About the Laureate na nÓg Project

English

 

Laureate na nÓg is an exciting project recognising the role and importance of literature for children in Ireland. This unique honour was awarded for the first time in May 2010 to author Siobhán Parkinson. The position of Laureate na nÓg was held by Siobhán Parkinson for a period of two years. Illustrator Niamh Sharkey was the second laureate, and held the title until May 2014. Eoin Colfer held the role between 2014 and 2016. In 2016-2018 PJ Lynch held the honour, followed by Sarah Crossan from 2018-2020. The current Laureate is Áine Ní Ghlinn.

 

The laureate will participate in selected events and activities around Ireland during their term. The laureate is chosen as a result of their internationally recognised body of high quality children’s writing or illustration and the considerably positive impact they have had on readers as well as other writers and illustrators.

Laureate na nÓg is an initiative of the Arts Council, managed on the Council’s behalf by Children’s Books Ireland, with the support of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and Poetry Ireland. The honour has been established to engage young people with high quality literature and to underline the importance of children’s literature in our cultural and imaginative life.

 

As Gaeilge

 

Is tionscadal corraitheach é Laureate na nÓg a thugann aitheantas do ról agus do thábhacht litríocht na n-­‐óg in Éirinn. Bronnadh an onóir seo don chéad uair ar an 10 Bealtaine 2010 ar an údar Siobhán Parkinson, ar an maisitheoir Niamh Sharkey 2012 agus ar an údar Eoin Colfer 2014.  Faoi láthair is é an maisitheoir xxx atá ina laureate. Beidh post Laureate na nÓg ag PJ Lynch ar feadh tréimhse dhá bhliain.

 

Beidh an laureate rannpháirteach in imeachtaí agus i ngníomhaíochtaí áirithe ar fud na hÉireann le linn a dtéarma. Roghnaítear an laureate ar son a gcorpas aitheanta litríochta nó maisiúcháin do leanaí a bhfuil cáil idirnáisiúnta bainte amach leis, agus ar son an tionchair dhearfa a bhí acu ar léitheoirí agus ar scríbhneoirí agus maisitheoirí eile.

Is togra de chuid na Comhairle Ealaíon é Laureate na nÓg a fhaigheann tacaíocht ón Aire Leanaí agus Gnóthaí Óige, Leabhair Pháistí Éireann Éigse Éireann agus Comhairle Ealaíon Thuaisceart Éireann. Cuireadh an onóir ar bun le daoine óga a spreagadh le spéis a chur i litríocht d’ardchaighdeán agus le béim a chur ar thábhacht litríocht na bpáistí i saol an chultúir agus na samhlaíochta.

English

1. What is Laureate na nÓg?
 

A laureate is a person deserving of award or distinction in a certain field. Na nÓg is a phrase in the Irish language, meaning ‘the young’ or ‘young people’.

2. What are the aims of the Laureate na nÓg project?

The project has 5 key aims:

To introduce high quality children’s literature to a new audience of adults, children and young people.

To raise the profile of children’s literature in Ireland.

To increase media attention for children’s literature in Ireland and internationally.

To bring children’s literature into the mainstream conversation about books and literature in Ireland.

To build partnership and cooperation among various players in the children’s literature sector.

3. How did the idea come about?

In 2008 and 2009 both Children’s Books Ireland and The Arts Council engaged in consultation periods to help define priorities for the sector. Each consultation identified increased attention for children’s books as a high priority. The idea of a children’s laureate was widely discussed as part of these meetings.

The appointment of the laureate was suggested in order to make a very significant step in advocacy for children’s literature. It was agreed that the laureate could highlight the value of children’s literature and challenge any misconceptions about the scope, quality and impact of literature for children. In late 2009 both The Arts Council and the then Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs committed to the project. At this time Children’s Books Ireland and Poetry Ireland officially joined the steering committee.

4. What criteria does the laureate need to meet?

The laureate needs to meet the following criteria:

The laureate must have created a recognised body of children’s writing and/or illustration.

The laureate must be Irish or permanently resident in Ireland.

He or she must demonstrate both eagerness and skill in engaging with children, young people, adults and with the sector as a whole.

He or she should demonstrate an enthusiasm for promoting children’s literature in general.

The laureate must demonstrate skill in engaging with the media, the arts and literature sector and other relevant stakeholders.

5. How is Laureate na nÓg selected?

A nomination and selection process has been put in place.

Nominations are invited from 130 nominating bodies from across Ireland. This list is available here. All organisations and individuals are asked to suggest no more than two authors and two illustrators as potential laureates. The steering committee, consisting of representatives from The Arts Council, Poetry Ireland, Children’s Books Ireland, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs establish a shortlist based on the published criteria. A specially convened selection panel make the final selection of Ireland’s Laureate na nÓg. The panel includes experts from the fields of writing and illustrating, libraries and publishing.
6. What will the laureate do?

The laureate will participate in a range of events during their term. The events will be carefully selected and planned to ensure they reach a wide and diverse audience throughout Ireland and internationally.

