Past lectures

To mark its 40th anniversary and to pay tribute to Princess Grace’s literary legacy and love of music, a special commemorative book has been launched by the Princess Grace Irish Library and published by the Archives du Palais de Monaco.

A digital version of the commemorative book is freely available for all to enjoy on the Library’s website.

The beautiful book captures the sentiment that Princess Grace felt for Ireland, the birthplace of her grandfather John Henry Kelly and is illustrated with archival photos of visits to Ireland, spanning from the first State visit by Prince Rainier III and His wife in 1961 to modern day visits by their son H.S.H. Prince Albert II and His family.

HSH Prince Albert II & HRH Princess of Hanover attended a special musical matinée at the Library.

Today exactly 40 years to the day since 20th November 1984, when they inaugurated the Princess Grace Irish Library in tribute to Their mother, we were honoured to welcome HSH Prince Albert II & HRH Princess of Hanover for a fitting tribute with an Irish music concert by the young students from the Académie Rainier III and renowned Irish flute player Fintan Vallely.

The commemorative event was a celebration of Princess Grace's attachment to Ireland and her enduring legacy to promote Irish culture and music.

This event is sold out! Call us to put your name on the waiting list!

Brilliant and witty performance by the talented actors from the Monaco-Ireland Arts Society.

Retrospective: Humorous scenes from the Restoration to the Rising

The joint event is particularly special as it is a celebration of our anniversary years - the 30th year for the Society and the 40th year for the Library. We are passionate about our shared mission to promote Irish culture and the Arts. 

Join us for a lecture by Academic-in-Residence, Dr Darragh Gannon, visiting from Georgetown University, Washington D.C. for three weeks in October. Dr Gannon has been awarded the autumn 2024 bursary from The Ireland Funds Monaco.

The title of his talk is 'The Republic of Letters, 1919-1923: Count Gerald O'Kelly and the Irish Revolutionary World'.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 11 - SUNDAY OCTOBER 13, 2024

Guadalupe Smurfit, President of The Ireland Funds Monaco &
John Fitzpatrick, Honorary Chair of The Ireland Funds Monaco
Under the High Patronage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II

invite you to the 2024 Monaco Weekend Celebrations
Honoring Dermot Desmond
Recipient of the 2024 Princess Grace Humanitarian Award

Enjoy a visit to the Princess Grace Irish Library, a cultural treasure of Monaco, which houses Princess Grace’s personal collection of music sheets and books, which were originally in her office at the palace. Discover Princess Grace's Irish roots and her attachment to County Mayo, the birthplace of her grandfather John B. Kelly in 1847.  Discover four decades of the Library continuing her legacy to promote Irish literature and heritage in Monaco, since its inauguration in 1984, two years after the Princess' untimely death in 1982.

Drop in anytime. If you wish to join a guided visit, please check the allocated times and make a reservation by email : info@pgil.mc

"Princess Grace and Her Irish Library: The Remarkable Story of Prince Rainier III’s Tribute to His Wife"

Join us for this special cross-Atlantic discussion, with Dr. Alexander L. Ames, Director of Outreach & Engagement at the Rosenbach Museum & Library, in conversation with the Director and a Trustee of the Princess Grace Irish Library to learn more about Princess Grace, the origins of the library, the work of the library today, and how Princess Grace’s legacy lives on in Philadelphia, Monaco, and Mayo, Ireland.  

Would you like to participate in a five-day trip in Ireland to build your life skills onboard a youth training ship?

This all expenses-paid sea voyage( with on land excursions) is funded by the Monaco Ireland Network for the lucky few who are awarded a place. Sailing experience is not necessary.

The trip takes place sometime July - September 2024. Deadline to apply is Friday 24th May at 13.00 CET.

Those interested can email for more details on info@atlanticyouthtrust.org 

Monaco's red carpet will be rolled out for the exclusive cinematic screening of the film Quintessentially Irish, while down the coast the Cannes Film Festival opens.

