The Whole Wild World Tour
When Patricia Forde became Laureate na nÓg (Ireland's Children's Laureate) in May 2023, there was much excitement around what her focus would be during her tenure. Previous laureates have shone a spotlight on storytelling through poetry (Sarah Crossan), illustration (Niamh Sharkey and PJ Lynch) and the Irish language (Áine ní Ghlinn).
Patricia Ford is a master across all written genres of children's literature, having written award-winning picture books, middle grade and young adult fiction in both Irish and English. With such a breadth of skills under her belt what would her focus be during her time as Laureate na nÓg?
It turns out that breadth is exactly what Patricia had in mind. A whole 2600 kilomentre breadth of Ireland from the northern tip of Malin Head in Co Donegal to the southern tip of Mizen Head in Co. Cork, otherwise known as the Wild Atlantic Way.
Over two weeks at the end of April 2024, Patricia brought 35 authors and illustrators on a bus tour (#WholeWildWorld) to schools, libraries, festivals and streets of the west coast of Ireland the theme being Making it up as we go along - showing how storytelling, imagination an creativity is accessible to all.
I was lucky enough to join in on the Kerry leg – on stage with cracking authors and illustrators in Siamsa Tíre, in a junior infants classroom in Cloghán NS and finishing in Killorglin library.
If you want to find out more about the #WholeWildWorld tour here’s the Laureate na nÓg site and Children’s Books Ireland, but to truly appreciate the magic of the tour check out this episode of Nationwide on RTÉ.
Thank you @trishforde1 @laureatenanog and @kidsbooksirel for having all of us on your fabulously creative initiative.
Story sharers make the next generation of story tellers 😍
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