Read DL 2024 was launched live on air on Thursday 22nd February, at an outside broadcast with John Breslin’s Around the Northwest at the Central Library Letterkenny. READ DL is a reading initiative based on the worldwide ‘One Book, One Community’. It began in 2011 as READ LK (Letterkenny). Its aim was simple: to create an awareness and love of reading in a local area. It has since expanded to incorporate the whole county with the continuing purpose of reminding us all about the joy of reading for all the family and to encourage local communities to read the same book at the same time. This year’s special guest to launch READ DL 2024 was none other than …John Breslin himself…on his own show!
The chosen book this year is ‘The Summer I Robbed a Bank’ by David O’Doherty and illustrated by Chris Judge.
There's a feeling of relief that comes just after you've robbed a bank...
Rex's parents have split up and, to make matters worse, he has to spend his summer holiday on a remote and rainy Irish island - with only unruly sheep for company. The only upside: he'll be staying with his strange and brilliant Uncle Derm. Then Rex discovers Uncle Derm is about to execute his most hair-brained plan yet . . . To rob the island's travelling bank! Like the local legend of medieval Pirate Queen Grace O'Malley, Uncle Derm plans to redistribute the money to local needy causes on the island. And he needs Rex's help . . .A chaotic robbery, plenty of sheep and a summer of discoveries come together in this hilarious and heart-warming novel from comedian, actor and author of Danger is Everywhere, David O'Doherty.
This year Read DL has distributed 2,000 books across Donegal and within hours of opening registration, were fully subscribed. Speaking on behalf of the READ DL committee, Joseph Kelly, Executive Librarian and Right to Read Coordinator with Donegal County Library Service, was delighted with the demand. ‘Again, we have seen huge interest in READ DL 2024. All of the books had been allocated to registered schools, groups, and families in all parts of the County. We are delighted with the response and along with the Ireland Reads Initiative there’s plenty of activities and events happening locally’
‘We are also delighted with the support again this year from both Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) and Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Letterkenny in such a successful partnership that promotes and encourages reading within the whole community. For the second year running, the local Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC) have provided funding for the provision of art and creative writing workshops that we will bring to participating schools and groups within each Municipal District (MD) of the County.’
‘While all the available books have been allocated, there are still ways to participate such as visiting donegallibrary.ie and reserving copies of the book. Or call into your local branch as they are fully stocked with copies for lending.’
Read DL runs from now until March 19th with lots of activities and events taking place. Throughout the month there will be opportunities to get involved by showcasing the activities participants get involved in such as art, music, writing, or videos. The Read DL annual Creative Writing Competition is back this year, and the theme is ‘Stepping into the Unknown’. Educational resources based on the book and our new Black Out Poetry resource can be downloaded from the READ DL website at www.readdonegal.com.
Anyone interested in participating this year can connect with Read DL on our social media platforms and visit the website at www.readdonegal.com.
Seoladh Read DL 2024 ar chlár John Breslin Around the Northwest, Déardaoin 22 Feabhra ag An Lárleabharlann i Leitir Ceanainn. Tá an togra READ DL bunaithe ar an tionscadal idirnáisiúnta ‘One Book, One Community’ agus thosaigh sé amach i 2011 mar READ LK (Leitir Ceanainn). Is simplí an sprioc atá ann: suim sa léitheoireacht a spreagadh sa phobal áitiúil. Scaipeadh an togra amach ón am sin agus anois tá sé d'aidhm ag Read DL léitheoireacht teaghlaigh a chur chun cinn ar fud an chontae. Thig leis an teaghlach uilig sult a bhaint as an léitheoireacht agus tá súil againn go spreagfar an togra léitheoireacht i bpobail ar fud an chontae agus iad ag léamh an leabhar céanna. An t-aoi speisialta a sheol an togra i mbliana – ar a sheó féin - ná John Breslin!
Roghnaíodh leabhar úr The summer I robbed a bank le David O’Doherty agus Chris Judge do Read DL 2024.
Tagann faoiseamh ort tar éis duit banc a robáil… Tá tuismitheoirí Rex scartha óna gcéile agus níos measa arís caithfidh sé a laethanta saoire a chaitheamh ar oileán iarghúlta agus gan ach caoirigh mar chomhluadar aige. An t-aon buntaiste atá ann ná go mbeidh sé ag stopadh lena uncail aisteach agus iontach - Uncail Derm. Tugann Rex faoi deara go bhfuil Rex chun plean aiféiseach a chur i bhfeidhm – banc an oileáin a robáil! Cosúil le Gráinne Mhaol, banríon agus foghlaí mara, tá sé ar intinn ag Derm an t-airgead a scaipeadh i measc carthanaachtaí ar an oileán. Tá cuidiú de dhíth ar Rex. Baineann an scéal croíúil seo atá scríofa ag an údar, fuirseoir agus aisteoir David O’Doherty – a scríobh Danger is everywhere fosta - le robáil caoirigh agus go leor eachtraí samhraidh.
Dáileadh 2,000 leabhar ar fud an chontae mar pháirt de Read DL 2024. Ní raibh clárúchán oscailte ach ar feadh cúpla uair a chloig nuair a bhí gach leabhar tógtha. Ag caint ar son choiste Read DL, dúirt Joe Ó Ceallaigh , Leabharlannaí Feidhmiúcháin agus Comhordaitheoir do ‘An Ceart chun Léitheoireachta ag do Leabharlann’ sa chontae, go raibh lúcháir air mar gheall ar an éileamh a bhí ann don leabhar. ‘Arís, tá suim ollmhór ag muintir Dhún na nGall a bheith páirteach i Read DL. Tar éis cúpla uair a chloig bhí achan leabhar dáilte do scoileanna, ghrúpaí agus teaghlaigh i ngach cearn den chontae. Chomh maith leis an Lá náisiúnta léitheoireachta Éire ag Léamh tá go leor imeachtaí ar siúl ar fud an chontae.’
‘Tá ríméad orainn leis an tacaíocht a fuair muid ó Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Dhún na nGall agus Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta an Atlantaigh ar thogra a spreagann an léitheoireacht ar fud an phobail. Don dara bliain as a chéile, tá muid buíoch do Coistí na Seirbhísí do Leanaí agus do Dhaoine Óga (CYPSC) a thug maoiniú dúinn fá choinne ceardlanna scríbhneoireachta agus ealaíne a churifidh muid ar fáil do scoileanna agus ghrúpaí in achan gCeantar Bardais sa chontae.
‘Cé go bhfuil na leabhair uilig dáilte chuig léitheoirí, thig leat páirt a ghlacadh i Read DL fós. Thig leat cóip den leabhar a chur in áirithe ag www.donegallibrary.ie . Nó tabhair cuairt ar do leabharlann áitiúil mar tá leabhair ar fáil i leabharlanna ar fud an chontae.’
Beidh Read DL ar siúl ón am seo amach go dtí 19 Márta le neart imeachtaí agus gníomhaíochtaí léitheoireachta. I rith na féile beidh deiseanna ann do rannpháirtithe ealaín, ceol, scríbhneoireacht nó físeáin a léiriú. Tá an comórtas scríbhneoireachta bliaintiúil ar ais leis an téama ‘Ag dul sa seans’. Beidh acmhainní teagaisc a bhaineann leis an leabhar chomh maith leis an acmhainn filíochta úr ar fáil ó www.readdonegal.com
Le haghaidh tuilleadh eolais faoi Read DL ar na meáin shóisialta tabhair cuairt ar www.readdonegal.com.