The film-documentary features an interview with H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and others including Pierce Brosnan, Jeremy Irons and Bob Geldof. The film's award-winning Irish director Frank Mannion will introduce the film to the audience in the Principality and we'll have a chance to chat with him during the welcome cocktail. The Monaco screening takes place at the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation conference hall on Port Hercules, thanks to the genorsity of Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou. 

Join us for an insightful lecture by academic Dr Maria McHale of TU Dublin who will reveal the story behind 'Eithne' the romantic opera in the Irish language, which was based on an Irish folk story.

Among the collections at the Princess Grace Irish Library is a rare copy of Robert O’Dwyer’s Irish-language opera, Eithne (1910) - which will be on display. What is remarkable about the score is that it contains a large number of signatures dated 21 May 1910, among them Robert O’Dwyer’s along with an array of singers including Joseph O’Mara and Evelyn Duffy, capturing some of the excitement of that particular night which was the last of a week-long run of the opera at the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin.

Zoë Conway & John Mc Intyre - award-winning, traditional Irish musicians will perform a mix of traditional and contemporary music and song on fiddle, guitar and vocals. Much of their repertoire has been composed by themselves and has links to the landscape of the Cooley mountains where we come from, and some pieces are inspired by artists like Seamus Heaney.

“Simply one of the best folk duos on the planet” (BBC)

An illustrated talk on the relationship between the Prince's Family and successive Irish presidents as seen through their correspondence by Flor MacCarthy, The Ireland Funds Monaco Writer-in-Residence. Based on her bestselling book The Presidents’ Letters: An Unexpected History of Ireland, journalist and author Flor MacCarthy, presents highlights which show the warm friendship between Ireland and Monaco which continues to this day.

Flor will reveal other highlights from her book, including letters between President de Valera, JFK and his widow Jacqueline Kennedy;  and the envelope on which President McAleese scribbled a phonetic message in Irish, which was used by HRH Queen Elizabeth II as the opening words of her historic speech in Ireland in 2011.

The Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco hosted its traditional harp music concert on Wednesday 13th March, followed by a special rendez-vous between H.R.H. The Princess of Hanover and Irish author Flor MacCarthy, whose book contains a letter from five-year old Princess Caroline to the President of Ireland in January 1962.  

This year’s Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations centred around correspondence to the Presidents of Ireland, including thank you letters from the mother and daughter Princesses of Monaco to President Éamon de Valera for his gift of an Irish pony to Princess Caroline in 1962.

A letter from a Princess to a President about an Irish pony

St Patrick’s Day celebrations with music and correspondence to Ireland.

The Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco hosted its traditional harp music concert on March 13th followed by a special rendez-vous between H.R.H. The Princess of Hanover and Irish author Flor MacCarthy, whose book contains a letter from five-year old Princess Caroline to the President of Ireland in January 1962.  

This year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations centred around correspondence to the Presidents of Ireland, including thank you letters from the mother and daughter Princesses of Monaco to President Éamon de Valera for his gift of an Irish pony. The talk by Flor, The Ireland Funds Monaco spring 2024 Writer-in-Residence was inspired by her book, The Presidents’ Letters – An Unexpected History of Ireland.

Enjoy an evening of storytelling and a multimedia, virtual tour of county Mayo, in the west of Ireland with anecdotes by Neal Doherty, author and tourist guide. Discover the history, the heritage, the ancestral home of the Kelly family and many French links to the county, as well as the sculpture in Newport unveiled by H.S.H. Prince Albert II in 2023, near the birthplace of Princess Grace's paternal grandfather John Henry Kelly. Hear about the pirate Queen, Grace O’Malley, and the impact that Mayo had on world history, the influence of St Patrick and the victories of General Humbert when he arrived with French troops in 1798. 

Online ticket sales now open!

St. Brigid’s Day is celebrated on February 1st in Ireland. The ancient Celtic festival of Imbolc, traditionally marks the beginning of spring and has evolved into a celebration of the achievements and creativity of women with a connection to Ireland. Princess Grace's legacy is representative of the vibrant voices of the women of Ireland.

