Meet the woman helping to bring music to our ears at Cork city library

MARGARET O’Leary is in a jubilant mood when I talk to her at her place of work; The Rory Gallagher Music Library on Grand Parade, Cork.

“I am Executive Librarian as of four hours ago!” she says.

“I’ve been promoted. I’m delighted.”

The Executive Librarian is responsible for the management and delivery of public library and/or related support services.

Margaret, who was born in Donoughmore, has a lot to be delighted about.

“Being a librarian is very suited to me. It is a great job,” she said.

Margaret, a people person, clearly has great attributes for the job.

“I am a good communicator,” she says. “Communicating and chatting with people is a nice part of my role. My job is unique.”

It is also a convenient job for Margaret, who has 31 years of experience working with the library services.

“I live in Cork city,” says Margaret. “I’m only four minutes away and I enjoy walking to and from work every day.”

Her family has a history of working with Cork City Council.

“My grandad worked for the council and others in my family,” says Margaret.

“I followed in their footsteps providing services for the council.

“I was always aware of the council and the services it provided,” says Margaret.

Like her grandad, Margaret likes being part of a hard-working, experienced team.

Joining the library service, I was always a part of a great team helping people and providing them with information that they might not otherwise be able to access.

“I find serving customers and being of help to them extremely rewarding. The positive feedback every day keeps me motivated.”

Margaret is a book lover and a music lover.

“I am an avid reader like all of my family,” she says.

When did she become aware of the advantages of the library?

“The mobile library was a known meeting place when the library stopped in Firmount for a family catch-up and an informal book club meeting,” says Margaret.

“So, once I saw an opportunity to join the library service I was in and I could very quickly see that this career suited my personality as it had the components of helping and providing for customers, working as part of a team and keeping books in order, which is very therapeutic and enjoyable once you get used to it.”

Margaret is well used to her job.

“I like to prepare a list every day of the work ahead of me,” she says.

I love the variety of work and dealing with customers and artists who are passionate about their music. It amazes me the amount of people who stop off to borrow an item and will also stop off at the counter to discuss music.

“We pride ourselves in giving time and attention to everyone’s needs, music or book-wise.”

What does Margaret like to read?

“I could read anything! I don’t like anything too scary as I have a vivid imagination! I particularly like the authors John Sheridan and Frank O’Connor. I enjoy music of any genre. My husband and I have a big collection of music at home. Since moving to the Music Library, I have been distracted and now listen to much more music.”

Margaret likes going to live music gigs.

“I always loved the showband era,” she says. “I am a fan of Gina And The Champions, Red Hurley. and I followed The Indians.

“Recently, I was at a Joe Dolan tribute, and it was fabulous.”

The music-related information available at the Rory Gallagher Music Library in Cork, open since 1978, is fabulous and extensive. It provides music, books, scores, CDs, and DVDs in all genres, classical, choral, traditional, jazz, contemporary, rock and pop, for lending reference and archival purposes.

Memorabilia includes Rory Gallagher’s guitars and programmes, and in the Thomas Davis room, people using the library can listen to varied collections of music.

“The experienced team I have with me ensure that Cork city has plenty of provision as regards music to listen to and books relating to music,” says Margaret.

We outreach to all the libraries in the city, and we collaborate to provide events and ensure the music needs of the library branches are met.

“Our local exhibitions are very popular, and they create great interest among the public.

“Our music archives are extensive, with a store of collections such as The Cork Music Archive, Joan Denise Moriarty Collection, and the Fleischmann Collection. We have a store of music CDs going back to 1989 and extensive collections of Irish music.”

Margaret enjoys good job satisfaction.

“The best part of my job is the knowledge that we are providing a service to the city of Cork and beyond that adds to quality of life and provides a social outlet to many in a safe environment. All our services are free.”

Margaret says the library is a useful and a valuable place to visit, to study, interact with people, research, listen to music, enjoy exhibitions, and delve into music and scores of the past and present.

“The library is very social,” she adds. 

It is inclusive and available to everybody. We are always looking to maintain and improve our range of services.

Margaret is an expert in her field.

“I worked first in Mallow library, then Fermoy, Ballincollig. I jumped to the city library services when the city boundaries changed, working in Bishopstown Library and Tory Top Library. I enjoyed working in all locations.”

The Rory Gallagher Music Library is one of two music libraries in the country.

“We fulfil requests for music items from all over the country,” says Margaret.

“We purchase stock for a wide range of tastes.

“This means keeping an eye on up-coming trends and ensuring all music tastes are catered for.

“We provide guitar/ukulele, creative dance classes and we are running a toddlers’ music time for families all over the city,” continues Margaret.

The library celebrates lots of things happening in the city.

“We celebrate the Choral festival, Folk Festival, Ortús Festival, the Jazz Festival. We celebrate Bealtaine, Heritage week, and Culture Night.”

The library is a place to gather and support people.

“We run a Live at the Library session every Saturday to support new and upcoming local artists,” says Margaret.

“We hold three different Music Circles here, Country, Irish and Nostalgia/Classical. There is many a lively discussion held after the events on the pros and cons of the pieces played.”

Music and Memories Boxes were a new initiative by Cork City Libraries funded by Cork County Council Innovation Fund, supplied to 10 nursing homes in the area. The boxes contained 30 pictures of Cork in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s, 15 music CDs of that era and four dementia-friendly books, a dementia-friendly jigsaw puzzle serving as a memory tool kit.

“This pilot scheme was so hugely successful that it has been expanded,” says Margaret.

Coordinators in nursing homes use books and pictures to encourage memories, conversation and connectivity.

The box of new items will be supplied to nursing homes each month by Cork City Library Link Service.

Margaret is a great ambassador for the library service.

“We get people coming in from all over the world. It is fantastic.”

She is not going anywhere soon.

“I have no desire to retire. I love my job.”