurence Olivier asking them to bring it to London's West End.

3 February

EXHIBITION State of Play: The Theatre and Cultural Identity in 20th Century Ulster 5 February – 31 March • Free

State of Play traces theatre works throughout the twentieth century which were of both cultural and theatrical significance. It examines the relationship between theatre and society in a century characterised by deep community divisions, mistrust and the Troubles. The works featured all encouraged, entertained and challenged audiences and bear testimony to theatre’s powerful capacity to reflect societal changes.

LECTURE Paul Clements ‘Now We’re Sucking Diesel’ talk & discussion on old Irish sayings With Paul Clements Photo Credit: Friday 7 February at 1pm • £5 Evan McElligot

In this talk about popular local phrases, the writer and journalist Paul Clements considers why colourful adages are making a comeback. Many have been preserved and passed down through the rich oral tradition resulting in sayings such as ‘Sure it could be worse’ or ‘They have high notions of themselves like the goats in Kerry.’ Catchphrases, including ‘Come in Dungannon, I know your knock’ or ‘That beats Banagher and Banagher beats the band’ add to the expressive linguistic mix. Bring your own saying (‘Don’t give your tongue a holiday’) and share in the fun.

PERFORMANCE

Peacock Thomas Songs of the Shipyard Angell Carnduff Thursday 20 February at 6pm • £10

Musician Peacock Angell draws the audience into the world of working-class Northern Irish shipyard poet and dramatist Thomas Carnduff performing original musical settings of his poems interwoven with fascinating biographical excerpts from early-20th century Belfast.

Violinist/singer Ruth Angell brings her spellbinding voice, and Sid Peacock his dextrous acoustic guitar, to this truly captivating mix of music, poetry and history. 'Wildly creative' - Independent on Sunday.

4 SCREENING

Belfast 1792 - The Hub of the Harp Festival opening breakfast

Friday 21 February at 10.30am • Free

Refreshments will be served before the screening of filmmaker Bernard Conlon’s 25-minute documentary film, Belfast 1792 - The Hub of the Harp, which offers great introductory insight into why we celebrate the work of musician Edward Bunting today. The film focuses on the 1792 Belfast Harpers Assembly, which took place in the Belfast Assembly Rooms building. It touches upon the 220th anniversary in 2012, and new research about the life and times of Arthur (Art) O’Neill, one of the oldest harpers at the Assembly. The screening will be followed by a short question and answer session.

LECTURE

Heritage at Risk Northern Ireland Friday 28 February at 1pm • Free

The Heritage at Risk (HARNI) project, is a partnership between Ulster Architectural Heritage (UAH) and the Department for Communities: Historic Environment Division (DfC:HED). Nikki McVeigh, Chief Executive and Dr Connie Gerrow, Project Officer, UAHS, will talk about how trends identified by the HARNI register can help to direct organisations to target re-use, regeneration and repair works towards heritage need.

March

WORLD BOOK DAY READING

Molly Keane’s Ireland Thursday 5 March at 1pm • £5

This anthology of Irish verse and prose, compiled by the Irish writer Molly Keane, reflects a powerful love of Ireland and its people and includes work by Swift, Joyce, Synge, O'Connor, Kinsella, Beckett, O'Faolain, Heaney, Campbell and McGuckian, among others. Subjects range from God, exile, love and death to fairies, horse-racing, wit and whiskey. Join actress Roma Tomelty and friends for this special reading to mark World Book Day.

Roma Tomelty

5 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY LECTURE

‘The Greatest Irishwoman’: Augusta, Lady Gregory With Dr Ann McVeigh

Tuesday 10 March at 1pm • Free

Isabella Augusta, Lady Gregory (1852 – 1932), was an Irish dramatist, folklorist and theatre manager. With William Butler Yeats and Edward Martyn, she co-founded the Irish Literary Theatre and the Abbey Theatre and wrote numerous short works for both companies. Dr McVeigh celebrates the life of this extraordinary woman and her contribution to women’s history on this island.

DISCUSSION Liam Logan Now You’re Talkin! With Linda Ervine and Liam Logan

Thursday 19 March at 6pm • £5

Language experts Liam Logan and Linda Ervine will share their extensive Linda Ervine experience of working within the Ulster-Scots and Irish language communities. They will recount stories of ‘humour, honesty, frustration and farce’ that illustrate the complexities of working within the field of language promotion in Northern Ireland. Liam is one of Northern Ireland’s leading Ulster-Scots enthusiasts as a native speaker, broadcaster and writer. Linda Ervine is a language rights activist.

SCREENING AND DISCUSSION

The Devil by James Ellis With Director Frankie McCafferty, Vincent Higgins and guests James Ellis Wednesday 25 March at 6pm • Free Frankie McCafferty James Ellis was best known as an actor in theatre, radio and television – including Z Cars and Ballykissangel amongst many others – however, he was also an accomplished linguist and enjoyed translating stories and folk tales from other languages.

In this short film written by James, old Granny Greer outwits a miserly son when she strikes a deal to sit with his dying mother until she expires.

6 READING GROUPS Our popular reading groups are open to the public and free to attend.

Linen Hall Library Reading Group Meets on the last Thursday of the month at 1.10pm.

The Death of the Heart Star of the Sea The Glorious Heresies by Elizabeth Bowen by Joseph O’Connor by Lisa McInerney Thursday 30 Jan Thursday 27 Feb Thursday 26 Mar

Club Leabhar – Irish Book Club Speak Irish? Or want to brush up on your skills? Take part in our free Irish book club. Meets on the first Thursday of the month at 1.00pm.

Eachtra Eíbhlíse I dTír na nIontas Cití na gCártái Run an Bhonnáin le Lewis Carroll le Réaltán Ní Leannáin le Prionsias Mac a' Bhaird Thursday 9 Thursday 6 Thursday 5 Eanair/January Feabhra/February Marta/March

7 AT A GLANCE

Exhibition Andrew Gibson: An Ardent Son 10 – 31 January

Lecture Take Courage: The Brontë Sister who took on the Victorians 17 January at 1pm With Pauline Holland £5

Lecture Burns and Ulster: The Gibson Collection in a Wider Cultural Context 21 January at 1pm With Ian Crozier, Chief Executive, Ulster-Scots Agency

Reading Nine Rhymes 22 January at 1pm With Liam Logan £5

Screening ‘Two Angry Men’ 24 January at 6pm & Discussion With Toto and Robina Ellis

Exhibition State of Play: The Theatre and Cultural Identity 5 February – 31 March in 20th Century Ulster

Lecture ‘Now We’re Sucking Diesel’ - talk & discussion 7 February at 1pm on old Irish sayings. With Paul Clements £5

Performance Songs of the Shipyard 20 February at 6pm £10

Screening Belfast 1792 - The Hub of the Harp 21 February at 10.30am

Reading Molly Keane’s Ireland 5 March at 1pm £5

Lecture ‘The Greatest Irishwoman’: Augusta, Lady Gregory 10 March at 1pm With Dr Ann McVeigh

Discussion Now You’re Talkin! 19 March at 6pm With Linda Ervine and Liam Logan £5

Screening The Devil by James Ellis 25 March at 6pm & Discussion With Director Frankie McCafferty, Vincent Higgins and guests

Reading Group Thursday 30 January, 27 February & 26 March at 1.10pm.

Irish Book Club Thursday 9 January, 6 February & 5 March at 1pm.

Events can be booked online at www.linenhall.com or in person at the main reception desk on level 2. To comply with current GDPR regulations, the Linen Hall Library regrets that it cannot take bookings over the phone. Tickets can be purchased up until an hour prior to an event.

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