The Discover Irish Children’s Books Symposium is a unique full day event created by children’s writers and illustrators, for fellow children’s writers and illustrators. It’s part-funded by the Dún Laoghaire Rathown County Council Grants Scheme and will take place in the dlr Lexicon Library on Saturday 6th June 2026 from 11am to 5pm.
It aims to demystify the children’s writing and publication process and give lots of useful, practical information for writers and illustrators at all stages of their careers, from absolute beginners to professional authors and illustrators. Teachers, librarians, parents and anyone interested in children’s books are all welcome and there will be lots of opportunities to meet and mingle with fellow children’s book enthusiasts.
The Discover Irish Children’s Books Symposium Speakers
Speakers include award-winning Irish authors and illustrators, from Eoin Colfer and PJ Lynch to Deirdre Sullivan and Patricia Forde. There will be a panel focused on Irish and international children’s publishing with Peter Donnelly, Eilish Fisher, Patricia Forde and Alison Weatherby. From royalties and advances, to finding and dealing with agents and your editor, find out more about the world of publishing with these experienced authors and illustrator.
Ruth Concannon from Children’s Books Ireland and Margaret Anne Suggs, Author/Illustrator and ex-Chair of Illustrators Ireland will give lots of information and news from the Children’s Book Fair in Bologna, and authors Kelly McCaughrain, Eve McDonnell, Kevin Moran and Margaret Anne Suggs will talk with Alan Nolan about events in both schools and libraries: how to book them, what works and doesn’t work, tips, advice, rates of pay and much more!
Show Case of Irish Children’s Books
Plus there will be a special show case of new Irish children’s books for all ages. This will be an inspiring look at the recent and upcoming work of local and national children’s authors and illustrators: Sadhbh Devlin, Brian Fitzgerald, Deirdre Sullivan, and Jonathan Sung will share their recent and new picture books; Zainab Boladale, Alan Nolan and Alison Weatherby will share their new novels for age 9+ and Teens, and Stephen Daly, Ruth Ennis and Kelly McCaughrain will share their recent YA novels.
The day will close with ‘A Life in Children’s Books with Three Former Laureates na nÓg, Irish Children’s Laureates’. Eoin Colfer and PJ Lynch will give insights into their life and work in conversation with Patricia Forde. Three titans of the children’s book world!
It’s the perfect event for professional children’s writers and illustrators and for anyone with an interest in finding out more about the world of Irish children’s writing and publishing.
Discover Irish Children’s Books was set up in 2023 by a team of Irish authors, illustrators, teachers, librarians and others who all believe that Irish children’s books matter. For 15 weeks between May and early August 2023, no Irish books charted in the weekly children’s top ten sellers list. In the same period, 96 Irish writers charted in the equivalent list for adult’s fiction.
Sarah Webb
Children’s writer and bookseller, Sarah Webb says this trend shocked her: “Out of interest, I asked children attending my workshops who their favourite writer was. Even when prompted, they struggled to name an Irish writer.
“On the international stage, Ireland’s storytellers for children are much celebrated. Eoin Colfer’s ‘Artemis Fowl’ was a New York Times bestseller. John Boyne’s ‘The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas’ has been translated into 56 languages. Oliver Jeffers has sold over 14 million books worldwide. Catherine Doyle, Judi Curtin, Roddy Doyle, Derek Landy, Mary Murphy – these are well-known names in children’s books globally.
“Yet at home there’s a lack of knowledge and awareness that Discover Irish Children’s Books is determined to tackle. We want to see new and well-established Irish writers and illustrators at book festivals, hear them on the radio and published in newspapers, and find them front and centre in bookshop and library displays.
“Almost a quarter of all books sold in Ireland are children’s titles, but celebrity authors and big marketing budgets dominate that pool. There will always be a place for international writers and for the classics we all know and love, but there is a diverse wealth of new Irish books available, we need to give them an equal opportunity to find their way into children’s hands.”
Laureate na nÓg, Patricia Forde
Children’s author and Laureate na nÓg, Patricia Forde, who is also part of the Discover team said: “Ireland now has a wonderful canon of literature for children in both English and Irish. We owe it to our young people to promote that work and to make sure that they are aware of books that are written and illustrated here. We all need to see ourselves and our culture in the books that we read, and our writers and illustrators need our support to continue making that work.”
Together, Discover Irish Children’s Books continue to highlight and support Irish children’s books, and authors and illustrators based in Ireland. The symposium is a must for anyone interested in children’s books.
Tickets for the Discover Irish Children’s Book Symposium are e45 for the day (e20 students) plus a booking fee and can be booked using the link below.
Full details and timetable also on the Eventbrite page:
https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/discover-irish-childrens-books-symposium-sat-6th-june-dlr-lexicon-library-tickets-1980462752405
(c) Sarah Webb
See here to read more from Sarah Webb on Writing.ie.
