Here's a sneak peak at the new storytelling chair commissioned to honour the prolific Stranorlar writer Frances Browne.

The new chair for the Twin Towns Community Library will pay tribute to the much-celebrated Stranorlar native Frances Browne (1816-1879).

Based on the book by Stranorlar born author Frances Browne, ‘Granny’s Wonderful Chair’, this chair promises to be the focal point in the new library. The library is located in The Base Enterprise Centre in Stranorlar.

Frances Browne was a renowned author and poet in the 1800s. She was known as The Blind Poetess of Ulster, after losing her sight at 18 months. She grew up on Upper Main Street Stranorlar, where her father Samuel was the local postmaster.

Frances Browne

Frances took an interest in words as a girl while she listened to her siblings reading aloud. She became a talented poet at an early age and went on to become a prolific writer in Ireland, Edinburgh and then London.

France’s short stories for children – Granny’s Wonderful Chair – was written in 1856. The seven fairytales follow the adventures of a little girl Snowflower and her magical chair. If Snowflower felt lonely, she could lay her hear on the cushion of the chair and say: “Chair of my grandmother, tell me a story.” If she wanted to travel, all she had to do was sit in the chair and say “Chair of my grandmother, take me such a way.”

The new chair at the Twin Towns Community Library was designed and created by Alan Hanafin Design who won the contract after an open call to furniture makers.

The chair will be large enough to accommodate two people so that children can snuggle up with their parent or grandparent and enjoy a shared reading experience.

Granny’s Wonderful Chair

Speaking about the project, Senior Librarian Donna Cavanagh said ‘Libraries have an important role to play in a child’s early literacy development and part of that role is to provide a vibrant colourful space that engages and inspires children to read. The addition of this storytelling chair will help us provide positive literacy experiences for the children who visit Twin Towns Library.’

The chair will be officially unveiled later in the year and library staff are very excited about unveiling it. More information will be available at that time. For more information on the library service visit www.donegallibrary.ie