Clare County Library and Clare County Arts Service in association with Laureate na nÓg, were proud to be part of a unique storytelling project that included twelve primary schools in the county in the Summer of 2015. County Clare was chosen as one of sixteen locations on foot of a successful application by the library service in June 2014.
Once Upon A Place was Eoin Colfer’s signature project during his tenure as Laureate na nÓg. His objective, to bring stories to children all over Ireland would focus on fantastic places and extraordinary settings in which to stage very special and unforgettable storytelling events.
On the 6th and 7th of May 2015, a team of six storytellers visited Ballyvaughan, Boston, Tubber, Furglan, Moy, Lahinch, Liscannor, Lisdoonvarna, Fanore and Doolin primary schools, with the main event taking place in the Michael Cusack Centre, for the children of Carron and New Quay National Schools. Here the children were treated to a feast of stories old and new from Carron’s own storyteller Paddy Hynes and children’s author and illustrator Alan Nolan. The aim of the Once Upon A Place project, to spark children’s imaginations and bring the magic of stories and books to young people all over Ireland, was most certainly realized.
The publication of the fantastic anthology for children Once upon a Place further enhanced the Laureate project and will serve to bring stories of Irish places to children all over the country and further afield.
Compiled by Eoin Colfer, it contains stories and poems for children that focus on the special link between story and place in Ireland. Lavish black-and-white charcoal illustrations by award-winning artist and picturebook illustrator P.J. Lynch further add to this amazing publication.
Once upon a Place, the book, features six new poems by Irish poets alongside stories from many of Ireland’s leading children’s writers including Roddy Doyle, Derek Landy and former Laureate na nÓg Siobhán Parkinson, as well as the first ever story for children by Academy Award nominee Jim Sheridan, director of My Left Foot, The Field and In America. It also features new work by Eoin Colfer himself, along with Pat Boran, Seamus Cashman, John Connolly, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick, Mark Granier, Paula Leyden, Oisín McGann, Geraldine Mills, Jane Mitchell, Kate Newmann, Sarah Webb and Enda Wyley.
Launching the anthology Eoin Colfer said ‘This is my laureate project with a general aim of connecting today’s screen-centric youngsters to the magic of the country they live in and its rich artistic heritage.”
Royalties from the book will go towards the Laureate na nÓg project, which aims to raise the profile of children’s literature in Ireland and internationally and to introduce high quality children’s books to new audiences. The laureateship is currently held by novelist Eoin Colfer, the third person to be awarded this honour. A new Laureate na nÓg will be chosen by a voting process in 2016.