West of Ireland » West of Ireland Library and Cultural Center

West of Ireland Library and Cultural Center

Librarian: Derry McMahon
Curator & Architect: Cunningham Docherty

The West of Ireland Library and Cultural Center exists only in Second Life. At this lovely spot, folks will find readers and storytellers, exhibits on various aspects of Celtic life, free books, and lots of fun.

Please see the West of Ireland web site (http://www.irelandsl.org/about/events-live-music/) for current schedules, and the WOI Storytellers blog (http://www.tr.im/woistory) for further information about the stories and the storytellers. If you are interested in joining the ranks of storytellers, please IM or email Derry McMahon (derrymcmahon@gmail.com) to arrange for an audition. Below you will find bios about the storytellers, and samples of our work.

Opening March 2, the Library’s newest exhibit entitled “Whiskey: The Water of Life” created by Aoife Lorefield charts the history, lore and creation of this unique beverage. The exhibit will be dedicated on Tuesday, March 2 at 7pm with a virtual whiskey tasting. Poor yourself a wee dram at home and log in to share your observations with the assembled guests, hosted by toast-mistress Aoife Lorefield.

(http://www.irelandsl.org/about/events-live-music/)

The West of Ireland Library is also proud of its affiliation with the Alexandrian Free Library Consortium. The goal of this consortium is to “not just give out information….but to encourage knowledge, creation, and every type of intellectual growth.” There is a subscriber kiosk now available in the Library that will enable you to get Alexandria Free Library notices without adding to your existing groups. Look for this poster in West of Ireland to get more information and find out about other literary events that are part of the consortium.

STORYTELLERS:

Aoife Lorefield (Tuesday): Aoife Lorefield loves reading aloud, and the West of Ireland Library is a marvelous part of her SL life. She enjoys all kinds of literature, focusing her reading on Ireland, poetry, the lyrical, the mythic, and the fantastic. A writer and educator, she celebrates SL’s creative opportunities.

Caledonia Skytower (Monday): Caledonia has a love of all literature, a broad spectrum of styles and forms . . . but a special love of those “Classics” which appeal to both Adults and Children, though they are often relegated just to the young

Derry McMahon (Librarian): Derry McMahon is Queen Bee and Librarian at the West of Ireland. Her literary preferences lean toward Arthurian legends, chick lit, and fun short stories. Surprisingly, she is a librarian in real life, but finds the WOI Library way more fun than RL.

Elder Priestman: Elder’s smooth Kentucky accent, like a comforting sip of “Maker’s Mark”, brings added richness to his readings from both classic and contemporary American literature.

Shandon Loring (Thursday): Shandon brings a rich respect for Irish Literature, a love of the Land, and a keen sense of whimsy to everything from Ancient Irish Myths to Ghost Stories from around the world.

A Potpourri of Story Experiences (Wednesdays and Sundays): Both Guest and Resident Storytellers bring the fun, the topical, the serious, the comic, classic and contemporary literature to life. Storytellers for these unique sessions include Gracee Andel, Gyro Muggins, Marion Dragovar, Elegia Underwood, Onyx Plutonian, Rosslyn Guardian and more.

Recent Events at the WOI Library

Librarian Derry McMahon with “Irish Girls” . . . stories by author Marian Keyes (3.3.10)

Aoife dedicates the new Library Exhibit and stages a fascinating Virtual Whiskey Tasting (3.2.10)

Shandon with special Slavic Tales in honor of Sioban McMahon’s recent Rez Day (3.2.10)

Caledonia with Part I of “The Irish Dresser: A Story of Hope During The Great Hunger” (3.1.10)

Caledonia presents “Even More Cinderella Tales” at Magicland Park to benefit Project Children (2.28.10)

Marian and Derry grace the Fruit Islands with “Animal Tales” . . . talis? (2.28.10)

All the Cool Cats were there when Shandon Loring returned to the Library to present Celtic Myths & Legends (2.25.10)

THE NIGHT THE BOTS TOOK OVER! (Gasp!)

