Pupils and families in Galway will have the chance to meet the creators of their favourite Irish books in Galway as part of Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde’s ‘Whole Wild World’ bus tour.
The unique tour will see Irish children’s writers and illustrators visit schools, libraries, bookshops and cultural venues in nine counties along the west coast of Ireland.
Taking in a total of 1,400 kilometres on a multicolour, 30-seater coach, the tour will include four stops in Galway, at Leenane, Furbo and two in Galway city.
It begins at Ireland’s most northerly point, Malin Head in Donegal, on Monday, 15 April, and concludes at Kinsale Library in Cork on Sunday, 28 April.
Patricia Forde will be joined in Galway by authors and illustrators for workshops, readings and artist events for school groups, library groups and families. The full line-up will be announced in March.
The Galway first stops will be at Leenane National School on Friday, 19 April, and Scoil na bhForbacha on Friday, 19 April.
Then there will be an event in conjunction with Cúirt International Festival of Literature at 2pm on Saturday, 20 April, and an artist event at An Taibhdhearc at 6.30 pm on Saturday, 20 April.
Speaking at the announcement of the route this week, Patricia Forde said she was excited at the prospect of meeting young readers and writers in Galway in April.
“This tour is about igniting imaginations and ensuring that Galway will have another generation of great writers and illustrators by bringing books and their creators to an audience that doesn’t often get a chance to meet them in their own local area,” she said.
“We will have exciting Irish authors and illustrators on board, hoping to inspire and to be inspired, to share stories and have lots of fun!”
The full list of participating schools, bookshops, libraries and cultural venues can be found at www.childrenslaureate.ie.
