A grand finale for 2024
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.
Following a musical celebration, the book was presented to guests of honour H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover on November 20th, exactly forty years to the day when they inaugurated the Library in 1984 alongside Their father, Prince Rainier III.
As the 40th anniversary year draws to an end, we are delighted to announce the theme for the cultural programme in 2025: “The reach and impact of the Irish diaspora”.
We look forward to welcoming exceptional Irish writers for events in Monaco next year, including Cónal Creedon, who has been awarded The Ireland Funds Monaco spring 2025 bursary. The varied programme for 2025 is made possible by the generous support of our patron Mr Wil Byrne, who is also kindly providing new books for the children’s section.
We take the opportunity to sincerely thank all our patrons this year, especially Sir Michael Smurfit, Honorary Consul of Ireland in Monaco, the Embassy of Ireland in Paris, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and his Stelios Philanthropic Foundation in Monaco and Mr. Martin Dunphy who is sponsoring the January 2025 lecture.
Finally, we wish all of our friends around the world and closer to home in Monaco a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.
For ways to celebrate Christmas in Ireland, including Nollaig na mBan on January 6th (known as Women’s Christmas)
Click HERE
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To celebrate St Patrick's Day in March 2025 we are delighted to welcome back the exceptional group Dubh Linn who will perform live traditional, contemporary & newly composed folk music.
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A preview of the 2025 cultural programme at the Library in Monaco
Theme: The reach and impact of the Irish diaspora
• January 22nd: a lecture by Dr Malgorzata D'Aughton, University College Cork. In the summer of 2021, a silver gilt chalice sold at an auction by Duke’s Auctioneers of Dorchester. The catalogue described the chalice as ‘an exceptionally rare Irish silver-gilt chalice, circa 1480’. Since its purchase, the chalice has featured in articles and on television in the United States, where it has also gone on exhibition at major universities. Now, visiting Monaco, which marks the last stop on the chalice’s travels, it will go on permanent loan to Kylemore Abbey in Ireland.
• February 27th: a lecture in person by award-winning writer Cónal Creedon, The Ireland Funds Monaco spring 2025 Writer-in-Residence at the Princess Grace Irish Library. The renowned novelist, playwright, documentary filmmaker, essayist, and collaborative artist was awarded the 2024 World Cultural Council Leonardo da Vinci Award of Arts. In recognition of his contribution to the Arts, Cónal was appointed Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at University College Cork and made Cultural Ambassador of his native Cork. The global appeal of his work has resulted in his books and stage plays being translated into many languages beyond Europe, including Chinese.
• March 17th: St Patrick’s Day concert with Dubh Linn performing live traditional, contemporary & newly composed folk music with a display of Irish dancing. Enjoy a lively Irish céilí ambiance!
• April 24th: Dr Eamon Maher, Technological University Dublin and Director, National Centre for Franco-Irish Studies in conversation with Pierre Joannon, former Consul General of Ireland in south-east France (1973-2023) and Member of the Royal Irish Academy about Pierre’s two books: ‘Graham Greene, Ireland and the Honorary Consul – A view from the South of France’ (2024)’ and ‘Michel Déon de l’Académie française, Pierre Joannon, Correspondance 1973-2016’ (January 2025).
On November 20th 2024, exactly forty years to the day when they inaugurated the Library in 1984 alongside Their father, Prince Rainier III, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover attended a musical celebration in tribute to Their mother and the commemorative book was presented to them to mark the 40th anniversary of the Library.
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.
A digital version of the commemorative book is freely available for all to enjoy on the Library’s website. A French version of the historical part of the book will be launched by the Library in January 2025.
Click HERE for the digital book.
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The book contains QR codes with recordings of musical performances by students from the conservatoire in Monaco (pictured above) and musicians in Dublin as part of a year-long collaboration thanks to Dr Helen Lawlor at Technological University Dublin and Jade Sapolin, Director of the Académie Rainier III Musique & Théâtre. The music is from the Princess Grace song sheet collection, with an additional gem, a song by Michael Flatley, who composed a special “Princess Grace Set” for the occasion.
Also in the book is a QR code to a film produced by the Institute Audiovisuel de Monaco, with archival footage from the Library’s inauguration in 1984, when H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and H.S.H. Princess Caroliner attended the inauguration alongside Their father, Prince Rainier III of Monaco and other members of the Prince's family, including Princess Stéphanie and Princess Antoinette.
Click HERE for the film