📚✨ From Chocorua to Kilkenny: A Librarian’s Journey Across the Atlantic ✨📚
Our very own librarian Shauna is on a literary pilgrimage all the way to the Emerald Isle—and found herself immersed in history, architecture, and stories at none other than Kilkenny Castle Library in Ireland!
Nestled in the heart of County Kilkenny, Kilkenny Castle is a majestic 12th-century structure that has stood watch over the River Nore for over 800 years. But beyond its towering battlements and lavish drawing rooms, what caught Shauna’s heart was the castle’s historic library—a treasure trove of knowledge, preservation, and Irish culture.
Shauna explored the castle’s Long Gallery and its elegant library rooms, where rows of antique volumes line dark wood shelves and sunlight filters through intricate stained-glass windows. These rooms once served the Butler family, noble residents of the castle for centuries, and now inspire visitors from around the world to reflect on the enduring power of books and archives.
💭 “Standing among the old tomes and breathing in the scent of aged paper and wood reminded me why libraries—whether tucked into a tiny New Hampshire village or housed in a grand European castle—are sacred spaces,” Shauna shared.
The visit was not only a visual feast but also a professional inspiration. Shauna returned brimming with ideas for the Chocorua Public Library—from possible design touches and curated displays, to renewed appreciation for the legacy of private libraries (just like ours!) that remain open and accessible thanks to passionate communities.
Whether you’re browsing in Chocorua or visiting Kilkenny, the spirit of libraries is the same: places where stories live, grow, and connect us across time and borders.
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We can’t wait to welcome home, Shauna—and thank you for bringing a bit of Ireland’s literary charm back to us!
📍 Visit the Chocorua Public Library to hear more about Shauna’s travels or check out our collection of Irish literature and history!
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