The laureate will be available to engage in public discourse about literature and young people, including participating in media events and opportunities.

The laureate will engage with young people about the role and what it means to them.

The laureate may define a particular focus for his or her term.

7. Who administers Laureate na Óg?

Children’s Books Ireland is the project manager for Laureate na nÓg. Children’s Books Ireland is the national children’s books organisation of Ireland. The organisation is dedicated to ensuring that books are at the centre of young people’s lives by resourcing and supporting those who bring children and books together. Through leadership, innovation, advocacy and celebration, CBI creates awareness of the value and importance of books for young people.

As project manager, CBI is responsible for coordinating the nomination process, liaising with and participating in the steering committee as well as overseeing and managing all laureate events.

8.What other organisations are involved?
Arts Council
The Arts Council is the national agency for funding, developing and promoting the arts in Ireland. The Council recognises that the arts have a central and distinctive contribution to make to our evolving society. The Arts Council works in partnership with artists, arts organisations, public policy makers and others to build a central place for the arts in Irish life.
Children’s Books Ireland

CBI is the national children’s books organisation of Ireland. Through its many and varied activities and events CBI aims to engage young people with books, foster a greater understanding of the importance of books for young people and act as a core resource for those with an interest in books for children in Ireland.
Poetry Ireland
Poetry Ireland is the national organisation for poetry in Ireland. Poetry Ireland is dedicated to developing, supporting and promoting poetry through Ireland, and committed to creating meaningful encounters with poetry for the public.
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs
The Department of Children and Youth Affairs focuses on harmonising policy issues that affect children and young people in areas such as early childhood care and education, youth justice, child welfare and protection, children and young people’s participation, research on children and young people, youth work and cross-cutting initiatives for children.
The Arts Council of Northern Ireland
The Arts Council is the lead development agency for the arts in Northern Ireland and provides support for artists and arts organisations through a broad range of funding opportunities.

As Gaeilge

1. Cad é Laureate na nÓg?

Is ionann laureate agus duine a bhfuil gradam nó ómós tuillte acu i réimse ar leith. Leanaí nó páistí atá i gceist le laureate 'na nÓg'.

2. Cad iad na haidhmeanna atá ag tionscadal Laureate na nÓg?

Tá cúig phríomhaidhm ag an tionscadal:

Litríocht d'ardchaighdeán do pháistí a chur i láthair lucht léitheoireacht nua de dhaoine fásta, de leanaí agus de dhaoine óga.

Próifíl litríocht do pháistí a ardú in Éireinn.

Aird na meán ar litríocht do pháistí in Éirinn agus go hidirnáisiúnta a mhéadú.

Litríocht do pháistí a thabhairt isteach i mórshruth an chomhrá faoi leabhair agus litríocht in Éirinn.

Comhpháirtíocht agus comhoibriú a thógáil i measc daoine agus dreamanna éagsúla atá gníomhach in earnáil na litríochta do pháistí.

3. Cad as a tháinig an smaoineamh seo?

I rith na mbianta 2008 agus 2009 bhí Leabhair Pháistí Éireann agus an Chomhairle Ealaíon páirteach i dtréimhsí comhairliúcháin ar mhaithe le tosaíochtaí a shainmhíniú don earnáil. I rith na mbabtaí go léir bhíothas ar aon intinn gur cheart tosaíocht a thabhairt ar an aird a thugtar ar leabhair do pháistí a mhéadú. Rinneadh an-chuid plé ar an smaoineamh faoi Laureate do pháistí le linn na gcruinnithe seo.

