A grand finale for 2024 at the Princess Grace Irish Library

To mark its 40th anniversary and to pay tribute to Princess Grace’s literary legacy and love of music, a special commemorative book has been launched by the Princess Grace Irish Library and published by the Archives du Palais de Monaco. Following a musical celebration, the book was presented to guests of honour H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and H.R.H. the Princess of Hanover on November 20th, exactly forty years to the day when they inaugurated the Library in 1984 alongside Their father, Prince Rainier III.
The beautiful book captures the sentiment that Princess Grace felt for Ireland, the birthplace of her grandfather John Henry Kelly and is illustrated with archival photos of visits to Ireland, spanning from the first State visit by Prince Rainier III and His wife in 1961 to modern day visits by their son H.S.H. Prince Albert II and His family.
A digital version of the commemorative book is freely available for all to enjoy on the Library’s website.
A French version of the historical part of the book will be launched by the Library in January 2025.

Left to right: 20th November 2024, the 40th anniversary commemorative book was presented to Her Royal Highness the Princess of Hanover, President of the ‘Princesse Grace Fondation’ in Monaco and His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco by Peter K. Murphy, one of the Trustees of the Princess Grace Irish Library and Paula Farquharson, Director of the Library.

The book contains QR codes with recordings of musical performances by students and musicians from the conservatoires in Monaco and Dublin as part of a year-long collaboration thanks to Dr Helen Lawlor at Technological University Dublin and Jade Sapolin, Director of the Académie Rainier III Musique & Théâtre. The music is from the Princess Grace song sheet collection, with an additional gem, a song by Michael Flatley, who composed a special “Princess Grace Set” for the occasion.
Also found in the book is a QR code to a film produced by the Institute Audiovisuel de Monaco, with archival footage from the Library’s inauguration in 1984, as well as an interview with writer Anthony Burgess, who reflects on the importance of the Library’s creation.
As the 40th anniversary year draws to an end, we are delighted to announce the theme for the cultural programme in 2025: “The reach and impact of the Irish diaspora”.
We look forward to welcoming exceptional Irish writers for events in Monaco next year, including Cónal Creedon, who has been awarded The Ireland Funds Monaco spring 2025 bursary. The varied programme for 2025 is made possible by the generous support of our patron Mr Wil Byrne, who is also kindly providing new books for the children’s section.
We take the opportunity to sincerely thank all our patrons this year, especially Sir Michael Smurfit, Honorary Consul of Ireland in Monaco, the Embassy of Ireland in Paris, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou and his Stelios Philanthropic Foundation in Monaco and Mr. Martin Dunphy who is sponsoring the January 2025 lecture.
Finally, we wish all of our friends around the world and closer to home in Monaco a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.
For ways to celebrate Christmas in Ireland, including Nollaig na mBan on January 6th (known as Women’s Christmas): https://www.ireland.ie/en/christmas/celebrating-christmas-in-ireland-7 irish-christmas-customs-to-know/

A preview of the 2025 programme:
• January 22nd: a lecture by Dr Malgorzata D’Aughton, University College Cork. In the summer of 2021, a silver gilt chalice sold at an auction by Duke’s Auctioneers of Dorchester. The catalogue described the chalice as ‘an exceptionally rare Irish silver-gilt chalice, circa 1480’. Since its purchase, the chalice has featured in articles and on television in the United States, where it has also gone on exhibition at major universities. Now, visiting Monaco, which marks the last stop on the chalice’s travels, it will go on permanent loan to Kylemore Abbey in Ireland.

• February 27th: a lecture in person by award-winning writer Cónal Creedon, The Ireland Funds Monaco spring 2025 Writer-in-Residence at the Princess Grace Irish Library. The renowned novelist, playwright, documentary filmmaker, essayist, and collaborative artist was awarded the 2024 World Cultural Council Leonardo da Vinci Award of Arts. In recognition of his contribution to the Arts, Cónal was appointed Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at University College Cork and made Cultural Ambassador of his native Cork. The global appeal of his work has resulted in his books and stage plays being translated into many languages beyond Europe, including Chinese.

• March 17th: St Patrick’s Day concert with Dubh Linn performing live traditional, contemporary & newly composed folk music with a display of Irish dancing. Enjoy a lively Irish céilí ambiance!

• April 24th: Dr Eamon Maher, Technological University Dublin and Director, National Centre for Franco-Irish Studies in conversation with Pierre Joannon, former Consul General of Ireland in south-east France (1973-2023) and Member of the Royal Irish Academy about Pierre’s two books: ‘Graham Greene, Ireland and the Honorary Consul – A view from the South of France’ (2024)’ and ‘Michel Déon de l’Académie française, Pierre Joannon, Correspondance 1973 2016’ (January 2025).

Left to right: 20th November 2024, Mark Armstrong (Library Trustee), Ambassador Anne-Marie Boisbouvier (Library Trustee & Ambassador of Monaco to UNESCO), Her Royal Highness the Princess of Hanover, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, Peter K. Murphy (Library Trustee/Retired Ambassador), Michael Tierney (Deputy Ambassador of Ireland to France & Monaco), Ambassador Maguy Maccario Doyle (Amb of Monaco to the USA) and Pierre Joannon (Retired Consul General of Ireland to France for 50 years and former Library Trustee).

About Princess Grace’s personal collection
Of the total 14,000 books in the library, over 500 books including rare editions, belonged to Princess Grace, which she acquired during the 1970s from the estate of Count Gerald Edward O’Kelly de Gallach who was an Irish diplomat, serving as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to France for the Irish Free State government. In 1977 the Princess also purchased over 1,000 unique Irish American song sheets spanning the years (c.) 1840-1970 from Michael E. O’Donnell of Philadelphia. The Library’s online catalogue lists these treasures, which offer an insight to Princess Grace’s profound appreciation of Irish literature, drama and music.

About the Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco
The Princess Grace Irish Library was inaugurated in 1984 by Prince Rainier III of Monaco, two years after His wife’s death, as a tribute to Princess Grace and the attachment she felt for Her Irish origins.
Her paternal grandfather John Kelly was born in county Mayo, Ireland in 1847. The library has become an important centre of Irish culture, widely respected for its contribution to Irish studies and the calibre of writers-in-residence, speakers and the content of their lectures. The library’s annual programme, with a focus on writers, poets, playwrights and traditional music ensures something of interest for all. Scholars and school children, dignitaries and residents in Monaco and nearby, as well as tourists appreciate this gem on the ‘Rock’ in the Principality of Monaco. The library is also home to precious art works and rare photos of visits to Ireland by the Prince’s family since 1961 to today.