Laureate na nÓg, Áine Ní Ghlinn, today marked the final stage of the An Bosca Leabharlainne Artist in Residence scheme with the delivery of over 16,000 books to 21 schools across the country. In partnership with Foras na Gaeilge, this represents the culmination of the most ambitious children’s literature project ever undertaken in the Irish language.

The Artist in Residence Scheme

An Bosca Leabharlainne brought a curated selection of Irish language books to schools across the country. The Artist in Residence scheme was designed to complement those books and ensure that the stories and songs would come alive in schools. Schools have been working alongside their nominated Artist in Residence over the past three months to encourage a love of reading as gaeilge.

Today’s gift of books to schools is comprised of two elements – a selection of high quality Irish language books to enhance the schools’ own libraries; and a set of two books per child for them to take home and keep. The books were carefully chosen by Áine Ní Ghlinn to ensure that they would match the age and ability of each class group.

Áine Ní Ghlinn, Laureate na nÓg, said,

‘I am so grateful to everyone who made An Bosca Leabharlainne possible and who helped to turn my dream into a reality. A special thank you to Foras na Gaeilge for the extra funding so that the schools who participated in the residency got extra books for the school library plus two take-home books for every child in the school. As well as enjoying the Bosca Leabharlainne in school, the book gifts meant that an element of the Bosca Leabharlainne went beyond the school gate into the children’s homes.

Let’s all keep working together so that children continue to enjoy reading as Gaeilge. ’

The theme of Áine Ní Ghlinn's laureateship is to encourage reading for pleasure in the Irish language, and to ensure that Irish language books are seen as something other than schoolwork by parents and children alike. The gift of books to individual students will mean each child in these 21 schools will have their very own leabhair Ghaeilge sa bhaile (Irish language books in the home)

An Bosca Leabharlainne was originally conceived as a starter library for schools across the country, many of whom would have few if any new Irish books in their own school libraries. With this gift to schools, Foras na Gaeilge have invested directly in a new generation of readers.

Seán Ó Coinn, Príomhfheidhmeannach Fhoras na Gaeilge said,

‘There is no better way to influence the development of the Irish language than to influence young people. This partnership with Children's Books Ireland and Laureate na nÓg, and this wonderful project, has given us the opportunity to present the best of Irish language literature to children across the island, and not only to have a positive impact on those children, but on their teachers and parents. Thanks to Áine Ní Ghlinn and Children's Books Ireland, who had the brilliant vision for the project, we have managed to go much further with An Bosca Leabharlainne than we initially imagined, and we are sure to see the impact of this work in the years to come.'

Schools that did not receive an Artist in Residence scheme were supported with a set of online workshops created by some of those artists, along with a detailed teacher’s handbook, Bímís ag Léamh, to encourage new approaches to the teaching of Irish language literature in schools. Both resources are available online at childrenslaureate.ie

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Bronnann Laureate na nÓg agus Foras na Gaeilge 16,000 leabhar ar 21 scoil

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