Homage to the Queen of Crime

Visitors to Kilcullen Library in recent times may have noticed a small corner devoted to Agatha Christie, writes Brian Byrne. “It’s my little homage to Agatha Christie, whose books I have always loved,” Librarian Julie O'Donoghue says. “In fact, generations of my family have enjoyed her stories.”

In addition to a selection of the famous crime writer’s novels, there are items that would be familiar to her characters, typically based in the 1930s era. Some of them items that might have been used to murder.

They include an old blue bottle labelled 'Nicotine' which could have contained poison, a long hatpin (“actually it’s a large sewing needle”), items of jewellery which might have been clues, and a box of patent pills claiming to cure or treat a large variety of ailments.

The eagle-eyed will have noticed the background to the installation — a net curtain attached to the window behind. “That would symbolise Miss Marple, living quietly in her home until she was needed to solve a crime.”

The installation was due to be dismantled after the Diary’s visit, but Julie is now open to suggestions of other authors who could be featured in a similar way.

There’s a lot goes on in our Library …

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