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John McGahern’s Dublin: the 23rd Annual Sir John T. Gilbert Commemorative Lecture will take place on Thursday 23rd January 2020 at 6pm.The lecture will be presented by Professor Frank Shovlin, University of Liverpool, at Dublin City Library & Archive, 138-144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2,John McGahern is often thought of as Ireland's quintessential chronicler of rural life, a writer who, through his Leitrim and Roscommon roots, helped to represent the delicate facets of the countryside more accurately than any writer since Patrick Kavanagh.From Howth of The Leavetaking, to Drumcondra and Contarf of The Pornographer or the city centre pubs of High Ground, he lovingly recreated the city he knew, first as a student teacher and in later years as a mature writer. The lecture will examine moments from the published fiction as well as considering an extensive unpublished correspondence that allows us access to McGahern's social networks and his motivations and preoccupations as he develops into one of the greatest writers of fiction in the post-war era.Reception to follow. No Booking Required. Come early to ensure a place. Further information: 01 674 4999 or [email protected] or [email protected]  

Burma pro-democracy campaigner Aung San Suu Kyi is in Dublin today as part of her European tour. On Saturday last, she  finally accepted her 1991 Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. As part of her short visit here, she is meeting with President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin, and later being presented with the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award at a concert in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre (at Grand Canal Square just up the road from library headquarters here in Pearse Street).As part of the event in the Grand Canal Square, Lord Mayor, Andrew Montague, will receive Aung San Suu Kyi, who will sign the Roll of Honorary Freedom of the City of Dublin. The Freedom of the City was awarded to Ms Suu Kyi on 18th March 2000, the award was accepted on her behalf by her son Kim at the time.We have a number of books in stock, either on or by Aung San Suu Kyi, including biographies and her in conversation. DID YOU KNOW? Aung San Suu Kyi will celebrate her birthday tomorrow! She was born on 19th June, 1945.Ms Suu Kyi will also be conferred with an Honorary Degree (a Doctor in Laws) from Trinity College Dublin at the Grand Canal event. She will later fly out for England as part of her 17-day tour of Switzerland, Britain, France, Ireland and Norway.Ms Suu Kyi spent a total of 15 years under house arrest between 1989 and her release in late 2010, and has only recently felt confident enough about leaving Burma and being allowed to return.