It’s all Irish at Central Library

In a month that sees Manchester’s large Irish community celebrate St Patrick’s Day and the Irish Festival, another celebration of Irish culture is also being recognised.

Irish Language Week is being marked at Central Library, which is expanding its collection of Irish Language books making it the largest collection of Irish language material in any public library in the UK.

The donation of books from the Manchester Irish Language Group (MILG) includes one of the most famous Gaelic titles, Cre na Cille, and consists of other works of poetry, prose and anthologies.

Councillor Mike Amesbury, Manchester City Council's executive member of culture and leisure said: "We have a thriving Irish community here in Manchester and the Irish language section in the library is very well used. We have a responsibility to keep it updated and work closely with the Manchester Irish Language Group who support us in its continuous development. I'd like to thank them for their latest donation of books which will be of great benefit to the many Irish speaking Mancunians who live and work in the city."

The MILG organise a monthly book club at Manchester's Central Library, where an Irish book is discussed in Irish and which also welcomes visits from some of the authors who's writings are discussed at the group.

The Irish Language selection in Central Library consists of one hundred books, which will be available in libraries such as Elliot House on Deansgate, Fallowfield Library and Levenshulme Library once Central Library closes for refurbishment in June.

For more information on the Manchester Irish Language Group visit http://www.milg.org.uk/