THE Linen Hall Library in Belfast is celebrating the 120th anniversary of its Robert Burns archive with a series of online events.
The library has one of the largest and most important collections of material relating to Burns outside of Scotland.
Collected by Andrew Gibson, a governor of the Linen Hall, the archive was bought for the city of Belfast in 1901 and placed in the library.
The collection includes items donated by Burns’s grand daughter Eliza Everitt and contains the first 1787 printing of Burns in Belfast as well as copies of his own books.
Burns, seen as Scotland's national poet, lived between 1759 and 1796.
He wrote in a Scots dialect, as well as in English, and is best known for his poem Auld Lang Syne, traditionally sung at New Year.
Online events will begin on Friday December 10 at 7pm with virtual readings of Burns's work and music inspired by the poet.
Each weekday from December 13 to December 20 the library will post a video and blog on its website exploring various facets of the collection.
Hosted by Scottish presenter and Burns enthusiast Alistair Heather, the videos will include details of a book about Burns's skull, Phrenological Development of Robert Burns, published in Edinburgh in 1834; a rendition of a ballad by Burns, sung by Aberdeenshire folksinger Iona Fyfe, and a discussion with poet Len Pennie about her relationship to Burns.
For more details and booking information about the December 10 online event go to www.linenhall.com
