Simon Armitage, the Poet Laureate, visited Newcastle Library in County Down on Friday evening for a reading on his UK-wide Laureate’s Library Tour. The event drew a full audience.

Newcastle Library represented the letter 'N' as the first public library stop in Northern Ireland on Armitage's ten-year tour focused on libraries.

The evening started at 7:00pm with music from harpist Anne Harper and light refreshments. Attendees came from local creative writing groups, library customers and poetry enthusiasts in the Mourne area.

Bonnie Anley, Chairperson of Libraries NI, welcomed guests and noted libraries serve as community spaces for stories, creativity and culture. She thanked Armitage for selecting the library and mentioned a week of related events on poetry and local heritage.

Irish poet Dean Browne read first with contemporary work. Armitage followed with poems on everyday life, landscape and national reflection.

Toni Kelly, Newcastle Branch Library Manager, called the event a privilege for the library and community. The visit capped a series of workshops on pyrography, creative writing and townland names.

Jim O'Hagan, Chief Executive of Libraries NI, attended along with Dean Browne and Bonnie Anley.