Assembly Hosts Exhibition Celebrating the Literary Life of Local Writers

The Northern Ireland Assembly Commission in association with the Linen Hall Library is to host an exhibition celebrating the literary life of local writers.

From 30 June to 13 September 2014, the Great Hall in Parliament Buildings, Stormont will be the home for a landmark exhibition, entitled 'Bog Meadow and Surrounding Hills'. Named after a Michael Longley couplet, the exhibition focuses on the men and women who have striven to live the writer's life in Northern Ireland and those born here who took their typewriters and pens abroad.

William Hay MLA, Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly said: "Exhibitions in the Great Hall have been a great way of celebrating local artists in recent years but I am delighted that this summer we will be celebrating the talents of local writers.

"I am always keen that the Assembly should have the opportunity to showcase the best of Northern Ireland but it is also entirely fitting that a place which relies so much on the written word in functional working documents should host the work of those who best use the written word creatively to conjure up thoughts and images which inspire and challenge, provoke and delight us.

The Speaker concluded: "This exhibition is also another good example of the Assembly working with external partners in our community. I want to thank the Linen Hall Library for its work in bringing this exhibition to Parliament Buildings. I am particularly pleased that we are hosting this exhibition during July and August while our regular summer public tours of Parliament Buildings operate so that visitors and tourists can view it and hope it might encourage many of them to explore the Linen Hall Library and other local libraries to access the fascinating literary history they contain."

Julie Andrews, Director of the Linen Hall Library said: "We are delighted to work with the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission. The Linen Hall Library is a literary treasure trove which has always supported local writers. In 2014, the Library has introduced a new series of tours to show the world why it remains one of Northern Ireland's most popular tourist attractions. We hope that this exhibition will encourage new visitors to Northern Ireland to visit the Library, as well as local interaction."

The exhibition will also feature items from the Linen Hall's collections and will embrace the many different aspects of writing, publishing and reading. The exhibition coincides with the launch of regular public tours of Parliament Buildings over the summer months