Scarriff library to be renamed for celebrated novelist Edna O'Brien

Scariff library is to be rechristened to the Edna O’Brien Library, in honour of one of Clare's most celebrated literary natives.

Clare County Council will host an event to officially mark the renaming of Scariff Public Library to the Edna O’Brien Library by the Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council and members of the Killaloe Municipal District.

The ceremony will be held this Tuesday, May 21, at 7pm at the library.

The renaming of Scarrif's library in honour of the novelist and playwright from nearby Tuamgraney was proposed at a meeting of the Killaloe MD in January of this year by Councillor Pat Hayes, who hopes the name change may “inspire future generations”.

“Edna O'Brien has not only gained international acclaim, but has also played a pivotal role in shaping the literary landscape of Ireland,” Cllr Hayes said.

Born Josephine Edna O'Brien in 1930, Edna studied and worked as a pharmacist before her career as a writer.

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Her first novel The Country Girls was highly acclaimed abroad upon publication, but was banned and burned in her native Ireland.

Former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, has described the now-93-year-old as "one of the great creative writers of her generation".

Speaking at the Killaloe MD meeting following Cllr Hayes' proposal, which was fully supported and passed by his fellow councillors, Brian McCarthy, Senior Planner and Killaloe MD Coordinator hailed Edna O’Brien as "one of the most celebrated writers in the English language and arguably Ireland’s greatest living author."

"The proposal, in recognition of her achievements, her brilliant consistency, literary skill, courage and impact of her work is significantly supported," he said.

“The proposal is even more apt and fitting as the Edna O’Brien library would be the  first Clare County Council building named after a Clare woman and a literary pioneer.”