Earlier this week President Michael D Higgins, presented Niamh Sharkey with her Laureate na nOg medal to mark the beginning of her two year term as Laureate.
Laureate na nÓg is an initiative of the Arts Council with the support of the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Children’s Books Ireland, Poetry Ireland and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. The role of Laureate na nÓg was established in 2010 to recognise the role and importance of literature for children. The position is held for a period of two years, during which the Laureate will reach a wide and diverse audience throughout Ireland and internationally through selected events and initiatives.
The inaugural Laureate na nÓg was author Siobhán Parkinson, a champion of the cause of children’s literature. Siobhan’s projects whilst in the role have included the Laureate International Library, which comprises more than 100 Irish and international children’s books selected by the Laureate as representative of the quality of international children’s writing around the world, as well as Books Beyond Borders, which explored the topic of books and reading in multi-cultural societies.
Delighted, Niamh said, “It is a great honor to be chosen as the next Laureate na nOg. I am a picture book maker so my focus as Laureate will certainly be visual as well as literary. I am going to get to do even more of what I love most – promoting quality children’s literature and encouraging children to read, write and draw. I have lots of ideas that I hope will inspire creativity in children of all ages. I’m very excited and can’t wait to get started”
Niamh is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s picture books. Her books have won numerous awards including the prestigious Mother Goose Award for the Best New Illustrator and The Bisto Book of the Year for her first two Picture Books; Tales of Wisdom and Wonder and The Gigantic Turnip. Her most recent picture book, On the Road with Mavis and Marge won the 2010 Junior Book of the Year award at The Irish Book Awards and was shortlisted for the Bisto Book of the Year Awards.
Niamh’s books have been translated into over twenty languages. Tales from Old Ireland was included in the International Board of Books for Young People Honour Book List in 2002. She has exhibited her artwork many times both in Ireland and abroad, including at The Illustration Cupboard (London), The Dylan Thomas Centre (Swansea), Seven Stories (Newcastle) and The Museum of American Illustration (New York). She is an active member of Illustrators Ireland and twice she has created the image for the National Children’s Books Festival.
Her technique of working with oils on a gesso-textured background contributes to her individual style and vibrant use of colour seen in all of her books. Niamh has also designed sets and costumes for the theatre including the 2004 Barabbas production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Niamh is the Creator and Co-Producer of The Happy Hugglemonsters – a 52 episode pre-school series, based on her book I’m a Happy Hugglewugdeveloped in association with the Irish Film Board and currently in production with Oscar nominated Brown Bag Films, for Disney Worldwide. It will air in over 150 countries in 2013. Niamh has worked on the development, pitch, series bible, concept art, character design, scripts, and all original content across this project.
Mags Walsh, Director of Children’s Books Ireland told writing.ie: “Here in CBI, we are very proud of Ireland’s extraordinarily talented children’s books authors and illustrators. Through Laureate na nÓg, we have a great opportunity to celebrate not only the exceptional picture book talent that is Niamh Sharkey but also to recognise the the wider community of children’s books creators who are so important to Irish cultural life.”
Children’s Books Ireland is a fabulous resource, a must visit for every writer writing for children. Laureate na nÓg Niamh Sharkey will give the keynote speech of the CBI Annual Conference 2012. Entitled Weaving a Shared Story, other speakers include Judi Curtin, Alexis Deacon, Jutta Bauer, Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick and Eilis Ní Dhuibhne. For more, check out http://www.childrensbooksireland.ie/conference-and-events/
And for anyone who loves children’s books or is reading sureptitiously reading Young Adult novels, Inis Magazine have set up an online YA book club, you can get details here: http://www.inismagazine.ie/blog/entry/ya-book-club
For more on Niamh’s events and appearences as Laureate na nÓg, visit www.childrenslaureate.ie
(c) Vanessa O’Loughlin May 2012
