The National Youth Council is one of more than 100 bodies invited to nominate a writer or illustrator for Laureate na nOg.

Laureate na nÓg is an exciting project recognising the role and importance of literature for children in Ireland. This unique honour was awarded for the first time in May 2010 to author Siobhán Parkinson. The position was held by Siobhán for a period of two years. Illustrator Niamh Sharkey was the second laureate, and held the title until May 2014. Eoin Colfer held the role between 2014 and 2016. The current Laureate is PJ Lynch.

It is an initiative of the Arts Council with the support of the Dept. of Children and Youth Affairs, Children's Books Ireland, Poetry Ireland and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The honour was 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 lives.

The laureate will participate in selected events and activities around Ireland during their term. The laureate is chosen as a result of their internationally recognised body of high quality children’s writing or illustration and the considerably positive impact they have had on readers as well as other writers and illustrators.

The project has 5 key aims:

1. To introduce high quality children’s literature to a new audience of adults, children and young people.

2. To raise the profile of children’s literature in Ireland.

3. To increase media attention for children’s literature in Ireland and internationally.

4. To bring children’s literature into the mainstream conversation about books and literature in Ireland.

5. To build partnership and cooperation among various players in the children’s literature sector.

The laureate needs to meet the following criteria:

1. The laureate must have created a recognised body of children’s writing and/or illustration.

2. The laureate must be Irish or permanently resident in Ireland.

3. He or she must demonstrate both eagerness and skill in engaging with children, young people, adults and with the sector as a whole.

4. He or she should demonstrate an enthusiasm for promoting children’s literature in general.

5. The laureate must demonstrate skill in engaging with the media, the arts and literature sector and other relevant stakeholders

NYCI is developing a short list of writers and illustrators based on the established criteria but which also has regard for NYCI’s work and values – a writer or illustrator with a readership in the 10-24 age range, who has a commitment to activism/volunteerism, an interest in and commitment to outreach and to marginalized young people aswell as having a high quality output. If you are a member organisation of NYCI and working with young people in youth work settings and would like to submit a writer or illustrator to NYCI's shortlist, please contact Anne O Gorman anneog@nyci.ie or 01 4255932.