Westmeath Libraries
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westmeathlibraries.bsky.social
Westmeath Libraries
@westmeathlibraries.bsky.social
110 followers 120 following 26 posts
A public library in the Irish midlands, we have branches in Athlone, Mullingar, Castlepollard, and Moate. This account will be devoted to books and reading, please see our website for all other information - www.westmeathculture.ie/library
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westmeathlibraries.bsky.social
I'm a little behind out latest #bookclub read. As part of the Coffee & Clasics group I've started the Iliad, we're reading one book a week in Mullingar Library, Wednesday at 12.30pm. Up to book 4 now.
Book cover of The Iliad by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson
November 17, 2025 at 12:56 PM
westmeathlibraries.bsky.social
I am still working my way through Hild by Nicola Griffith. It's a reread before I get started on the sequel Menewood. Although I am behind the times as this came out back in 2023!

What are you #reading today?
Book cover of Hild by Nicola Griffith Book cover of Menewood by Nicola Griffith
September 1, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Reposted by Westmeath Libraries
childrensbooksireland.ie
Introducing our new reading list - Class Reads ✏️
 
An expertly curated list for junior and primary school readers, these hand-picked titles will open up chances for discussion, learning, and imaginative exploration of important themes and issues.
 
More info⬇️
childrensbooksireland.ie/our-recommen...
The cover of the Class Reads reading list & resource pack. On the cover is an illustration of two students sitting at a desk with their hands raised. The illustration is repeated throughout the cover.
August 6, 2025 at 7:37 AM
westmeathlibraries.bsky.social
Our Science Fiction book club recently read A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine.

They said "This was a diplomatic space drama with very strong characters and worldbuilding. Everyone was very impressed."

For more Book Club thoughts visit our blog westmeathculture.ie/tag/book-clu...

#booksky
Book cover of A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine. Bottom half is black with text, top half has a futuristic image if a person approaching a throne. Viewpoint is from a distance so we cannot see many details
July 30, 2025 at 1:59 PM
westmeathlibraries.bsky.social
Staff reads: Ger in HQ
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
"It’s a lovely #read, and is very encouraging to people to use the library. It gives an account of people at various stages of life all coming together finding comfort in books and chatting to both librarians and others about their reads."
Picture of a spiral notebook with Staff reads in top right corner. Page has polaroid style image of the cover of The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams on it.
July 29, 2025 at 8:08 AM
westmeathlibraries.bsky.social
Good morning Bluesky, what are you #reading today? I have just started Whole Motion by @derekberes.bsky.social

Available with our BorrowBox App - westmeath.borrowbox.com/product/SSI_...
Book cover of Whole Motion: training your brain and body for optimal health by Derek Beres. Image is white background with a drawing of a male body, slightly vitruvian man style, on the right hand side.
July 28, 2025 at 9:22 AM
westmeathlibraries.bsky.social
Connecting a nation : the story of telecommunications in Ireland is available to request from your local library - librariesireland.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spyd...

#irishhistory #spéirghorm #booksky
dfit.ie Deryck @dfit.ie · Jul 25
#westmeath features quite prominently in the history of telecommunications in Ireland, partly due to the radio transmitter at Moydrum. Its power caused problems at the start of WW2:
An extract from Connecting a Nation: The problem for the British was that the powerful 10o kW transmitter at Athlone could also be used by the Luftwaffe to guide air raids on the UK. Pressure from the British government to synchronise Athlone with the other Radio Éireann transmitters in Dublin and Cork was initially ineffective as the Irish authorities lacked the equipment required to make the changes. To reduce the utility of the Athlone transmitter for German bombers, in September 1939 the BBC took three low-powered transmitters at Redmoss outside Aberdeen, Penmon on Anglesey and Clevedon near Bristol out of regular service. In a measure to confuse Luftwaffe aircraft, receivers picked up Radio Éireann and relayed it by landline for retransmission at the three BBC sites.38 In October 1940, the Irish authorities acquired the equipment required to synchronise the three Radio Eireann transmitters at Dublin, Cork and Athlone thus reducing their value as navigation aids, and the BBC relays ceased. There is no record of whether British listeners missed their regular dose of hurling and céilí music after the retransmissions ended.
July 28, 2025 at 9:17 AM
westmeathlibraries.bsky.social
Good morning Bluesky, what is everyone #reading today? I have just finished Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, read by Ray Porter.

