Heritage Day at Lurgan Library

Libraries NI is inviting members of the public to call in to a programme of free events being held in libraries across Northern Ireland to celebrate European Heritage Open Days (EHOD) next month.

This is the eighteenth year that Northern Ireland has joined forces with the rest of Europe to celebrate EHOD, which promote interest in historic and modern buildings - including many libraries across Northern Ireland.

Back in 1928, Lurgan became the second provincial town in Ireland to take advantage of the Free Libraries Act - placing one penny on the rates to pay for a library and reading room within the Town Hall. Henry Hobart, an architect from Dromore, was contracted to design a new Carnegie library which was formally opened in 1906.

Over 300 events and properties are opening to the public as part of this year’s event, to encourage people of all ages to discover Northern Ireland’s rich and diverse architecture and heritage. The main theme of EHOD 2015 is ‘Industrial Heritage’, of which there are over 16,000 features in Northern Ireland. Members of the public will be able to delve into the past at library events focusing on the digital film and unique photograph archives and local history resources available in NI libraries.

As part of European Heritage Open Days, Lurgan Library is running a photographic exhibition called ‘Jewels in the Landscape’ from September 3 to 29. Organised by National Museums Northern Ireland, the exhibition features photographs by Robert Thompson from the book, ‘The Natural History of Ulster’.

For more information, visit Lurgan Library at Carnegie St, phone 02838323912, or go to www.librariesni.org.uk