Since the inception of Creative Ireland, County Cork’s Library Service has been to the fore of  Creative Ireland undertakings, having led on some excellent projects and not least the Music-lending Library – A Sound Initiative –shortlisted for the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards 2019. For 2020, a whole range of projects and events are proposed, meeting numerous actions contained in County Cork’s Culture and Creativity Strategy 2018-2022.

A Sound Initiative, which has received great support from Creative Ireland, continues in earnest with the acquisition of over 30 new instruments (from banjos and ukuleles to Drum practice pads and violins) and in 2020, there are also music making workshops, where children will experiment with different instruments. The Library’s Writer in Residence Programme is also being supported, bringing workshops, talks and readings to libraries throughout the County.

Throughout the year there are also poetry workshops (with a particular focus on ‘Haiku’); workshops to promote the Irish Language and recycling workshops where families can express their creativity by upcycling and recycling. 2020 Library undertakings also include Literature and Lego Days as well as a wonderful Local Studies Project which will digitise ‘The Tolls and Customs of Ireland’. A key delivery is the Irish Author Events Project - a project that will bring leading Irish Authors to Cork to read and discuss their work with readers groups and the public.

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.