- This program is a free virtual event.
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Description
One of the most profound legacies of the Princess of Monaco, née Grace Kelly, is having put Ireland on the map following the state visit of His Serene Highness Prince Rainier III of Monaco to the land of his wife’s ancestors in 1961.
Two years after the untimely death of the princess, Prince Rainer decided to honor his wife’s memory by transforming her personal library devoted to Irish literature, history, and culture into a public institution. The Princess Grace Irish Library opened its doors to the public in 1984 and celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2024.
Today, the library is a lasting testament to Princess Grace’s pride in her Irish American ancestry, and a burgeoning center for Irish cultural studies in a global context. While often hailed as an “American princess,” in fact the Irish people claim her as an Irish princess, and her memory links three nations today.
In this special panel discussion, Dr. Alexander L. Ames, Director of Outreach & Engagement at the Rosenbach Museum & Library in Philadelphia, will interview leaders of the Princess Grace Irish Library to learn more about Princess Grace, the origins of the library, the work of the library today, and how Princess Grace’s legacy lives on in Philadelphia, Monaco, and Mayo, Ireland.
This event is part of a programming partnership between the Princess Grace Irish Library and the Rosenbach Museum & Library. Learn more about the Princess Grace Irish Library here: https://www.pgil.mc/.
About the Panelists
Peter K. Murphy, a retired American career diplomat from Boston, Massachusetts, has been a Trustee of the Princess Grace Irish Library since 2018. A longtime resident of the Principality, Mr. Murphy was a lifelong friend of the late Princess Grace and the Prince’s family.
Paula Farquharson is Director of the Princess Grace Irish Library in Monte Carlo, Monaco since 2021.
Dr. Alexander L. Ames is Director of Outreach & Engagement at the Rosenbach Museum & Library in Philadelphia. He will moderate the discussion with the program’s panelists from Monaco.