‘Happy World Book Day to Everyone.’

Posted on 05/03/2026 by fionaconlonmckenna

This is such a special fun day for readers young and old everywhere as we celebrate books and reading and stories. In schools and libraries across Ireland everyone is dressing up as their favourite book character, or designing a new book cover or poster, taking part in a book quiz or book treasure hunt. I always love seeing the different versions of my covers and am so impressed by readers who seem to know my books better that I do. There are authors and illustrators visiting schools across the country and a Mega author online event being held in the National Library of Ireland today.

Words and books are incredibly important and are a big part of who we are, and who we become. Life is busy for all of us but making time to read is one of the best things we can do to make us happy and relax and use our imaginations. Special thanks to all the teachers and schools that are taking part. Some of my grandchildren have dressed up for school and Montessori as Where’s Wally, Mr Strong, Luke Skywalker, Angelina Ballerina, and Mr Biff the Boxer.

Children’s Book’s Ireland and An Post are doing something amazing and distibuting 40,000 free books to kids in Hospitals, Direct Provision Centres, Family Centres and In Care on this World Book Day so that everyone gets to own and read a book.

Most of you will receive a special World Book Day token either in school or if you visit your local book shop which can be used to get one of the specially published World Book Day Books, there are some really brilliant Irish books on the list, or tokens can even be used to go towards another book you want to buy. So use your token and remember the important thing is to keep reading…….

An Post Delivering Books

Ireland Reads

Posted on 12/02/2025 by fionaconlonmckenna

Stuart Hamiliton of Ireland Reads LGMA.

Irelands Read’s is a brilliant initiative by the Government and Healthy Ireland supported by our public libraries to encourage us all to read during the month of February.

The Irish Library Borrowing figures for 2024 have just come out and I am so delighted to be top of the list of Irish authors on it.

The ever popular comic series of ‘Dog Man’, and ‘Bunny and Monkey’ take the top slots but it is great to see that ‘Under the Hawthorn Tree’ is still the most borrowed book by an Irish author. It is no surprise to see that Children’s books dominate the list as we have the best young readers and bookworms in the world. The top 37 titles are children’s and young peoples. The list is compiled by 330 Irish libraries and 23 mobile libraries, which have more than 13 million books to borrow. They also have eBooks and audio books to borrow with ‘Under the Hawthorn Tree’ topping the overall eBook list

There will be a big call out on Saturday 22^nd of February for everyone, whatever your age or interests to Get Lost in a Good Book. It doesn’t matter where you read, or what you read as long as you read.

Reading is good or us and relaxes us and reduces stress by believe it or not 698%.

So let’s get reading!

Dalkey Book Festival

Posted on 19/06/2024 by fionaconlonmckenna

Marita with Shane Hegarty and Sarah Webb in Dalkey Library

All the crowds came out for this years Dalkey Book Festival which had a brilliant line up of speakers and ran over four days. Politics and world affairs were to the fore front along
with the best of Irish and International writing including Paul Lynch, Colm
Toibin, Anne Enright, Paul Murray, John Boyne and Claire Keegan.

I was talking in Dalkey Library on Thursday evening with authors Sarah Webb and Shane
Hegarty about our favourite thing… books … Irish books we remember and loved
from growing up and the best of the brilliant crop of new Irish books that we have read and recommend. There was a lovely crowd of young and some older readers and it was part of the Discover Irish Children’s Books campaign to get readers choosing a book by an Irish author.

I was back again on Saturday to attend a thought provoking panel discussion of experts about the upcoming US election and the possible outcome of another Trump presidency or a defeat. But the highlight for me was getting to hear my favourite writer Claire Keegan discuss her work in an honest ones and direct interview with Rick O’Shea.Her precision with words and way of forming story were illustrated by a perfect reading form her new book So Late in the Day

Thanks to everyone involved in running the Dalkey Book Festival. I do love festivals and will be down in Skibbereen at the end July for their Arts Festival and will also be taking part in the Fingal Festival in late September.