Louth school hosts national launch of Children’s Books Ireland book-gifting programme

Children’s Books Ireland today launched the next phase of its nationwide book-gifting programme, aimed at inspiring a love of reading and increasing book ownership among children in Ireland. This year’s launch event took place at Scoil Mhuire gan Smál, Kilsaran National School, Castlebellingham, Co. Louth.

Over 3,500 children across 91 schools in Ireland will receive a free book from the giving programme. 

Donegal resident and former Scoil Mhuire gan Smál, Kilsaran National School student, Meg Grehan, the author of this year’s book The Brightest Star, joined the title’s illustrator, Nene Lonergan, to present students with a copy and a live reading of her book.

Since 2021, Children’s Books Ireland has donated more than 23,500 books to schoolchildren nationwide through funding from Enterprise Mobility’s ROAD Forward initiative. The book-gifting programme helps enhance literacy skills in primary age students by giving more children better access to reading.

Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland, said: “Becoming a key partner of Enterprise Mobility’s ROAD Forward initiative has boosted our reach into communities where we are needed most. We share a commitment to giving children a passion for reading through a varied selection of current, accessible and imaginative stories. By introducing young readers to a wide range of Irish authors and illustrators, we hope these books will inspire, entertain and spark a love of reading that begins with a great book and lasts a lifetime.”

Brendan Grieve, Vice President and General Manager of Enterprise Mobility, Ireland, said: “Children’s Books Ireland do a fantastic job of supporting child literacy in communities across Ireland, helping them develop positive, healthy and life-long relationships with reading. Providing more children with the opportunity to read for enjoyment through better access to a range of stories, topics and authors is a fundamental part of this work and I’m proud that the Enterprise Mobility ROAD Forward initiative is supporting this important work.”

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Launched in 2020, the ROAD Forward initiative supports organisations that advance social equity in communities across North America and Europe. By 2030, nearly $165 million will have been granted to local nonprofits and key partners addressing social equity gaps in three key areas: early childhood development, youth health and wellness, and career and college preparation. To date, over 1,150 organisations have received ROAD Forward grants.

As Enterprise Mobility’s key partner in Ireland, Children’s Books Ireland will receive €240,000 in funding in the period to 2030, following the extension of Enterprise Mobility’s global ROAD Forward initiative last year.