7,000 Children to Descend on Merrion Square for The Joy of Reading

International Literature Festival Dublin Returns With Largest Ever Schools Programme

Click to download the programme as a PDF

The line-up was announced today for the International Literature Festival Dublin’s (ILFD) School’s Programme, taking place from the 19th – 28th May, 2023, in Merrion Square. This year, the annual celebration of literature welcomes the youngest readers to conquer chaos, break curses, train their brains, and celebrate the joy of reading and writing along the way.

ILFD is proud to open its doors to almost 7,000 primary school students over the course of the festival, making this year’s school programme the largest and most diverse yet with over 22 events. ILFD gives children and young adults the critically important opportunity to attend an in-person cultural event and experience the joys of live literature. It features writers, illustrators, and storytellers from Ireland, the UK, and further afield, the majority of whom will display their newest stories and literary masterpieces. The programme’s key themes are emotional resilience and the discovery of new worlds, and it is designed in direct response to the interests of schools and children, with graphic novels, writers in translation, and more.

Now in its 26th year, ILFD returns to its new home in Merrion Square Park, a beautiful space in the heart of the city surrounded by a rich and unique literary history. School pupils will have the unique opportunity to visit the festival village where they can tap into their own creativity, get their hands on the newest releases, be immersed in a live literature experience and connect with other young people.

The Schools Programme includes Ireland’s finest such as Paul Howard (best known for his Ross O’Carroll-Kelly series) returning to ILFD with his un-brie-lievably funny second book for kids, Aldrin Adams and the Legend of Nemeswiss; Sarah Webb bringing her latest book Be Inspired! Young Irish People Changing the World to encourage young readers to be part of building a better world; Lucy Kelly-Desmond shining a light on amazing stories from Irish Traveller culture in her debut book The Horse, The Stars, and the Road; and for the 7th year running, ILFD once again welcomes the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards to the festival to celebrate the best books for young people by Irish authors and illustrators.

The festival will not only spotlight Irish authors, but an array of international talent from Wales, The Netherlands, Australia, the USA and more including award-winning illustrator Benji Davies (UK) who will keep budding naturists enchanted with live drawing, music, tales of friendship, adventure, and baby whales; creator of Horrid Henry Francesca Simon (USA) and her friends Hack & Whack (AKA the worst Vikings ever) exploring the wonder and weirdness of Norse mythology; Nigerian-German author Efua Traoré showing us the connection between our world and the supernatural and celebrating stories from her Yoruba heritage and mythology; Tatyana Feeney (USA) and her pal Mr Wolf who follows his heart when he decides to wear a dress to the upcoming ball in her new book Mr Wolf Goes to the Ball.

According to Janet Smyth, Family & Children’s Events Programmer, “The ILFD programme is a critically important opportunity for children who might not regularly attend cultural events, outside of school, to attend a live literature event in one of Dublin’s most beautiful and historically significant parks. We can’t wait to welcome them to Merrion Square to get their hands on the latest books from Ireland and abroad and immerse themselves in truly unique live literature experiences.”

The full IFLD programme will be announced in early April 2023. Tickets for the school events are open NOW.

*10% discount automatically applied to class bookings of 20 or more.