Wednesday 24th January 2024 at 7pm  

Join author and historian, Patrick O'Sullivan Greene, who will give a lecture entitled 'Revolution to Royalty - The making of an Irish-American Princess', weaving in the experiences of F. Scott Fitzgerald, Judge Daniel F. Cohalan and Jack Kelly (Olympic champion, self-made millionaire, politician and father of Princess Grace née Kelly). 

Online ticket sales now open! 

The Princess Grace Irish Library announces the theme for its 2024 cultural programme of events in the context of the 40th year celebration of the inauguration of the library in 1984 by Prince Rainier III.

We are delighted to announce the recipient of the spring 2024 bursary, generously supported by The Ireland Funds Monaco. Flor MacCarthy is a celebrated author, journalist and former RTÉ TV presenter who will spend the month of March as Writer-in-Residence.

Join us on December 13th and 20th for an open day for Christmas with readings, cartoons and activities for children.

Enjoy "The Christmas Story" by Irish author Fiona Biggs and illustrations by Jen Hill (for under 9 year-olds).

The beautiful book has a pop-up crib!

Drop into the library anytime 9am - 5pm.

Enjoy a spectacular performance of traditional music from Princess Grace's personal collection of Irish American song sheets performed by Dubh Linn. The recording is also a lecture by Dr Helen Lawlor from TU Dublin Conservatoire and her performance on the harp at the library. Helen performed 'Farewell my gentle harp', which she specially arranged for the Académie Rainier III Harp Ensemble in Monaco.

Save the date!

Tonight Friday 10th Nov at 8.30pm

Venue: Auditorium of Collège Charles III.

Enjoy a theatre performance of the play 'The Last Burning'

(This is not a PGIL event)

A lecture by Dr Margarita Cappock who has written extensively and curated several exhibitions on the Irish-born, British artist Francis Bacon. Join us for an insightful journey into Bacon’s work, life and creative process, with a special focus on the influence of Ireland, where he was born and spent his formative years.

Dr Joseph Lennon, Director of Center for Irish Studies at Villanova will deliver a lecture in Monaco for Friends of the Library and interested academics on the subject of research for the symposium he will direct entitled 'Sustainability in Irish Culture - communication of sustainability through literature and culture'. He will present a summary of the scope, subjects and presentations of the weekend symposium, which will discuss priorities and strategies to address sustainability and climate change and the influence of Irish literature and culture on the narrative. 

Join us at the library for our open day to celebrate this year's theme 'Live heritage' (Patrimoine vivant).

From 9:30 - 17:00 enjoy a visit of this cultural gem on the 'Rock' with Princess Grace's personal collection of books, music scores and other treasures on display. We will also host three concerts with the talented pupils from Monaco's conservatoire L'Académie Rainier III.

Click for more details - register for a guided visit or to attend a concert!

TU Dublin Conservatoire in association with the ITMA, and the Princess Grace Irish Library is hosting the Irish-American Music Cultures Symposium on June 8th, 2023 at the TU Dublin Conservatoire. 

Inspired by the Princess Grace Irish-American Song Sheet Collection, this symposium seeks to explore the dynamic interaction of Irish-American music making. It takes an expansive view of transatlantic music making, with a focus on song and instrumental music. The symposium is convened by Dr Helen Lawlor (TU Dublin Conservatoire). It is funded by an IRC New Foundations Award and supported by the ITMA, the SMI and TU Dublin.

The Princess Grace Irish Library (PGIL) is delighted to collaborate once again with the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival for a unique cultural event, by honouring Ireland’s literary history with a recital ‘Yeats in Music’, with the Royal Irish Academy of Music on Saturday 3rd June at 4pm at St Carthage’s Cathedral in county Waterford, Ireland. We hope to have a performance of the recital in Monaco later this year.

In collaboration with the Princess Grace Irish Library, the Trinity College Dublin Chapel Choir will visit Monaco for the first time to perform at the morning mass at the Cathédrale de Monaco. The choir is comprised of students who will sing hymns and psalms during the mass to celebrate this special religious fête. The church is open to all (no reservations required).

