Tag: NAAS LIBRARY AND CULTURAL CENTRE

Book launch, New Publication, Self Published Novel

“The Heir” by Anne Kelly: a novel inspired by a postcard.

Congratulations to Anne Kelly on the publication of The Heir. I had the pleasure of working with Anne in Clane Community College some years ago when I was teaching Creative Writing there. One evening after an exercise involving written and visual prompts, including postcards, Anne announced she was going to write a novel based on a postcard image of The Cradle by Berthe Morisot (1872).

Readers, she wrote the novel – The Heir – and I had the honour of launching it along with Celine Broughal in Naas Library and Cultural Centre last month.

L to R: Celine Broughal, Anne Kelly, Shauna Gilligan at Naas Library and Cultural Centre, 16 October 2025 (Photograph with Anne Kelly’s permission).

See Photographer Tony Keane’s Gallery of The Heir launch.

The Heir has become an instant best seller in Barker and Jones and Anne is currently on a “launch tour” with this, her debut novel. Last week the novel was launched in ‘Comer in Kilkenny with fellow writers Betty Brennan and Jane Meally (both members of Clogh Writers) .

L to R: Betty Brennan, Jane Meally and Anne Kelly at “The Heir” launch in ‘Comer, Kilkenny, 28 October 2025 (Photograph with Anne Kelly’s permission)
  • For more on The Heir, read in an interview with Anne Kelly in Kildare Now.
  • The Heir can be purchased at Barker and Jones (Naas), The Kilkenny Book Centre, and The Coffee and Book Shop.
  • Anne will be signing in The Elms Christmas Event (Punchestown Naas Co Kildare) Thursday 6th November between 5 and 9pm.
Collaboration, Writers with Artists

The Book of Kildare Exhbition

I’m very much looking forward to attending the launch of the exhibition of all original 80 pages of Josephine Hardiman’s Book of Kildare. Open to all in the stunning Naas Library and Cultural Centre on Thursday 30th January at 5.30pm.

Congratulations to Josephine on this exhibition. Discover more about her wonderful work on her website.

Book launch, Collaboration, Contemplation, Exhibitions, Writing Festival, Writing Life, Writing News

Launch of FIRE – what a memorable evening!

Contributors and Editors at the launch of FIRE in Naas Library and Cultural Centre (Photo courtesy of Attracta Fahy)
Shauna Gilligan, Editor and Project Lead, Lucina Russell, Lecturer University of Limerick, who launched FIRE and Niamh Boyce, Editor at the launch 26/09/2024.
Image of Noreen Ramsay’s Brigid’s Mantle featured in Fire

Contributors travelled long distances to Kildare – from Cork, Clare, Galway to name a few – in terrible weather to celebrate the coming together of the work but also of the people who contributed, and (most) who were meeting the editors/ fellow artists/ contributors for the first time. Thank you to everyone who travelled to read, to listen, to support. It was – and still is – very much appreciated.

Thank you to my co-editor Niamh Boyce – and good luck to her on her residency in Paris! – and publisher Alan Hayes, Arlen House, a joy to work with.

Thank you to Evelyn and Kevin at Naas Library and Cultural Centre, and to KRF 2024 for the beautiful venue and warm welcome. It was truly a wonderful evening!

Purchasing Details: KENNYS in Ireland (free postage in Ireland) and BLACKWELLS (free worldwide postage)

THANK YOU again to funders, Brigid 1500 and Kildare County Council