'We are writers' initiative launched in County Waterford
Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr. Seamus Ryan with Maura Dunne of Waterford Libraries and students of Réalt na Mara NS, Rhine Jackman, Oisin and Síofra Harvey and Aoife McNamara
Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr. Seamus Ryan was delighted recently to launch the 'We are Writers' writing project of the talented Second Class pupils in Réalt na Mara National School.
The launch event took place at a special ceremony in Dunmore East public library.
A spokesperson for Waterford City & County Council said the young authors and illustrators attended the launch with their class teacher Clara Hogan, SET teacher Niamh Savage and Principal Ciara McSweeney.
Through the project the students created a large range of books that they had written, illustrated and shared with all of the other students in their school.
Praising their work, Mayor Ryan said: “I am delighted to welcome you all to Dunmore East Library for a very special event for World Book Day."
"We are here today to celebrate you all," he said.
"You are a very talented group of children, who love to not only to read but also to write your own stories," he added.
Mayor Ryan went on to comment: "You should be very proud of your achievements and there is a real love of reading and writing for pleasure on display here today.”
Sinead O’Higgins, Senior Executive Librarian outlined details of the project.
“The Public Library in Dunmore East and the School libraries in Réalt na Mara NS work collaboratively to make sure that the whole school community has access to books and a vibrant and inviting reading environments," she said.
“We all realise that higher frequency of reading for pleasure will increase reading confidence," she added.
Ms O'Higgins also outlined how research showed that children who read and have access to books and libraries will read for enjoyment, in addition to accessing information and wellbeing.
"Waterford Libraries play a vital role not only in fostering literacy but also in supporting students’ wellbeing," she said.
She said the strong links between Réalt na Mara NS and Waterford Libraries, fostered by Dunmore East Librarian Maura Dunne, captured a glimpse of that. She said the work on display highlighted how young children who read with confidence and enjoyment and are now writing, drawing and creating, with the same excitement and pleasure inspired by their favourite authors and illustrators.
SET Teacher Niamh Savage added: “This collaboration has had deep and long-lasting impacts. Réalt na Mara now has a whole-school reading identity; each year our school runs their own festival, 'Realt na Mara Reads', which coincides with the launch of the Summer Stars library programme in the Dunmore East library."
“Books are celebrated through school-wide events like the annual 'Battle of the Books' and school-wide weekly Zooms," she said.
"Student Library Leaders maintain and promote their school libraries," she added.
Ms Savage said book initiatives run across the school and there is also a Teacher and Parents Book Club.
"Here in Dunmore East reading is for everyone," she said.
"Here we see that when book and library access have a valued role in a school’s identity, they don’t just create readers, we build a community that reads together," she added.
The 'We are Writers' exhibition will be on display in Dunmore East Library until the end of April.
The library is open on Tuesdays from 10am to 5pm and Thursdays from 1pm to 4pm, and from 5pm to 8pm. All are welcome.
