Read all about it – Donegal County Council are getting people to read from the same book!
The local authority is working with Libraries NI, Scottish libraries in Argyll-Bute, and the Irish Cultural Centre in Boston, MA to engage both local people and the diaspora in the One Book One Community reading initiative.
The featured book is ‘The Chronicles of Iona: Exile’ by Paula de Fougerolles, book 1 in a series of 7 titles. The 3rd book in the series is largely set in Donegal.
The initiative was launched in Boston during the Golden Bridges conference in October and has generated great interest amongst not only the Donegal diaspora in Boston but also amongst readers with an interest in the history of Ireland, Scotland, the church and the Dark Ages.
The One Book One Community project aims to engage the diaspora in a literature project connected to Donegal and to foster a sense of community and connection to Donegal.
Plans are well underway to launch this initiative and Eileen Burgess, Cultural Services Divisional Manager with Donegal County Council stated that “to allow full engagement by all who read the book, regardless of location, an online discussion board is at an advanced stage of development and will be accessible through the Donegal County Library website.
“This will complement the author’s existing social media platforms. We hope to create a community of readers from across the globe who will enjoy coming together in book discussion groups including online discussion groups and at special events to explore the themes, characters and history of Ireland”.
She added “other titles with similar themes will also be included so that the reading experience can be further enhanced and this will include engaging with children through age-appropriate books and activities”.
A series of related programmes is also being developed, and these programmes will complement the celebration of Colmcille which will take place in June 2013 in Scotland with commemorative events including re-enactments, drama, music, and history trails.
The Derry ~ Londonderry 2013 City of Culture celebrations will also feature Colmcille in June events including pageantry, procession and spectacle.
Speaking following the launch in Boston, Míchéal O h’Éanaigh, Director of Community, Culture and Planning with Donegal County Council said that “the concept of a transnational One Book One Community initiative was inspired by Donegal’s many global connections and in particularly by the many special events that are planned this year including the Gathering 2013 and the City of Culture in Derry ~ Londonderry. There is no better time to join together in celebrating literature, arts and culture relating to Ireland and in particular, Donegal”.
Updates on the One Book One Community initiative will be available on www.donegallibrary.ie as the project evolves.