Ireland's first Laureate na nÓg announced

Last Monday 10 May, President Mary McAleese announced Siobhán Parkinson as Laureate na nÓg, Ireland’s first laureate for children’s literature.

Siobhán will hold the position of Laureate na nÓg for a period of two years, participating in selected events and activities around Ireland during her term.

The laureate is chosen as a result of their internationally recognized 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.

Laureate na nÓg is an initiative of the Arts Council, with the support of Children’s Books Ireland, the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, and Poetry Ireland. The honour has been established to engage young people with high quality children’s literature and to underline the importance of children’s literature in Ireland’s cultural and imaginative life.

For more information and to see Siobhán speak go to www.childrenslaureate.ie.