The countdown to the first in-person Towers and Tales Festival since pre-pandemic is on as Lismore Castle in County Waterford prepares to welcome little bookworms for some festival fun on Saturday, April 30th, 2022.
Top Irish and international children’s authors and illustrators will host readings, workshops and more for little readers throughout the day . The festival fun will get underway at 10 am on Saturday morning with Áine Ní Ghlinn, Laureate na nÓg/the Children’s Literature Laureate, a prolific children’s writer, poet and scriptwriter who has written thirty-five books, including poetry collections, picture books, novels for children and teenagers.
Oein DeBhairduin, the award-winning author of Why the Moon Travels (illustrated by Leanne McDonagh). Join the award-winning author in the atmospheric Pugin Hall as he reads from his book ‘Why the moon travels’ and explores some traditional Traveller folk tales.
Also joining this year’s festival is Dapo Adeola who rocketed into the picture book world with his greatly acclaimed illustrator debut, Look Up!, written by Nathan Bryon and former record-breaking athlete Olivia Hope, author of soon-to-be-published picturebook Be Wild, Little One (illustrated by Daniel Egnéus) will also host an event.
This year the festival team are also delighted to welcome David King, author of the picturebook, A Hug For You, illustrated by Rhiannon Archard and inspired by his son Adam, who will join him for the event. Also joining the festival is Nadia Shireen, award-winning author/illustrator of Barbara Throws a Wobbler and Welcome to Grimwood, an official World Book Day book. And, for young audiences, Sarah Webb, winner of two Irish Book Awards, will host events in Lismore Library.
A carnival atmosphere is planned for the free Festival Hub where the magic of the authors’ and illustrators’ stories to life through a range of activities and workshops designed to spark the imagination and create a day that reading enthusiasts will never forget.
This year the Festival Hub will allow festival-goers to Knock for a Story at the front porch of the castle, and get a reading prescription from the Children’s Books Ireland Book Clinic. At the Childvision Camp, visitors can learn a new way of experiencing the world, take part in fun games where you can ‘crack the code’ using Braille, complete puzzles while in the total darkness of a blindfold and enjoy sensory stories that will ignite the imagination. There will also be Pop Up Poetry for Lil’ Peeps, a new multi-platform project presented by Branar (Theatre Company for Young Audiences) for children aged 6 and under.
Visitors can also enjoy a Book Swap with Waterford Libraries whereby they can bring along one of their own books and swap it for a new one and free library membership will be on offer all day. There will be food stalls and much, much more!
The Towers and Tales Festival is supported by The Arts Council, Waterford City & County Council and Visit Waterford. Further details and tickets for the 2022 festival are now available at https://www.towersandtalesfestival.ie/
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Counting down to the 2022 Towers and Tales Children’s Book Festival at Lismore is Hannah Trigg, age 8, from Lismore. The festival will take place in person at Lismore Castle on Saturday, April 30th 2022. Full details are available at https://www.towersandtalesfestival.ie/ – Photo Patrick Browne.