The City Chapter
Trustees’ Report for 2023
The City Chapter registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland as Charity No. 103329 on 14 August 2015. Since registration, the City Chapter has continued to convene regular meetings of the Trustees and has planned and delivered several events in support of its aims and state public benefit.
The City Chapter was established for the promotion of the arts and the advancement of education for the benefit of the public within the City of Armagh area.
The direct benefits which flow from the work of the City Chapter are: The increase in opportunities to explore culture and identity; Increased education and skills for participants; Reduction in social isolation; Improved levels of self-confidence and self-esteem; Improved community life through involvement in enriching arts events.
The benefit is demonstrated through the City Chapter’s annual programme of events to promote the spoken and written word, details of which are outlined below and which are delivered through the collaboration of all four libraries in Armagh, through their membership of the City Chapter and their joint efforts to promote the spoken and written word. All of these events were provided free of charge and in local people’s home area.
Three main events were delivered by the City Chapter during 2023. As is normally the case, the four libraries in Armagh share the hosting of City Chapter events and in 2023, Armagh City Library and the Cardinal O’Fiaich Library and Archive took on these roles. In addition, the City Chapter event as part of the 2023 Festival of St Patrick In Armagh was held in the Market Place Theatre, Armagh.
World Book Day
The City Chapter welcomed author, Jan Carson, to celebrate World Book Day on Thursday 2 March 2023 in Armagh City Library.
Speaking ahead of World Book Day, Cathy Donnelly, Armagh City Library representative on the City Chapter had said, “The emphasis for World Book Day 2023 is on making it your World Book Day. Jan Carson’s writing, including her most recent book, ‘The Raptures’, helps us to do this by exploring themes familiar to us all; such as ‘how tragedy can unite a small community - and tear it apart’. We thank our funder for making this event possible and look forward to welcoming a capacity audience at the event.” This event was funded by the Arts Council for Northern Ireland.
The City Chapter's World Book Day event welcomed writer Jan Carson who talked about and read her work to an appreciative audience. Pictured with members of the audience is Jan Carson, seated third from the left and Cathy Donnelly, seated third from the right who hosted the event as Armagh City Library's representative on the City Chapter.
Storytelling Sessions for Primary Schools – Festival of St Patrick, Armagh
Aware that none of the four libraries in Armagh could hold the audience numbers of local primary schools for a story telling session with professional story teller, Niall de Burca, the City Chapter booked the Studio Theatre at the Market Place Theatre, Armagh. This was given free of charge and was included as one of the events during Armagh’s Festival of St Patrick. On the morning of Tuesday 14 March 2023, unexpectedly, a heavy fall of snow meant that not all the schools which had booked to attend one of two sessions were able to do so. The story teller offered to stay overnight in Armagh as the weather improved later that day. As a result, day 2 required the main auditorium of the Theatre, as numbers exceeded the Studio Theatre capacity. This event was also funded by the Arts Council for Northern Ireland.
Day 1 of the story telling session with Niall de Burca and 100 students in the Studio Theatre, Armagh
Day 2 of the Story telling session with Niall De Burca and 120 students in the Main Auditorium
National Poetry Day
The City Chapter, in association with the John Hewitt Society, held a poetry reading on the evening of National Poetry Day with poets Ruth Carr and Iggy McGovern. This year’s event which had the theme of ‘Refuge’ was held on Thursday 5 October 2023 in The Cardinal Tomás Ó Fiaich Memorial Library & Archive. The City Chapter was most grateful to the John Hewitt Society and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for their support for this poetry event.
This year the City Chapter's National Poetry Day event was held in the Cardinal O'Fiaich Library. Featured before the poetry reading were seated from the left, poet Iggy McGovern, host and O'Fiaich Library representative Roddy Hegarty, and poet Ruth Carr. Standing from left was Paul McAvinchey, representing the John Hewitt Society which helped to fund the event along with the Arts Council for Northern Ireland; Catherine Gartland representing the Cultural Heritage Service Library; Patricia Curran for Libraries NI and Carol Conlin for Armagh Robinson Library.
Some of the 30+ audience members at the National Poetry Day event
The Trustees of the City Chapter have met virtually to plan events for the coming year.
Images courtesy of Ian Maginess