4. Cad iad na slata tomhais atá ann don laureate?
Moladh go gceapfaí laureate mar chéim mhór chun tosaigh le stocaireacht a dhéanamh ar son na litríochta do pháistí. Aontaíodh go bhféadfadh an laureate béim a chur ar ardluach na litríochta do pháistí agus dúshlán a thabhairt d'aon amhras faoi réimse, faoi chaighdeán nó faoi thionchar na litríochta do pháistí. Go déanach sa bhliain 2009 bheartaigh an Chomhairle Ealaíon agus Oifig an Aire Leanaí agus Gnóthaí Óige tacaíocht a thabhairt don tionscadal. Tháinig Leabhair Pháistí Éireann agus Éigse Éireann isteach sa choiste stiúrtha go hoifigiúil ag an am seo.
5. Conas a roghnófar Laureate na nÓg?
Tá córas ainmniúcháin agus roghnúcháin curtha ar bun: Tugtar cuireadh do 130 eagraíocht ar fud na hÉireann ainmniúcháin a dhéanamh - tá liosta ar fáil anseo Tugtar cuireadh do dhaoine aonair ainmniúcháin a dhéanamh chomh maith. Iarrtar ar gach eagraíocht agus gach duine aonair gan níos mó ná dhá údar agus dhá mhaisitheoir a ainmniú mar laureate. Cruthaíonn an coiste stiúrtha, ina bhfuil ionadaithe ón gComhairle Ealaíon, Éigse Éireann, Leabhair Pháistí Éireann, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland agus an Roinn Leanaí agus Gnóthaí Óige, gearrliosta de réir na slata tomhais atá foilsithe. Tugtar painéal roghnúcháin le chéile go speisialta le Laureate na nÓg a roghnú ag deireadh an phróisis. Tá saineolaithe i réimsí na scríbhneoireachta, an mhaisiúcháin, na leabharlanna agus na foilsitheoireachta ar an bpainéal.
6. Cad a dhéanfaidh an laureate?
Glacfaidh an laureate páirt i réimse imeachtaí le linn an téarma oifige. Roghnófar na himeachtaí go cúramach agus déanfar iad a phleanáil le cinntiú go mbainfear amach lucht éisteachta leathan ilghnéitheach ar fud na hÉireann agus thar lear. Beidh an laureate ar fáil le bheith páirteach sa díoscúrsa poiblí faoin litríocht agus daoine óga, lena n-áirítear rannpháirtíocht in imeachtaí agus i ndeiseanna leis na meáin chumarsáide. Beidh an laureate ag caint le daoine óga faoina ról agus cad a chiallaíonn sé dóibh. Féadfaidh an laureate fócas ar leith a shainmhíniú dá t(h)éarma féin.
7. Cé a bheidh ag riaradh Laureate na nÓg?
Is é Leabhair Pháistí Éireann, eagraíocht náisiúnta leabhair pháistí na hÉireann, an bainisteoir tionscadail le haghaidh Laureate na nÓg. Is í aidhm na heagraíochta a chinntiú go mbeidh leabhair i gcroílár an tsaoil ag daoine óga trí acmhainní agus tacaíocht a chur ar fáil dóibh siúd a thugann leanaí agus leabhair le chéile. Le cinnireacht, nuáil, stocaireacht agus ceiliúradh, cruthaíonn CBI feasacht faoi luach agus tábhacht na leabhar do dhaoine óga. Mar bhainisteoir tionscadail, tá CBI freagrach as an bpróiseas ainmniúcháin a chomhordú, as idirghabháil a dhéanamh leis an gcoiste stiúrtha agus a bheith rannpháirteach ann, agus as maoirseacht agus bainistiú a dhéanamh ar imeachtaí uile an laureate.
8. Cad iad na heagraíochtaí eile atá rannpháirteach?
An Chomhairle Ealaíon
Is í an Chomhairle Ealaíon an ghníomhaireacht náisiúnta atá freagrach as na healaíona in Éirinn a mhaoiniú, a fhorbairt agus chur chun cinn. Aithníonn an Chomhairle ról lárnach suntasach na n-ealaíon in éabhlóid ár sochaí. Bíonn An Chomhairle Ealaíonn ag obair i gcomhar le healaíontóirí, eagraíochtaí ealaíon le lucht déanta beartas poiblí agus le daoine eile le hionad lárnach a thógáil do na healaíona i saol na hÉireann. Tá an Chomhairle Ealaíon ina ball de choiste stiúrtha thionscadal Laureate na nÓg.
Leabhair Pháistí Éireann
Is iad Leabhair Pháistí Éireann eagraíocht leabhair pháistí na hÉireann. Le himeachtaí agus gníomhaíochtaí iomadúla ilghnéitheacha is í aidhm CBI daoine óga a chur i dteagmháil le leabhair, tuiscint níos mó a chothú faoi thábhacht na leabhar do dhaoine óga agus gníomhú mar chroí-acmhainn dóibh siúd ar spéis leo leabhair do pháistí in Éirinn
Éigse Éireann
Is í Éigse Éireann eagraíocht náisiúnta na filíochta in Éirinn. Tá Éigse Éireann tiomanta don fhilíocht a fhorbairt, a chur chun cinn agus a chothú ar fud na hÉireann, agus teagmhálacha le brí a chruthú idir an pobal agus an fhilíocht. Tá Éigse Éireann ina ball de choiste stiúrtha thionscadal Laureate na nÓg.
An Roinn Leanaí agus Gnóthaí Óige
Díríonn Oifig an Aire Leanaí agus Gnóthaí Óige ar shaincheisteanna a théann i gcionn ar leanaí agus ar dhaoine óga i réimsí ar nós cúram luath-óige, ceartas do dhaoine óga, leas agus cosaint leanaí, rannpháirtíocht daoine óga agus leanaí, taighde ar leanaí agus daoine óga, obair óige agus tograí trasearnála do leanaí a chomhordú.  Tá Roinn Leanaí agus Gnóthaí Óige ina ball de choiste stiúrtha thionscadal Laureate na nÓg.
Comhairle Ealaíon Thuaisceart Éireann

Is í Comhairle Ealaíon Thuaisceart Éireann an phríomhghníomhaireacht forbartha do na healaíona i dTuaisceart Éireann agus cuireann sí tacaíocht ar fáil d'ealaíontóirí agus d'eagraíochta ealaíon trí réimse leathan de dheiseanna maoinithe.