Website to encourage children reading

Kildare Mayor Mark Wall along with county footballer Niall Kelly were present at the recent launch of the new Reading Champions website, an initiative of six different local authorities including Kildare County Council, Dublin City Council, Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Fingal County Council, South Dublin County Council, and Longford County Council.

On readingchampions.ie, famous writers, sportspeople and celebrities were invited to say what reading means to them and to become ambassadors for children’s reading. Those who responded included Niall Kelly, Bressie, Sarah Webb and children's author Tom McCaughren.

'Reading is one of the most important gifts a parent can give to their child," Mayor Wall said at the launch. "Reading opens so many opportunities and possibilities to children. Not only is it a valuable educational tool it is also food for the imagination and soul. The Reading Champions website encourages and promotes reading to children by featuring 23 well-known people sharing their experiences of reading."

Pictured with Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn TD, who launched the website, are Mayor Wall and Niall Kelly.