If you've read The Martian then this is a similar style, science fiction with lots of problems solved by thinking and scientific experiments. Very enjoyable
Cover of Audiobook for Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, pictured is an astronaut in a white suit floating in front of a patterned background that fades to black
July 25, 2025 at 8:42 AM
westmeathlibraries.bsky.social
Recommended reading - memoirs. Have you read any of these?
Wild : a journey from lost to found by Cheryl Strayed
Finding Hildasay by Christian Lewis
One woman walks Wales by Ursula Martin
Wild Ireland by Carsten Krieger
Nature Boy by Seán Ronayne

Full post at westmeathculture.ie/library-blog...
Cover image of Wild by Cheryl Strayed shows a black and white photo of a young woman with a large backpack on her back. Cover image of Finding Hildasay by Christian Lewis, photo is a man with a beard sitting by rockpools at the seaside with a dog in his lap Cover image of Nature Boy by Seán Ronayne photo shows a young man wearing large overear headphones looking up to the sky and a murmuration of birds Cover image of One Woman walks Wales by Ursula Martin, image is of a stylised landscape, green fields, stone walls, and purple mountains.
July 21, 2025 at 9:42 AM
westmeathlibraries.bsky.social
Our Science Fiction book club meets this evening, 17th July, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM in the Aidan Heavey Library, Athlone.

This month's book is Of Ants and Dinosaurs by Cixin Liu. All welcome, no need to register in advance
Cover image of a book "Of Ants and Dinosaurs by Cixin Liu" in red text. The picture features a group of ants forming the outline of a dinosaurs footprint
July 17, 2025 at 8:24 AM
westmeathlibraries.bsky.social
Would anyone like a hint?
westmeathlibraries.bsky.social Westmeath Libraries @westmeathlibraries.bsky.social · Jul 15
Quiz time
American Soul meets Irish attitude.
Spoiler: the attitude wins

What book am I?

#booksky #spéirghorm #justforfun
July 16, 2025 at 2:27 PM
westmeathlibraries.bsky.social
Quiz time
American Soul meets Irish attitude.
Spoiler: the attitude wins

What book am I?

#booksky #spéirghorm #justforfun
July 15, 2025 at 12:20 PM
westmeathlibraries.bsky.social
In June the most popular Adult Fiction ebook with Westmeath borrowers was T.M. Logan's The Mother. Have you read this one? Or any of Logan's other thrillers?

#booksky #spéirghorm #reading
Book cover of The Mother by T.M. Logan - a torn family photograph in the foreground with a woman in red in the background, ominous clouds in the sky
July 10, 2025 at 3:01 PM
westmeathlibraries.bsky.social
Interesting report from CBI about children's #reading for pleasure in Ireland, has both positive and negatives like all reports.

No mention of visiting libraries, or borrowing library books though. If you are a parent/care-giver do you take children to the library? Could we make it easier for you?
childrensbooksireland.ie Children's Books Ireland @childrensbooksireland.ie · Jul 7
Are children and young people in Ireland reading for pleasure?

Our new research report provides insight into children’s and teenagers’ reading. It highlights some worrying trends and provides essential evidence that underpins our work.

Get the full story⬇️
childrensbooksireland.ie/news-events/...
3 illustrations show children at different ages. One is being read to by an adult. Text reads: Children and young people's reading in Ireland
July 8, 2025 at 8:11 AM
westmeathlibraries.bsky.social
I am currently reading Mutual Aid by Peter Kropotkin. The author is a Russian prince-turned-anarchist, who lived from 1842-1921.
He believed that the scientific law of mutual aid guided the evolution of all life on earth
westmeath.spydus.ie/cgi-bin/spyd...

#booksky #spéirghorm #reading
Book cover - black paint on a white background with the words "Mutual Aid" and "Peter Kropotkin"
July 7, 2025 at 11:02 AM
westmeathlibraries.bsky.social
Good morning all, Westmeath Libraries in Ireland here. We will be posting about books and reading in general on this account. For news, events, and all our other resources please see our website: www.westmeathculture.ie
July 7, 2025 at 10:54 AM