Turning Pages, Changing Lives: Kilkenny school sparks a love of reading with new arrivals

Students eagerly explored the new titles, carefully choosing books they were excited to dive into - some even discovering works illustrated by their own family members, including Audrey Dowling.

As part of the programme, Scoil Mhuire gan Smál will also benefit from the guidance of a dedicated “Champion of Reading,” acclaimed author and illustrator Sadhbh Devlin.

Throughout the year, she will lead a series of engaging workshops designed to inspire creativity and nurture students’ interests in reading, writing, and illustrating.

This initiative reflects Children’s Books Ireland’s belief that every child on the island of Ireland deserves access to quality books and the opportunity to fall in love with reading.

With this new programme underway, Scoil Mhuire gan Smál is not just adding books to its shelves - it is opening doors to imagination, creativity, and lifelong learning.