Part II: the amazing and irreverent Crap Mariner with More 100 Word Stories (2.24.10)

Part I: Marian Dragovar at SL New England with “So This is Love” … stories about other kinds of love, not just romance (2.24.10)

Cinderella Stories from around the world and across the ages with Caledonia Skytower (2.22.10)

Another great session meeting RL Author Arlene Radasky (Imarad Breen) discussing her novel “The Fox” (2.21.10)

Author Rhonda Carpenter (in SL Insight Zadark) shares her new novel “Mark of the Druid” to an enthusiastic Library Audience (2.17.10)

Aoife Lorefield with Irish Poems of Love and Longing (2-16-10)

Caledonia Skytower with Mardi Gras Stories and enough King Cake to go around (2.15.10)

Derry McMahon, Chivalrybean Ragu, Crap Mariner, and Elder Priestman provide an antidote to anyone going into sugar-shock from schmalzty, romantic Valentine’s Literature. (2.14.10)

The delightful Elegia Underwood with stories from the off center, hip, beat, and groovy days of the City by the Bay: San Francicso (2.11.10)

Onyx Plutonian with the conclusion of Jules Verne’s “Around the World in 80 Days” (2.10.10)

Aoife Lorefield presents an Evening with the imagery and imagination of author Charles DeLint (2.9.10)

Seanchai Shandon Loring with Algonquin Legends … and a bunch of pesky squirrels! (2.4.10)

Onyx Plutonian with Part II of “Around the World in 80 Days” (2.3.10)

Aoife with the traditions and legends of Imbolc & Candlemas, celebrating and invoking the return of the Sun! (2.2.10)

The conclusion of “The Cricket In Times Square” with Caledonia Skytower (2.1.10)

Caledonia in Magicland with Mardi Gras stories (1.31.10)

Caledonia is joined by friend Corwyn Allen to pay tribute to Scotland’s Bard - Robert Burns (1.31.10)

Shandon reprises his popular “Beowulf” adaptation for the crowd at Fruit Islands (1.31.10)

Shandon Loring with Oscar Wilde’s “The Canterville Ghost” — what happens when the ghost is the one who is haunted? (1.28.10)

Friend Onyx Plutonian with Part I of “Around the World in 80 Days” (1.27.10)

Marian, Elder & Derry (hiding behind he camera!) return to SL New England for “Tales of Ships and the Sea” (1.27.10)

Aoife with the varied Legends of St Brigid (1.26.10)

Caledonia with Part II of “The Cricket in Times Square” (1.25.10)

Shandon brings out the gold for “Captain Kidd’s Treasure Tales” 1.21,10

Marian enchants with “Tales of the Wee Folk” including “The Goblin Market” 1.20.10

Aoife leads the “Satire” Open Mic session to a crowd of 20 interested satirists - Thanks to all who contributed! You made it great! (1.19.10)

Derry with some terrific and funny Southern Short Stories at Bayou Noir - “Bless Her Heart” (1.19.10)

Caledonia starts the week with a new story series with Part I of “The Cricket in Times Square” (1.18.10)

Cale and Marian access their inner cuteness’ for “Beatrix Potter Tales” at fruit Island in the sculpture Garden (1.17.10)

Shandon Loring with Ancient Irish “Tales Beside the Fire” … stories passed down orally over many, many years and then written down in the late 19th Century (1.14.09)

Crap Mariner, the ever irreverent, with 100 Word Stories (1.13.10)

Aoife Lorefield with “Writers on Writing” . . . some marvelous insights into the creative minds and processes of notable peeps of the pen (1.12.10)

Caledonia with the conclusion of “The Magician’s Elephant” (1.11.10)

Marian and Derry at the Fruit Islands with “Fairytale Remix” (1.10.10)

The Opening of the “Traditional Tunes” exhibit with live harp and fiddle performances from Rosslyn Guardian and Elder Priestman, and a lovely original story! (1.10.10)