National Library of Scotland and GAA
Ba phribhléid dúinn fáilte a chur roimh Uachtarán na hÉireann, Catherine Connolly, chuig Leabharlann Náisiúnta na hAlban inniu.
It was a privilege to welcome the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, to the National Library of Scotland today.
The President and her husband, Brian McEnery, were greeted by National Librarian Amina Shah upon arrival. Ireland’s Ambassador Sonja Hyland was also in attendance, as were colleagues from the Irish Consulate based here in Edinburgh, and the Director of the National Library of Ireland, Audrey Whitty.
The National Library of Scotland is the home of Scotland’s languages – they collect material in Gaelic, Scots and English. During her visit, President Connolly was shown a range of highlights from the national collections, and also viewed the exhibition ‘Rain’, which features references to rain in all of Scotland’s languages.
Those present also used the visit as an opportunity to discuss ‘Across these Islands’, a €750,000 funded collaborative project between the national libraries of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the British Library. The project will widen access to national collections and help people explore the shared history, languages and cultures of these islands.
A National Library spokesperson said: “We have a strong working relationship with libraries in Ireland. As well as the National Library of Ireland, we also work closely with the Library of Trinity College Dublin, which is a fellow Legal Deposit library in the UK and Ireland. ‘Legal Deposit’ means that we get a right to claim anything published in the UK and Ireland. It means our collections are continually growing with a comprehensive range of published material.”
An excellent reception hosting President Catherine Connolly was held later at the Irish Cultural Centre in Glasgow. The GAA in Scotland was well represented. A great day for the Scottish/Irish who were represented by Dunedin Connolly’s GFC, Glasgow Gaels, Stirling Carrigans GAA, Ceann Creige Hurling and Camogie Club, Tír Conaill Football Club, Tír Conaill Harps, Glasgow GAA, and Donegal County Council.