Battle of the Book 2021/22 Launched in St Patrick’s Boys NS Donabate

Fingal Libraries are delighted to announce the launch of the Battle of the Book 2021/22 at St. Patrick’s Boys NS, Donabate on Monday 22nd November.

The Battle of the Book is a reading programme running throughout the academic year 2021/22, with five primary schools in the Fingal area taking part.  The hugely successful annual reading programme is currently in its ninth year.

The programme is designed to encourage children to read, gain confidence and to discuss a common book or books, providing them with a shared experience of reading which will encourage reading for life.

The Mayor of Fingal Cllr Seána Ó Rodaigh said “The Battle of the Book programme is a great way to encourage children not only to read but to interact with one another to discuss the book’s themes and hear each other’s insights. I am delighted to see it return this year.”

This year the featured books are “The Legend of Gobán” and “The Legend of Joseph Daw” by local Fingal author Gerard Ronan.  His children's books, wonderfully illustrated by Derry Dillon, strive to introduce young readers to the rich natural and social history of the Portrane Peninsula through the medium of fiction.  These books are part of a series named ‘Tales of Old Turvey’.  The other two books in the series are “Lucky Kate” and “The Old Man and the Tower”.

The schools participating this year are St. Patricks Boys National School, Donabate, Scoil Phádraic Cailíní, Donabate, St. Catherine’s National School, Rush, Rush National School and Hedgestown National School, Lusk.

The children will take part in various activities organised by Fingal Libraries before culminating in a “Battle” to be held in 2022 with prizes awarded to the winning school.

Betty Boardman, County Librarian said: "It was a pleasure to meet with the Principal, teachers and students of St. Patrick’s Boys NS Donabate to launch the 2021/22 Battle of the Book. The featured books by Gerard Ronan are great stories but also wonderfully informative about the history of the area."