Libraries NI Yarnspinners

Libraries NI Yarnspinners are regular storytelling events supported by The Armstrong Storytelling Trust which take place in various libraries on a monthly basis. The original monthly Tullycarnet Yarnspinners has been running continually for 31 years but now five additional storytelling clubs have started in Bangor Carnegie Library, Lisburn City Library, Dungiven Library, Keady Library and Lisnaskea Library. Chair

Yarnspinners meetings provide the perfect opportunity and platform for new storytelling talent to share traditional stories and yarns in the company of professional storyteller and Libraries NI Storyteller in Residence, Liz Weir MBE.

Throughout the yearly programme, participants are given the chance to listen to and learn from a diverse mix of guest storytellers who have been honing their craft for many years and also from storytellers who are only starting out.

Everyone is welcome to come along, see below for details of the upcoming Yarnspinners events taking place via Zoom.

Click on the + symbols in the table below to view the full details for each event.

Events

Event Name	Event Details	Start Date & Time	End Date & Time	Library	Booking
Lisnaskea Yarnspinners with Bryan Gallagher	Thursday 30 June 2:30pm Donation £3 Bryan Gallagher is a retired headmaster who has spent his whole life living in Fermanagh near the beautiful shores of Lough Erne. Bryan is a regular contributor to ‘Thought For The Day’ on BBC Radio Ulster. He has written ‘There’ll not be a Crowd Till The Crowd Gathers’ and ‘Barefoot in Mullyneeny’. Since his retirement from teaching , he has forged a new career as a member of Erne Heritage Tour Guides, and as an accomplished after-dinner speaker and raconteur.	30/06/2022 02:30 PM	30/06/2022 03:30 PM	Lisnaskea Library	See event details to check if booking is essential (phone/email). Otherwise, if the event is not virtual (via Zoom) then simply call into the library at the time of the event.

About The Armstrong Storytelling Trust

The Armstrong Storytelling Trust is a registered charity which aims to take storytelling into communities throughout Northern Ireland. In 2016 record producer Roger Armstrong set up the Armstrong Storytelling Bursary in honour of his late parents Peg and Jim who started Tullycarnet Yarnspinners, a monthly adult storytelling gathering back in 1990. Roger Armstrong was awarded an MBE in the recent New Years Honours for his service to storytelling.

The Armstrong Storytelling Trust achieved charitable status in August 2021 and its work continues to develop new storytellers and to reach thousands of people in Northern Ireland.

The Trust works on a cross community basis and is also dedicated to bringing stories from around the world to Northern Ireland, introducing people from different cultures and experiences to entertain the public.

Thanks to the award of funding from The Arts Council of Northern Ireland and various other trusts, projects have been delivered to older people, people living with dementia and learning disabled adults as well as to children and young people.

About Liz Weir MBE

Professional storyteller Liz Weir

Thanks to the Armstrong Storytelling Trust bursary Liz Weir MBE became Storyteller in Residence for Libraries NI and was tasked with coordinating storytelling events both within libraries and in venues throughout the community.

Liz was formerly a children’s librarian so her background knowledge has proven very valuable in terms of training library staff and organising events in libraries. As a professional storyteller with over 40 years’ experience she has toured internationally performing at major festivals and delivering workshops for people of all ages and abilities.

Liz Weir was awarded an MBE for her services to the Arts and Education in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List and was the first winner of the International Story Bridge Award from the National Storytelling Network, USA, which cited her “exemplary work promoting the art of storytelling.