The Trinity students will visit the library after the mass. All are welcome to join us.

'Around the World with W.B. Yeats and James Joyce: a diplomatic odyssey.' 

By Daniel Mulhall, author, former Ambassador of Ireland to the USA (2017-2022), recent Global Distinguished Professor of Irish Studies at Glucksman Ireland House (NYU) - fall 2022 and the current Parnell Fellow at Magdalene College, Cambridge, U.K.

A literary odyssey kicks off a collaboration between Glucksman Ireland House (NYU) and the Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco with the inaugural lecture on May 10th by Daniel Mulhall, former Ambassador of Ireland to the USA.

Join us for a talk and performance on the harp.

Theme: 'The Irish harp in music, literature & culture'

This event takes place thanks to the Irish Research Council New Foundations Award

The Princess Grace Irish Library and The Ireland Funds Monaco hosted an afternoon of music and singing in the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II and His Children Hereditary Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. The following day His Serene Highness went to Ireland, to unveil a sculpture of Princess Grace in Newport, Co Mayo, a few kilometres from where Her grandfather was born in 1847.

This year we are collaborating with La Médiathèque de Monaco who will host flautist Fintan Vallely over from Ireland for a Saint Patrick's Day lunchtime concert on Tuesday March 14th at 12:15. The event takes place at the Sonothèque José Notari, 2, Princesse Antoinette (behind the port).

March 17th is Ireland's National Day.

After a hiatus of a year, the Princess Grace Irish Library (PGIL) is delighted to announce the recipient of The Ireland Funds Monaco Bursary for spring 2023. The candidate selected to receive this prestigious bursary is Gráinne Hurley a writer and researcher. Gráinne will give a talk in Monaco on Thursday, 2nd March 2023 around the subject of her work-in-progress, ‘Mary Lavin and The New Yorker', which explores writer Lavin’s relationship with the magazine. Lavin was born in America to Irish parents and at the age of 10 returned to live in Ireland and went on to become one of modern Irish fiction's most subversive voices.

Donough Cahill is the Executive Director of the Irish Georgian Society and will talk to us about the conservation projects under his radar. With a nod to our theme in 2023 ‘Irish-American influence on culture’, he will explain the scope of the IGS's branch in the USA. 

To kick off 2023 Director Paula Farquharson has recorded a message for you. If you don't have time to read our newsletter, you can listen instead!

We look forward to welcoming you at the library. See you on January 18th for a talk by The Irish Georgian Society - reserve now! 

Do you recognise Lismore Castle in the background? Paula attended the recital 'Joyce in Music' in June last year at the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival in county Waterford. We are delighted to continue our collaboration this year.

On Friday evening 16th December 2022, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and guests enjoyed ‘Joyce in music’, a superb opera performance and recital by artists from Ireland, honouring James Joyce’s literary legacy and love of music.

The Blackwater Valley Opera Festival event at the Princess Grace Irish Library was made possible with the generous support of Stonehage Fleming and Culture Ireland.

Dr Rachel Moss is an Associate Professor in the Department of History of Art and Architecture and Fellow of Trinity College Dublin. She is an authority on the art and architecture of medieval Ireland. Her talk will focus on the long life of the Book of Kells, regarded as one of Ireland’s greatest cultural treasures and described by some as ‘the most famous manuscript in the world’

A talk by award-winning author Dermot Bolger with dramatic readings by actors from the Monaco-Ireland Arts Society from his play and an insight into his new collection of poems.

An event sponsored by Culture Ireland. The Princess Grace Irish Library is grateful for this valuable support.

Immerse yourself in Irish culture and music at the Princess Grace Irish Library for the 27th Journées Européennes du Patrimoine (Heritage Days). We are open exceptionally Sunday 25th September from 10am to 5.30pm to celebrate this year's theme 'sustainable culture'. In collaboration with l'Académie Rainier III and l'Association des Cartophiles de Monaco.

