The Falls
Road Branch Library is one of the three Carnegie Libraries in Belfast.
Built between 1905 and 1908, the library is located in one of the most famous
areas of Belfast, known as a particular stronghold for Nationalists during “the
Troubles.” In fact, from the windows of the adult section of the library, you
can see the Bobby Sands memorial painted on the side of Sinn Fein’s
headquarters.
Inside the library is a small, but
thoroughly modern, collection. One can still observe the original tile work and
wood finishes peeking through recent renovations. About half of the floor space
is allotted to children’s books; the adult section has a number of books on
Irish interests and history.
The library walls contain a number
of quotes from Seamus Heaney; however, a translation by him of a ninth century poem
is appropriately quixotic:
The
small bird chirp – chirruped
Yellow
neb; a note spurt.
Blackbird
over Lagan water
Clumps
of yellow whine – burst!
(“Blackbird
of Belfast Lough”)
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