Earlier this year, we learnt we had been selected as recipients of the Robert Dunbar Memorial Library. This is a book-gifting programme which will bring hundreds of new books and resources to its students in 2026. Designed by national charity and arts organisation Children’s Books Ireland, the ‘Every Child A Reader’ programme is a year-long support provided to select schools which helps to foster a love of reading in their students and wider school community.
Over 1000 schools applied to be part of this project, and our school was one of less than 30 that we selected!
As part of this project, we will have our own dedicated Champion of Reading assigned to the school who will host a series of live workshops throughout the year with students. These creative and engaging sessions will help promote a love of reading, writing and illustrating amongst class groups. Our Champion of Reading is the award winning author and illustrator, Tarsila Kruse. Tarsila has worked in our school before and we are really excited to have her back again this year, for such an extended amount of time.
Through this initiative Children’s Books Ireland will provide our school with a library of 250 books
covering all ages, interests, genres and issues which represent the richness and diversity of Irish
society. As well as hundreds of brilliant new books, chosen schools will receive supports and
resource packs as well as bookmarks, bunting and stickers to celebrate their new library books.
To celebrate this, and as part of Book Week, we held a library launch this week. The children got to explore the wealth of gorgeous new books in our library, and to build up some excitement for the reading activites ahead. We are very grateful to Children's Books Ireland for this amazing opportunity.