Our Young Readers in Monaco are lucky to have a special zoom chat with author Marianne McShane.

She will read from her new book, 'The Fog Catcher's Daughter', beautifully illustrated by Alan Marks and published this summer. 

The Fog Catcher's Daughter is published by Candlewick Press - available from 7th July 2022.

This Irish evening is organised by the Irish charity, Atlantic Youth Trust, whose chairman is Enda O'Coineen.

Join them at 6pm for a film screening (free entry) - followed by a dinner event at the Yacht Club de Monaco to benefit the Atlantic Youth Trust.

Listen to our 25-minute chat with author Anne Chambers about the legendary Grace O'Malley. Anne has written ten biographies, including the best-selling Grace O’Malley – The Biography of Ireland’s Pirate Queen 1530-1603.  

The PGIL was in conversation with Martina Devlin on the eve of Bloomsday about her new novel, Edith, and her play, 'Curves of Emotion' a one-act performance about the Joyces, with an emphasis on Nora as the muse and a stable influence in Joyce’s life. Specially written for the Ulysses centenary, the play was performed by well-known actors Lise-Ann McLaughlin and Nick Dunning.

In conversation with the Princess Grace Irish Library about his new book of short stories, an anecdote about a bench in Dublin for James Joyce's father and flying with U2. Harry reads a story he specially wrote for the occasion. 

Harry Crosbie is well-known for 'The Point' (depot) music venue and developing Dublin's docklands.

Our Young Readers in Monaco are so lucky to have a special peek into Marianne McShane's new book and hear her read two pages!

The Fog Catcher's Daughter', beautifully illustrated by Alan Marks is published by Candlewick Press on 7th July 2022. 

After the summer holidays Marianne will read the entire book for us in Monaco!

Guided tour of Eileen Gray’s E1027 villa

Visit starts at 5pm (duration: approximately two hours)

Followed by an aperitif in the garden of the villa, overlooking the sea.

Price: 30 Euro

Reserve by email: info@pgil.mc or Tel: +377 93 50 12 25

Following the success of last year, the PGIL hosted a Bloomsday event to celebrate the centenary of Ulysses this year with readings from the balcony of the library, the Palace square and other locations. We surpassed last year's brilliant performance!

Bloomsday takes place every year in Dublin and around the world. It celebrates 16th June 1904, which is the day depicted in James Joyce’s novel ‘Ulysses’ and the day he first met his wife Nora Barnacle.

Writer and literary critic Claire Kilroy to give a talk. 

The theme of Claire's talk will be about rereading Ulysses during the pandemic. She will give a personal insight into her journey through the modernist masterpiece,

Reserve your seat now! Click for details.

Following our well-received, last collaboration with La Médiathèque de Monaco, the Princess Grace Irish Library is delighted to announce that Dr Regine returns to read from her new children’s book « Franky and the Worry Bees ». Taking place at the Bibliothèque Princesse Caroline at 16h30. Suitable for children from 6 years old.

Reserve your place! Tel: +377 93 15 22 72.

Click for more details.

HSH Prince Albert II, T.S.H. Crown Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella visited Ireland in September 2021.

The photo exhibition of this visit is on view at the Princess Grace Irish Library.

Until 30th April 2022.

It can be viewed daily, Monday – Friday.

Replay of event available.

Award-winning author Nuala O'Connor talks about her latest book, Nora: A Love Story of Nora Barnacle and James Joyce and actors from the Monaco-Ireland Arts Society perform dramatic readings of personal letters from James Joyce to his wife and muse Nora. 

The book 'Nora' is published by New Island Books and named by Dublin City Council and Dublin UNESCO City of Literature as the One Dublin One Book choice for 2022.

Theatre

We're delighted to promote this event hosted by the Monaco-Ireland Arts Society (MIAS). The talented actors will perform extracts from works by Irish playwright Eugene O’Neill.

Date: Friday 25th March 2022 at 8.30pm.

Venue:  The Auditorium du Collège Charles III, Avenue de l’Annonciade, Monaco.

