Irish Arts & Literature Showcase

Dr. Audrey Whitty is an Irish archaeologist, librarian and curator. As Director of the National Library of Ireland, she oversees the work of the library in collecting, protecting and making accessible the recorded memory of Ireland. Whitty previously worked for the National Museum of Ireland (NMI) where she was curator of the ceramics, glass and Asian collections, in the Art and Industrial Division of the museum. While working with the museum, she was awarded a doctorate in the History of Art by Trinity College Dublin.

Frances McCue is an arts instigator who has spent her career connecting literature to community life. Known for her literary start-ups, she is the co-founder of Pulley Press, a new publishing imprint that celebrates poets and poetry from rural places, and she was the Founding Director of Richard Hugo House for its first decade. She also instigated the Poetry Brigade at the University of Washington. Currently, she is a Teaching Professor at the University of Washington where she has been the winner of the UW Distinguished Teaching Award. A poet and prose writer she has published six books—four of poetry and two of prose, including a book of essays about Richard Hugo. Her forthcoming book is Spark and Whistle: Thinking Like a Poet in Leadership and Life from Columbia University Press.

Hibsen Featuring Gráinne Hunt

Hibsen are an Irish contemporary folk music ensemble formed by folk artists Gráinne Hunt and Jim Murphy. They released their debut album ‘The Stern Task of Living’ on 26th May 2023. The album was inspired by the book of short stories ‘Dubliners’ by James Joyce. Each of the 15 songs on the album is named after the short story on which it is based.

Gráinne Hunt is a contemporary folk singer and songwriter, raised in Monaghan and based in Kildare, Ireland. With consistently on-point, captivating vocals and well-honed, insightful songs, Grainne has shared stages with Glen Hansard and U2, has opened for Gladys Knight, Eagle Eye Cherry and the Bay City Rollers, and has been compared to vocal icons Tracy Chapman and Nathalie Merchant.

The National Library of Ireland collects, protects and makes accessible the recorded memory of Ireland. We collect, protect and provide access to over 12 million items and will continue to do so for decades to come. We provide access to the collections free of charge, at four sites and online to exhibitions and events and to our reference and research reading rooms.

Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum connects a dynamic literary community through a curated book collection, diverse programming, and opportunities for engaging conversations and transformative ideas.

The Irish Arts & Literature Showcase, organized and curated by Caroline Cumming and Paula Stokes, welcomes visiting Irish writers, publishers and artists in presenting a curated selection of lectures, conversations and workshops at Town Hall Seattle, Hugo House, Seattle Public Library and Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum, Oct 10-12, 2005. More at https://www.folioseattle.org/irisharts

Presented by Town Hall Seattle and Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum.