Jennifer Johnston donation to dlr Libraries

dlr Libraries are delighted to announce that Jennifer Johnston has donated her writing desk and nearly 2,000 of her books to dlr Libraries. The collection will be housed in dlr LexIcon.

Jennifer’s desk was made to her precise specifications over 30 years ago and it is a real privilege to house it in the Residency Room on the top floor of dlr LexIcon. Sadhbh Devlin, the recently appointed dlr Writer in Residence is thrilled to be able to use Jennifer’s desk and has no doubt that it will inspire her work in the coming year. Jennifer likewise is pleased that it will be used in this way, particularly so as the Residency Room looks out across Scotsman’s Bay to Sandycove, an area that has played an important role personally and features in much of Jennifer’s writing.

Jennifer’s book collection includes numerous translations of her novels, signed gifts received by many fellow writers, dramatists and artists and a large collection of Johnston’s own book collection. Each publication is annotated with her initials J.J. and the year of purchase. Jennifer donated her archive to Trinity College Dublin which also houses the archive of her father Denis Johnston.

County Librarian Catherine Gallagher notes ‘This is a real boost for the Irish Author Collection housed on Level 5, dlr LexIcon. This Collection began in 2017 with the aim to maintain and build on our support for local and Irish authors. This is achieved through our Mountains to Sea dlr Book Festival where Jennifer Johnston appeared regularly, our dlr Library Voices series, our residencies and above all our commitment to housing and showcasing the work of such inspirational writers.’

dlr LexIcon plan to catalogue the collection in the coming months and to mark this wonderful donation with Jennifer Johnston and her family at the end of January 2020 when she celebrates her 90^th birthday.