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.
In December 2020, The Arts Council increased the Laureate term to three years and raised the Laureate na nÓg stipend to €50,000 per year, on par with the Ireland Chair of Poetry and the Laureate for Irish Fiction. In line with the change, Áine Ní Ghlinn will be Laureate na nÓg until May 2023.
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.
I mí na Nollag 2020, d’aontaigh an Chomhairle Ealaíon an stipinn le haghaidh Laureate na nÓg a ardú go €50,000 in aghaidh na bliana, agus cuireadh leis an téarma freisin ionas go mairfidh gach téarma trí bliana, ar comhchéim le hOllúnacht Éigse Éireann agus an Laureate i gcomhair Ficsean Éireannach