It’s official… CHILDREN ARE TAKING OVER THE WORLD!!!  Ok so maybe they aren’t taking over the world but they are taking over Monaghan Branch Library for the month of October – but we don’t mind because we’ve invited them! 

In fact so far this month we have been invaded by roughly 750 children & teenagers for various activites which we have been running as part of Children’s Book Festival. 

The Festival was kick-started in Monaghan with the arrival of Niall De Burca.  We all know that Niall could entertain children and adults until the cows come home so this time we gave him a really tough crowd which would challenge the bravest of storytellers – TEENAGERS!!!  True to form Niall had them captivated from the word go.  He made them laugh, made them jump but most of all he made them enjoy their visit to the library which is what its all about. 

The following day we invited yet more Teenagers down for Drama Workshops with Olga Conway, which went down a storm.

Catherine Ann Cullen was the next visitor to our branch.  She ran a wonderful workshop with primary school children on a glorious Saturday morning.  Next we had author Nicholas Allan who done a workshop based on his book ‘The Queen’s Knickers’.  As you might expect there were quite a few giggles from the children throughout the morning (P.s Thanks for bringing the Chocolate with you Nicholas – we’ll have you and your tin of Roses back anytime you want!) 

We were transported back to Tudor times with Michael Moylan and his History Live show.  This time there really was an invasion of children running around with Swords and spikey metal balls on a chain  dressed up in chain mail and other armour (obviously at this point its clear that I ran away screaming otherwise I would know the proper name for that spikey metal ball!)

I’m still recovering from that particular experience but once I do I’ll take the time out to tell you about the wonderful magician Caolan McBride that came and the very successful animation workshop that was run by the Galway Film Centre. 

I may also tell you about the visit we had by the wonderful Cathy Cassidy. Still to come Androceles and the Lion Puppet show and musical stories with Toby Kinsella.

By Karen McKenna, Assistant Librarian, Monaghan Branch. Library  

Following Tuesday's brilliant events with Brian Moses in Tipperary and Clonmel, we spent most of Wednesday travelling up through the midlands to our Leitrim rendezvous with Andy Stanton. Poor Andy didn't know what had hit him when he emerged from Ballinamore Library and was confronted with the sight of cameraman Eamon Nolan, who with his red-beard and long jacket has more than a little of the Mr Gum about him!

Cavan, where Andy was to be performing the following
morning, was our destination. Having checked into the
hotel, I headed off for a swim, Andy headed to his room to
make final revisions to the next Mr Gum title (very
exciting!) and Mr Gum - sorry, Eamon - went for a little
nap (it's a hard life being a children's book character
look-a-like you know!)

The less written about the afternoon session the better,
suffice to say that a small group of those children who
attended the event spoiled things for the rest, which was
a real shame.

Friday morning saw myself and CBI Director Mags Walsh head
out to Lucan to see storyteller Eric Maddern who was
visiting Lucan library. It was a really nice session of
stories and songs from around the world, and Eric seemed
very happy with how his week-long tour of Ireland had gone
(he'd also called in on libraries & schools in Waterford,
Wexford & Wicklow).

Thanks a again to everyone involved in all these events -
and also the Arts Council Touring Experiment for making it
possible. Bring on Jon Berkeley tomorrow!  

Friday October 12th 2007:

Another great day, which started with an identical breakfast to the one that I had yesterday.

I’m not implying that the breakfast had anything to do with the quality of day that was had, I just mentioned it.

This day our transport was provided by Sinead Collins from Cork County libraries and Arts services and we soon arrived in Kanturk.  The Help I received today was from Sinead and The Kanturk Librarians, My Wife Daria and The Teachers, Mrs Casey, Mary Fitzpatrick and Mary Boyce.

The first class was the 3rd and 4th Class from The Convent Primary School, a class of Girls.  Again they were a wonderfully enthusiastic and responsive class who seemed to enjoy the Limerick section.  I received accompaniment to my song, ‘Mis-Spelt Football team Blues’ and exceptionally positive comments. 

The second group was the 2nd class also from The Convent Primary School and was again a class of Girls.  This group was a younger group, but they still seemed to enjoy the word play and rhythms of my poems and songs, some girls even choosing to dance in their chairs when I’d sing. 

The battery on my phone went dead before this class arrived, and this was what I had been using to time my performances.  I did not time this performance and was unaware that the limerick section took a bit longer, so that when I finished the performance and was just about to supply the hand-outs and questionnaires my wife informed me that the next group would be there in 20 minutes and I needed to eat.  My wife handled the end section whilst I went into the kitchen to eat my sandwich.

Whilst sitting eating my sandwich I started to feel exhausted and my throat felt a bit rough.  I cursed myself for being out of shape and not taking better care of myself.  I have never had a bad performance in the three years I’d done the Children’s Book Festival and wondered if my time was due for one now.  I was shocked at this defeatist attitude and started thinking more positively.  I finished my sandwich and took two disprins and a Strepsil.  I then went back into the library, which had now been vacated, and sat strumming my guitar waiting for the final group of the day.
 
This Final Class was the 5th Class from St Colman’s Boys School. and it was anything but a bad performance, from the first chord of ‘The Coat-Hanger song’ to the Last Chord of the same song (I was asked to play it again, it was liked so much so I finished with a sing-along version)  It was truly enjoyable for all concerned.  As this was a smaller group the Limerick section took less time so I was able to perform the song again when requested...  The Soccer section was well received and no disparaging remarks about Tottenham Hotspur.  When the class got back to their school, they telephoned the library requesting the lyrics and chords of ‘The Coat-Hanger Song’, so again I was happy and tired as I returned to the B&B.  We stayed the night in Cork catching up with friends and it topped the evening off nicely.

One of the wonderful things I find with this festival is that, despite what the press say, I believe (If I can quote Pete Townshend) that the Kids Are Alright…  Trawling through the majority of Irish Newspapers you would believe that Children today are obese, Fame and Self obsessed, lazy, impolite and un-interested in anything but the TV… I find the Children I read to are the opposite of all these things.  As well as the children I read to I have young relatives, I travel on the Bus and Luas everyday and where we live many Children are also located and I have seen very little to support the Media’s negative view…  Of Course you have some Bad Kids, but you also have some Bad Adult’s in both cases they are in the minority and to pretend otherwise is ridiculous.

I find it hard to believe that my Children’s Book Festival is now over I’ve had such a wonderful time and I would like to thank Cork County Council, Children’s Books Ireland, The Libraries, My wife for all her help, The Teachers and most importantly the Audience - The Children,  if it wasn’t for them I’d just be a madman reading poems and singing songs out loud in a library,  in fact I’d probably have been asked to leave.

If anyone is interested in reading/hearing my work,  samples can be found on the following web pages.

http://www.myspace.com/paulhtubb <http://www.myspace.com/paulhtubb>
http://www.myspace.com/failedrockstar <http://www.myspace.com/failedrockstar>
http://www.poemhunter.com/paul-h-tubb/ <http://www.poemhunter.com/paul-h-tubb/>
http://www.footballpoets.org/p.asp?Id=19647

Thursday October 11th 2007.

What a Great day I’ve just had…  With the help of Paula the Librarian, Daria My Wife, Mr O’Loingsigh, Cait O’Donovan and Mr Kenneally The Teachers and most importantly all the students a great and creative day was had by all.