The City ChapterSN
The City Chapter
Trustees’ Report for 2025
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:
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The increase in opportunities to explore culture and identity;
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Increased education and skills for participants;
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Reduction in social isolation;
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Improved levels of self-confidence and self-esteem;
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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. All of these events were provided free of charge and in local people’s home area.
Lack of funding prevented the City Chapter from holding more events, however, it was a pleasure to deliver two important events to promote the spoken and written word during 2025. As is normally the case, the four libraries in Armagh share the hosting of City Chapter events and in 2025, Armagh City Library and Armagh Robinson Library took on these roles. Coverage of both events are carried below:
World Book Day
The City Chapter welcomed author, Paul McVeigh, to celebrate World Book Day on Thursday 6 March 2025 in Armagh City Library.
Some of the audience with City Chapter representatives and the author Paul McVeigh, seated second from the left. Actor Tony Flynn read some of Paul’s work on the evening. Seated right is Cathy Donnelly for Armagh City Library who hosted the City Chapter event.
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 Paul Jeffcutt and Wendy Sinnamon. The theme for National Poetry Day was ‘Play’. Each year a theme is chosen to highlight particular poets and styles of poetry.
Featured before the poetry reading were seated from left, poet Wendy Sinnamon, Carol Conlin for Armagh Robinson Library who hosted the event and poet Paul Jeffcutt. Standing were from left Roddy Hegarty for the Cardinal O Fiaich Library and Archive, Tess Maginess for the John Hewitt Society, Cathy Donnelly for Armagh City Library, Catherine Gartland for the Cultural Heritage Service Library and Paul McAvinchey for the John Hewitt Society.
The City Chapter welcomed 25 people to the reading, some of whom are shown in these photographs.
Images courtesy of Ian Maginess