Limerick student wins at KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards 2024. Pictured are Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland; Karina Howley KPMG Ireland and Allanah O’Donoghue, fifth-class student from Patrick’s Girls National School, Limerick, winner of the Reading Hero Award with classmates of Allanah’s. Photo: Julien Behal
Allannah O’Donoghue, from St. Patrick’s Girls National School in Limerick received this year’s Reading Hero Award at the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards
Allannah O’Donoghue, from St. Patrick’s Girls National School in Limerick received this year’s Reading Hero Award at the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards at a ceremony in Dublin this week, held in partnership with International Literature Festival Dublin.
The Reading Hero Award recognises remarkable passion and achievements in reading by a young person. Speaking at the ceremony, eleven-year-old Allanah said, “Winning the Reading Hero Award is a big achievement, it shows that I can do anything I set my mind to, and I feel happy with myself. It shows I’m not just a girl, I’m a smart girl.”
Maria Flannery, Partner KPMG Ireland said: “Well done to all our winners, and a special congratulations to our Reading Hero Alannah O’Donoghue, who was nominated by her teacher, Clare Farrell. Alannah has displayed an unwavering determination and commitment to reading, and to learning through reading, whilst also finding magic in the turning of each page. She is a perfect example of what the Reading Hero Award is all about.”
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Also speaking at the ceremony, Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland, said: “This year’s award winners showcase the outstanding quality and variety of contemporary Irish children’s literature. The fact that so many of the winners and shortlistees are débuts is remarkable – the Awards are an opportunity for us to celebrate both emerging and established creators and to connect them with their audiences.
“Through our Junior Juries programme, we have seen the joy and excitement these shortlisted books have sparked in over 12,700 young readers across Ireland. Today, in front of an audience of 600 excited readers, we’re proud to recognise the talent and hard work of these extraordinary writers and illustrators whose work will no doubt be such a formative part of so many young readers’ childhoods.”
Award-winning titles include The KPMG Book of the Year Award – ‘Catfish Rolling’ by Clara Kumagai (Zephyr), The Honour Award for Fiction – ‘Treacle Town’ by Brian Conaghan (Andersen Press), The Honour Award for Illustration – ‘Three Tasks for a Dragon’ illustrated by PJ Lynch (Walker Books), and The Eilís Dillon Award for best début children’s book– ‘Wider Than the Sea’ by Serena Molloy (Hodder Children’s Books).
The other winners were; The Judges’ Special Award – ‘The Hare Shaped Hole,’ written by John Dougherty and illustrated by Thomas Docherty (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books), and The KPMG Junior Juries Award – ‘The Hare Shaped Hole,’ written by John Dougherty and illustrated by Thomas Docherty (Frances Lincoln Children’s Books).
Winners were selected by an independent panel of expert judges, including two Young Judges, and a network of Junior Juries island-wide. The judging panel read a record 158 titles from Irish-born or Ireland-based writers and illustrators, the biggest year so far in the history of the awards. A total prize-fund of €16,000 has been awarded to this year’s winners.
Damian Smyth, Joint Head of Literature and Drama for the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, commented, “These awards pay tribute to some of the most fantastically talented writers and illustrators producing new work on the island of Ireland today. The stories they create cross lands and seas, to shape and ignite the minds and hearts of young audiences across the globe. We send our congratulations to all of this year’s worthy winners!”
