NOMINATING LIBRARY COMMENTS

A beautifully written portrait of the lifespan of a relationship, a city and the Irish abroad. (Waterford City and County Libraries)

This literary masterpiece captures the emigration experience of two characters, which partly translates to how past and present generations cope with leaving Ireland, how displacement can have ripple effects on the person and fragment families. Many of our library’s members are not native to Monaco or the neighbouring regions (French & Italian Rivieras) and the theme and character’s experiences resonated with them. Whether rich or poor, the loneliness felt by some who emigrate and the sense of loss due to a displaced identity can be a major challenge, despite living in a vibrant city like London or a beautiful place such as Monaco. The identifying traits such as an accent can pigeonhole you in a new country. The difficulties of trying to integrate into a different society and culture can be hindered by stereotyping. We are led through the characters’ life stories by Dwyer Hickey’s beautifully, fluid prose, which flows effortlessly through our minds – a stream of consciousness – a method favoured by the author having read and been inspired by James Joyce’s Ulysses. The library has a rare first-edition copy on display and our Bloomsday events delve into Joyce’s life and his own emigrant experience. Dwyer Hickey’s book perfectly fits in with our theme for our library’s cultural programme in 2025: The reach and impact of the Irish diaspora. The book’s twists and turns and ‘what ifs’ makes us wonder if this library would exist if Princess Grace’s grandfather John Kelly – born in County Mayo in 1847 during the Great Famine – had had a different experience when he emigrated to the USA at age 20 years old. (Princess Grace Irish Library)