WEDNESDAY 6 SEPTEMBER | 1 PM | FREE
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to immerse yourself in the enchanting verses of two remarkable Canadian poets Kathleen McCracken and Catherine Graham.
Based in Belfast since the 1990s, Kathleen is the author of eight poetry collections, including Blue Light, Bay, and College. While Catherine Graham, who’s on a flying visit to Belfast, has just published Put Flowers Around Us and Pretend We’re Dead: New and Selected Poems.
THURSDAY 7 SEPTEMBER | 6 PM | FREE
Brian McGilloway is one of the most celebrated crime fiction authors of our time. Hailing from Derry, McGilloway is renowned for his Inspector Benedict Devlin and DS Lucy Black series, which have garnered critical acclaim and reached the New York Times bestseller list.
FRIDAY 15 SEPTEMBER | 1 PM | FREE
A Dress for Kathleen is a labour of love from a niece to the aunt she never met. Heather Richardson, who originally stitched details of Kathleen’s life into the fabric of a dress she made as a tribute to her, has now written a book about Kathleen’s life, telling the stories of one family in rural Northern Ireland in the first half of the 20th Century.
WEDNESDAY 20 SEPTEMBER | 1 PM | FREE
Robert Shipboy McAdam was a major commissioner and collector of Irish manuscripts, and The Linen Hall houses his Comparative Lexicon of the Irish Language.
Join Professor Míchéal Ó Mainnín for a talk that will explore McAdam’s views on the revival of the Irish language and its role in reconciliation, issues that continue to be of relevance to this day.
WEDNESDAY 27 SEPTEMBER | 1 PM | FREE
Between 1870 and 1914 Belfast was the city at the heart of Ireland’s undisputed reputation as the home of linen production. This reputation earned it the name ‘Linenopolis’. In this illustrated talk from Fiona McKelvie you will hear more about the importance of linen to the growth of the city, the plant which provided the yarn to weave the linen and the buildings where the cloth was made, embellished, and traded.
After popular demand, we’re thrilled to welcome back Dr Federica Ferrieri with a series of three Italian language classes.
All classes are set to span 10 weeks starting Thursday 21st September, with a mid-term break during the last week of October.
Linen Hall members can enjoy the classes at a special price.
Holiday Italian
This grammar-free class, suitable for absolute beginners, will introduce you to the Italian language in a fun and interactive way! Join us every Thursday from 2 pm – 3 pm.
False Beginners
This fun and interactive class is suitable for you if you have previously attended Holiday Italian for Beginners at The Linen Hall, or if you have some knowledge of Italian – even if you feel a bit rusty! Join us every Thursday from 5.30 pm – 7 pm.
Every Thursday | 11.00am
Discover some of Belfast’s Blue Plaques on this city centre walking tour. Placed by Ulster History Circle, each plaque marks the home or workplace of a famous historic person in The Linen Hall area.
Book by phone, email or via our website.
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Every Thursday | 2.00pm
During the 1800s Belfast and its surrounding towns exploded with industry. One of the most significant industries of that time was the linen industry. Discover the history of Belfast’s linen trade on this city-centre walking tour. Many buildings in The Linen Hall area reflect the city’s past as a global industrial hub of the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Book by phone, email or via our website.
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Deadline: 31st October
We are pleased to announce the highly anticipated launch of the 2023 Michael McLaverty Short Story Award. This prestigious award aims to foster and encourage the tradition of the short story and has attracted a high calibre of entries since its inception in 2006.
The Michael McLaverty Short Story Award offers a significant prize of £2,000 for the winning story. Additionally, each of the two runners-up will receive a prize of £250. In recognition of their exceptional contributions, the winning story and the two runners-up will be published in a limited anthology.
The Linen Hall (Belfast Library And Society For Promoting Knowledge) is registered with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC 104 564.
