All photos (except of the Irish dancers) © Axel Bastello/Palais princier
Left to right: Paula Farquharson, Director of the Library, author Cónal Creedon, Peter K. Murphy, Library Trustee, Her Excellency Anne-Marie Boisbouvier, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of Monaco & Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, H.E. Niall Burgess, Ambassador of Ireland to the Principality of Monaco, Marie Morgan Burgess, H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, Pierre Joannon, former Consul General of Ireland in France & Member of the Royal Irish Academy, Noël Nardi, harpist, Mark Armstrong, Library Trustee, Annick Joannon, Guadalupe Smurfit, President The Ireland Funds Monaco and Jacqueline Murphy.
At lunchtime a lively Irish céilí music session took place at the library. Musicians from Dublin (Aido, Ray, Fionnuala and Helen Lawlor) performed their unique sound with vocal harmonies and energetic instrumental arrangements. The grand finale was a brilliant display of dancing by champion Irish dancers Kaylee Brown (left) and Cara Flannagan Walsh.
In the evening our Library Trustee Peter K. Murphy welcomed His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, the Ambassador of Ireland to Monaco H.E. Niall Burgess and other dignataries, including the two other library trustees H.E. Anne-Marie Boisbouvier Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of Monaco & Permanent Delegate to UNESCO and Mr Mark Armstrong.
Noël Nardi, a talented harp student at the Académie Rainier III conservatoire performed some traditional Irish tunes from the Princess Grace personal collection of Irish American song sheets.
Front row (left to right): Library Trustee Mr Mark Armstrong and the Ambassador of Ireland to the Principality of Monaco, H.E. Niall Burgess listen to Irish music and poetry during the St Patrick's Day evening in the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II.
The Ambassador of Ireland to the Principality of Monaco, H.E. Niall Burgess presented H.S.H. Prince Albert II with a traditional bowl of shamrocks to mark St Patrick's Day in Monaco at the Princess Grace Irish Library. The Ambassador gave an insight talk entitled ‘A memory palace on the Mediterranean’ (photo below).
© Axel Bastello/Palais princier
The Ireland Funds Monaco Writer-in-Residence Cónal Creedon from Cork city read a poem titled 'Come west with me to Beara'.
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A letter from the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Emma Blain, with best wishes to the Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco. The letter was hand-delivered by two teachers and two pupils from St Michael's College, the all-boys, Catholic school in Dublin.