Read DL 2024 was launched live on air on Highland Radio on Thursday at an outside broadcast with John Breslin’s Around the Northwest at the Central Library, Letterkenny.
Read DL is a reading initiative based on the worldwide ‘One Book, One Community’.
It began in 2011 as Read LK (Letterkenny). Its aim was simple: to create an awareness and love of reading in a local area.
It has since expanded to incorporate the whole county with the continuing purpose of reminding us all about the joy of reading for all the family and to encourage local communities to read the same book at the same time.
This year’s special guest to launch READ DL 2024 was none other than …John Breslin himself…on his own show!
The chosen book this year is ‘The Summer I Robbed a Bank’ by David O’Doherty and illustrated by Chris Judge.
This year Read DL has distributed 2,000 books across Donegal and within hours of opening registration, were fully subscribed.
Speaking on behalf of the Read DL committee, Joseph Kelly, Executive Librarian and Right to Read Coordinator with Donegal County Library Service, was delighted with the demand.
“Again, we have seen huge interest in Read DL 2024,” he said.
“All of the books had been allocated to registered schools, groups, and families in all parts of the county. We are delighted with the response and along with the Ireland Reads Initiative there’s plenty of activities and events happening locally
“We are also delighted with the support again this year from both Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) and Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Letterkenny in such a successful partnership that promotes and encourages reading within the whole community.
“For the second year running, the local Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC) have provided funding for the provision of art and creative writing workshops that we will bring to participating schools and groups within each Municipal District of the county.’
“While all the available books have been allocated, there are still ways to participate such as visiting donegallibrary.ie and reserving copies of the book, or call into your local branch as they are fully stocked with copies for lending.”
Read DL runs until March 19 with lots of activities and events taking place.
Throughout the month there will be opportunities to get involved by showcasing the activities participants get involved in such as art, music, writing, or videos.
The Read DL annual Creative Writing Competition is back this year, and the theme is ‘Stepping into the Unknown’.
Educational resources based on the book and our new Black Out Poetry resource can be downloaded from the READ DL website at www.readdonegal.com.
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