Princess Grace Library of Ireland book catalog now online
Inaugurated by Prince Rainier III in 1984, two years after the death of Princess Grace, the library is being modernized.
The Princess Grace Irish Library has decided to put online its catalog of open access books. The aim is in particular to multiply collaborations with writers and institutions in the world of education, in the Principality and everywhere else.
This step could be taken thanks to a new sponsor, The Craft Irish Whiskey Co, a young Irish company that has won numerous awards. In a press release, the Trustees and the Director of the Library express their gratitude to him.
Note that this online launch coincides with the moment when the library is collaborating with the Atlantic Youth Trust, which is currently in the process of creating its Monegasque branch. This new charity aims to foster the development and cultural integration of young people through sailing in Ireland.
The personal collection of Princess Grace
This online catalog will promote the discovery of the treasures present on the shelves of the library, including the personal collection of books of Princess Grace. Of the 14,000 books in the library, more than 500 belonged to the Irish-born Princess, including rare editions like A history of Ireland, signed by Éamon de Valera. Then President of Ireland, he offered these works to Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III in his Presidential Residence in 1961, during the State Trip.
Another nugget in this library is the collection of more than 1,000 scores of Irish-American music, acquired by Princess Grace in 1977 from Philadelphia resident Michael E. O’Donnell. The lyrics of these songs, which reproduced the period between 1840 and 1940, recall the life of Irish immigrants in the United States. Each score is illustrated with an image that we immerse in this era.