Note: this is not a PGIL event. For tickets contact MIAS.

A reading by Marianne McShane

Reading from her book ‘Rónán and the Mermaid’, Marianne will open up a fascinating world, where you will discover a secret tale of ancient Ireland.

Join us at the library or by zoom.

Open day

All are welcome to visit and discover Princess Grace's personal collection of books and music. We will have music playing all day and Irish films to play on demand. Soak up the ambiance and enjoy St Patrick's Day surrounded by Irish culture and literature. Peruse our beautiful facsimile of the Book of Kells - a medieval Irish manuscript from the 9th century, which is on permanent display in Dublin. Enjoy our photo exhibition of the 2021 visit to Ireland by HSH Prince Albert II. Children can have fun colouring, reading and listening to Irish music.

A live lecture at the library

Neal will give an entertaining and informative talk, drawing inspiration from his research for his guidebooks on the history and the public art of the city. As he does on his walking tours of the capital, he will guide us through Dublin statute by statute and sculpture by sculpture. Starts at 7pm.

Author John Banville gives some insight to Ulysses, the masterpiece of modernism, which eludes so many. The award-winning author speaks with two institutions in Monaco and Dublin, Paula Farquharson, Director of the Princess Grace Irish Library (PGIL) in Monaco and Darina Gallagher, Director of the James Joyce Centre in Dublin.

Celebrate St Brigid's Day this year with the global Irish family.

With 100 events online and in person and over 40 countries taking part, there's plenty for you to experience, wherever you may be. The PGIL welcomes Evelyn Conlon for a reading of her short story 'Up at the Library'.

 

Donough Cahill, Executive Director gives a talk on "Dublin and its Georgian buildings in the long eighteenth-century" - an overview of the development and expansion of Dublin during the Georgian period. 

"Ireland, empire and the early modern world" by  Professor Jane Ohlmeyer, Trinity College Dublin.

Erasmus Smith's Professor of Modern History (1762)

Children’s author Regine Muradian gives a workshop on writing stories for all ages.

Prior to the Princess Grace Irish Library members visiting E1027, Michael Likierman, President of Cap Moderne Association, spoke to us from Eileen Gray’s villa E1027 in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin.

Dr Lennon, Associate Dean at Villanova University (Philadelphia) will speak about 'Creative Acts - the Dynamics of Artistic Ireland'

This is the first year for 'Journée du Matrimoine' (dedicated to 'Women and Patrimony') to mark the 26th year of celebrating the annual Journées Européennes du Patrimoine. The Princess Grace Irish Library is delighted to participate with an exciting programme.

In our first collaboration with La Médiathèque de Monaco, the Princess Grace Irish Library is delighted to welcome Dr Regine for the reading from her new children’s book « Franky and the Worry Bees ». Taking place at the Bibliothèque Princesse Caroline at 16h. Reservations necessary.

The Ireland Funds Monaco writer-in-residence gives a discourse on the value of literature and libraries and will also read a short story from her new collection, Moving about the Place. Followed by questions and answers. 

Enjoy photos and video footage of the first ‘Bloomsday’ in Monaco!

Street performances by actors from the Monaco-Ireland Arts Society.

The audience enjoyed readings from Ulysses and music on the bodhrán as the group wandered through the streets of The Rock and in front of the palace.

The launch of Carol’s new book ‘An Act of Love’ is April 29th. It is about saving lives in the French Alps during the Second World War.

About her new film ‘A girl from Mogadishu’ (no attendees). A link will be provided.

A talk by, and conversation with, John Banville

Lecture by Helen Shenton, Librarian, Trinity College Dublin.

Lecture in English by Prof. Thomas Bartlett, historian, Ireland Fund Monaco academic-in-residence

Lecture and Book-Signing by Pierre Joannon

A talk by celebrated Irish photographer John Minihan

A talk by Dr Tony Mc Carthy Ireland Fund Monaco writer-in-residence at the Princess Grace Irish Library - March 2019

A lecture by Adrian Frazier - Professor Emeritus, National University of Ireland Galway