Patricia Forde was announced as the seventh Laureate na nÓg, Ireland’s Children’s Literature Laureate, on Monday 29 May at a special event at the Arts Council. An award-winning children’s author from Galway, Forde will hold the title until 2026, taking up the position from the outgoing Laureate, Áine Ní Ghlinn.

Patricia Forde writes for all ages in Irish and in English. She has published over 20 titles, including her award-winning first novel, ‘The Wordsmith’. A former primary school teacher, Patricia is also a former Director of the Galway Arts Festival. She co-founded the Baboró International Arts Festival for Children in Galway in the mid-1990s, a world-class festival based on the child’s right to culture. She is the former Chair of Children’s Books Ireland. 

You can find out more information about Laureate na nÓg at: www.childrenslaureate.ie 

What is Laureate na nÓg?

Laureate na nÓg is an initiative of the Arts Council. It is managed and delivered on Council’s behalf by Children’s Books Ireland, and also supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

Background

In 2008, as part of the mid-term review of Partnership for the Arts, the Arts Council led a consultation process to develop a comprehensive vision, strategy and action plan for children’s literature. Central to the resulting policy and strategy was a proposal to establish a children’s laureate, a role which would celebrate children’s literature and its contribution to cultural life.

Laureate na nÓg was established in 2010. Siobhán Parkinson was awarded the honour of being Ireland’s first Laureate na nÓg. Since that time there have been six other laureates: Niamh Sharkey, Eoin Colfer, PJ Lynch, Sarah Crossan, Áine Ní Ghlinn and the seventh Laureate na nÓg, Patricia Forde, who was announced in May 2023. Each Laureate contributes in their own ways to the aims of the programme, and the Laureate is recognised as the highest honour that can be awarded to a children’s writer or illustrator in Ireland.     

Values

The Arts Council believes in:

• every child’s right to discover and delight in literature
• work of quality and ambition for children and young people
• writers and illustrators having productive and rewarding careers
• the inclusion of all voices and cultures that make up Ireland today

Purpose

By honouring an artist of exceptional talent and commitment, Laureate na nÓg champions and celebrates literature for children and young people, inspiring generations of writers, illustrators and readers.

Aims

• To honour an exceptional writer or illustrator of literature for children and young people in the Irish or English language
• To champion literature for children and young people nationally and internationally
• To engage and inspire children, young people and their communities through literature
• To encourage new generations of writers and illustrators

A Review Of Laureate na nÓg: Sustain, Strengthen, Recalibrate

The year 2020 marked a decade of Laureate na nÓg. The Arts Council took this opportunity to undertake a formal review, considering afresh the aims and ambitions of Laureate na nÓg and ensuring their alignment with those of Making Great Art Work. The review also sought to evaluate Laureate na nÓg’s impact as a programme and makes recommendations for future years. This paper was presented to the Arts Council at its Plenary meeting on 22 April 2020. Click here to download A Review of Laureate na nÓg and click here to download Laureate na nÓg 2020 onwards.