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Children’s Book Festival 2024

Children’s Book Festival 2024 runs nationally this October and is a great opportunity for young people, parents, teachers and libraries to celebrate books and reading!

As a central tenet of the Right to Read initiative, the festival aims to encourage children to enjoy the experience of reading and support their reading development through activities and events in collaboration with writers, artists and storytellers. Offaly Libraries looks forward to celebrating Children’s Book Festival with an array of events and activities, co- funded by Creative Ireland.

Events will be held in all our library branches, with something scheduled for readers of all ages and interests:

School Workshops:

  1. Emer Conlon Author of Vroom Town will join Tullamore, Daingean and Edenderry on Wednesday 9th October to facilitate her workshop which includes a Storytime and Maze fun. This is suitable for Junior -1st class.
  2. Local Illustrator and Author Paul Tubb will join Edenderry and Kilcormac on Thursday 10th October to facilitate a poetry workshop which will include splitting the Children into groups of 4 or 5, and get them to write a Limerick.  This is suitable for 1st – 5th class
  3. Leona Forde Author of Milly McCarthy will join Birr and Tullamore on Tuesday 15th October to facilitate her workshop. This is suitable for 3rd – 5th class
  4. Deirdre Doyle from The Cool Food School will join Banagher and Birr on Wednesday 16th October to facilitate her workshop on healthy eating and good food for children. This is suitable for Senior Infants – 6th Class.
  5. Niamh Donnellan Author of Little Irish Folklore Friends will join  Ferbane and Clara on Thursday 17th October to facilitate her workshop. This is suitable for Junior Infants – 1st Class
  6. Author Eve McDonnell will join Birr and Tullamore on Friday 18th October  to facilitate her writing workshop. This is suitable for 1st – 6th Class.

Public Events:

  1. Sonya Cuddy from Speak Out Drama will be facilitating the Ultimate Hogwarts Experience in Tullamore and Birr on  Wednesday 30th October. This is suitable for 6-12 year olds. 
  2. The Tallest Smallest Theatre will join Edenderry and Clara on Thursday 31st October. This is suitable for the whole family. 

Competitions:

  1. Create your own Halloween Character – This competition is for schools. Contact your local branch for more information 
  2. Bookface – This competition will be held throughout the month of October. See the programme and contact your local branch for more information.