Events

Tom will tell the story of the women who are buried in the graveyards of Belfast. The origins of this presentation lie in a talk he gave to the Women’s Institute in Andersonstown in 2014. In a discussion following, a woman in the audience told the meeting that when she got married, she felt she had disappeared.   
The presentation covers the story of women in institutions, important women in the shadow of important men, women from the arts, those who died during war and conflict, women from minority and immigrant communities, and poor women – all who contributed to the life of our city. 

Everyone welcome!
 

t: 028 9050 9212
e:fallsroad.library@librariesni.org.uk


 

A storyteller’s journey into the heart of one of Ireland’s most enduring traditions. Stephen O’Hara brings to life the folklore, rituals and superstitions that surround the Irish wake, a unique celebration of life, death and community. Stephen O’Hara is a storyteller from Cushendun with a passion for Irish mythology and the customs that shaped rural life. His performances weave together humour, history and humanity. 
Everyone welcome

t: 028 9085 1157
e: rathcoole.library@librariesni.org.uk 

An experiential workshop exploring the Irish tradition of caoineadh (keening) and the use of the voice as a way of expressing grief. Drawing on Irish lament traditions, participants will explore breath, sound, repetition and vocal expression, considering how the physical act of giving voice to loss can create space for emotion when words are not enough. 

No previous musical or singing experience is required, and participation in the vocal exercises is entirely optional. 

The workshop offers a gentle, creative space to consider how traditional practices of communal mourning might inform our experience of bereavement today.
 

t: 028 9446 1942
e: antrim.library@librariesni.org.uk
 

Remember Me: A Social and Cultural History of Memorial Cards
Professor Salvador Ryan
7:00pm–8:00pm
Registration essential.
Registration link: Register for Remember Me

Tucked inside prayer books, stored in biscuit tins and kept in family collections, memorial cards have quietly recorded Irish lives for almost 150 years.

Professor Salvador Ryan explores the fascinating history of these familiar objects and what they reveal about changing attitudes to death, remembrance, religion and society in Ireland. Discover how something so small and personal became an important part of our social and cultural history. 
 

Death and burial in Ireland 8000 BC - AD 400, 
with reference to Ulster.
 

The richness of the mortuary record that we have for Irish prehistory is a highlight of the archaeological record for that eight-thousand-year span of  time (8000 BC- AD 400). This lecture will consider changing patterns in the treatment of the dead of the earliest human generations who lived in Ireland, referring to Ulster, and how the evidence here relates to wider trends across the island and internationally. The lecture also provides an opportunity to reflect on the relationships between past and present mortuary practices.
 

Speaker: Gabriel Cooney, Is emeritus professor of Celtic Archaeology, School of Archaeology, University College Dublin.
 

t: 028 9050 9232
e: shankillroad.library@librariesni.org.uk
 

Understanding Your Grief Workshop
Cruse Bereavement Support
1:30pm–3:30pm
Booking essential.
t: 028 9336 2261 
e: carrickfergus.library@librariesni.org.uk
 
There is no single way to experience grief. It can affect our emotions, thoughts and everyday lives in many different ways.

Led by Cruse Bereavement Support, this supportive workshop offers an opportunity to better understand grief and some of the experiences that can follow a bereavement. Through information, guidance and conversation, participants can explore grief in a welcoming and supportive setting.

Facilitator: Cruse Bereavement Support provides free, confidential support to people experiencing bereavement. 

The Good Grief Club
Briege McClean and Anthea McWilliams
2:00pm–4:00pm
Booking essential – limited to 10 places.
t: 028 8244 0733 
e: omagh.library@librariesni.org.uk
 
Can humour and creativity help us talk about something most of us would rather avoid? The Good Grief Club thinks so.

Creative facilitators Briege McClean and Anthea McWilliams invite adults aged 55+ to explore living, dying and planning for the end of life through conversation, stories, creativity, music and humour.

Expect an informal and supportive session with plenty of room to listen, contribute and even share a joke or two. 
 

Transformation, Myth and the Art of Healing
Bróna McVittie
7:00pm–8:00pm
Registration essential.
Registration link: Register for Transformation, Myth and the Art of Healing

 

Why are Irish myths filled with people who disappear, cross into other worlds and return transformed?
Through storytelling, music and reflection, Bróna McVittie explores tales of the Otherworld, death, renewal and transformation found in Irish folklore and mythology.

These ancient stories have travelled across generations. This event considers what they might still tell us about grief, change and the experience of becoming someone new. 

Life and Death in Medieval Ireland – Insights from the Analysis of Human Skeletal Remains
Professor Eileen Murphy
11:00am–12 noon
Booking essential.
t: 028 9040 1365 
e: cregagh.library@librariesni.org.uk
 
What can the bones of people who lived hundreds of years ago tell us about their lives?

Drawing on evidence from medieval burial grounds in Ireland, Professor Eileen Murphy explores how the study of human remains can reveal remarkable details about health and disease, diet, migration, lifestyle and violence – and even relationships and community bonds.

An opportunity to discover how archaeology can bring us closer to the lives of people who might otherwise have left little trace behind. 

Stephen will bring to life the folklore, rituals and superstitions that surround the Irish wake, a unique celebration of life, death and community.

Booking recommended

Adults. Everyone welcome.

t: 028 2888 5552
e: carnlough.library@librariesni.org.uk 

 

Pregnancy and Baby Loss Awareness Talk
Sheila Walls, Sands Northern Ireland
1:00pm–1:45pm
Registration essential.
Registration link: Register for the Pregnancy and Baby Loss Awareness Talk

Pregnancy and baby loss can have a profound impact on parents, families and the wider people around them.
In this sensitive and informative session, Sheila Walls from Sands Northern Ireland explores the experiences of bereaved parents and families, the importance of remembrance and continuing bonds, and how others can provide compassionate support.

The session will also introduce the support and resources available through Sands and provide an opportunity for questions and discussion. 

Changing Perspectives of Grief
Professor Mark Shevlin
12 noon–12:45pm
Registration essential.
Registration link: Register for Changing Perspectives of Grief

Grief can bring sadness, anger, guilt and longing, as well as changes in how we see ourselves. For most people, these difficult feelings change over time. For some, however, grief can remain intense and have a lasting impact on everyday life.

Professor Mark Shevlin explores our changing understanding of grief and introduces the concept of Prolonged Grief Disorder – what it means, how it differs from the grief most people experience and when additional help may be needed.

The event will include a 30-minute talk followed by an opportunity for questions and discussion. 

Limavady Library is delighted to welcome the wonderful storyteller Stephen O'Hara to host a storytelling special on 'Irish Wakes'. Come along and enjoy listening to Stephen as he delivers a unique storytelling session on the rituals, superstitions, and traditions of Irish Wakes. 

Everyone Welcome.

Booking essential.
t: 028 7776 2540 
e: limavady.library@librariesni.org.uk

Join Cruse Bereavement Support for a welcoming and supportive session exploring grief and the experience of bereavement. The session will help participants better understand the grieving process, recognise common emotional responses to loss, and learn about sources of support available to them.

Open to anyone who has experienced bereavement or would like to better understand and support someone who is grieving.

Ask staff for details.
t: 028 9127 0591
e: bangorcarnegie.library@librariesni.org.uk