Ireland’s first ever Laureate na nÓg addresses Joint Oireachtas Committee with Literature Alliance

The NATIONAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE ARTS is delighted to support the recently formed Literature Alliance which is due to make a presentation to the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs at 2pm this Wednesday 14 July. The delegates, who include Ireland´s first ever Laureate na nÓg, Siobhán Parkinson, will discuss the importance of promoting and supporting Irish writers and as well as reading among the public, especially children. 

Among those attending the meeting alongside Parkinson are Alan Hayes, Publishing Ireland, Joe Woods, Poetry Ireland, Sinead MacAodha, Ireland Literature Exchange, Samantha Holman, Irish Copyright Licensing Agency, Pat Cotter, Munster Literature Centre, Jack Harte, Irish Writers Centre and Mags Walsh, Children’s Books Ireland.  

Siobhán Parkinson is an Irish writer for both children and adults. On 10 May 2010 she was conferred by President of Ireland Mary McAleese as the first ever Laureate na nÓg (Children’s Laureate), a position she will hold until 2012.  She has published more than twenty books since 1992, winning her numerous awards, and her books have been translated into multiple languages. She has written in both Irish and English, and also translates from German into English. 

Laureate na nÓg is an initiative of the Arts Council, with the support of Children’s Books Ireland, the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and Poetry Ireland. The honour has been established to engage young people with high quality children’s literature and to underline the importance of children’s literature in our cultural and imaginative life. Laureate na nÓg is also supported by Eason’s and by the Irish Times. 

Tania Banotti of the National Campaign for the Arts, said, “The National Campaign for the Arts came together as an unprecedented union of all the different art disciplines in Ireland with the unwavering agreement that the arts can play a vital role in Ireland´s economic and social recovery.  We continue to champion the equal role that all art forms have in maintaining Ireland´s collective wellbeing and international reputation and are wholly supportive of the Literature Alliance´s aim to advocate for both the well-known and emerging writers of Ireland.”

For further information on the presentation to the Oireachtas Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs please contact Mags Walsh, Children’s Books Ireland, 01 8727475/ 086 6053888