Errigal College and Murroe NS announced as recipients of new book-gifting programme

Errigal College, Letterkenny, and Murroe National School from Dunfanaghy have been announced as two of the recipients of a book-gifting programme which will bring hundreds of new books and resources to its students throughout 2026.

Designed by national charity and arts organisation Children’s Books Ireland, the Everyone A Reader programme is a year-long support programme for select schools that helps foster a love of reading among their students and the wider school community.

As part of this programme, Errigal College will have its own dedicated Champion of Reading, assigned to the school, who will host a series of live workshops throughout the year with students. These creative and engaging sessions will help promote a love of reading, writing and illustrating amongst class groups.

READ NEXT: Health Minister must act as seriously ill residents deteriorate in defective homes

Delivered by the team at Children’s Books Ireland, the ‘Everyone A Reader’ programme will bring a diverse collection of excellent modern titles to students in just five secondary schools in Ireland, including Errigal.

Through this initiative, Children’s Books Ireland provides schools with a library of 250 books covering all ages, interests, genres and issues which represent the richness and diversity of Irish society. As well as hundreds of brilliant new books, Errigal will receive resource packs, bookmarks and bunting to celebrate their new library books. Other materials such as curated reading guides, lists and further guidance will also be given to schools and families to encourage a love of reading that endures beyond the school gates.

English teacher at Errigal College Jon Sellick said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been selected as an awardee of the ‘Everyone A Reader’ programme. The addition of 250 carefully selected, diverse and engaging books will enrich our school community. We have recently re-launched our school library, and the new books are a real treat.”

With thanks to the Toy Show Appeal and Community Foundation Ireland, the Every Child A Reader programme is being brought to three primary schools, one of which is Murroe National School.

Given the lack of sustainable funding for school libraries from the Irish government, it is unsurprising to see a demand for free book-gifting programmes such as ‘Everyone A Reader’ for primary students and ‘Everyone A Reader’ for secondary students. In 2025, Children’s Books Ireland received over 1,000 applications from primary and secondary schools for the limited number of spaces for the book-gifting programmes commencing in 2026. Of 907 applications received from primary schools, only four of these could be selected to receive the support provided through the ‘Everyone A Reader’ programme, as funded by the Toy Show Appeal.

According to Education and Adv]ocacy Manager, Dr Becky Long, the volume of submissions was, “evidence of the tremendous level of need, both in relation to a lack of physical books in schools, and a lack of new, contemporary and inclusive books.”

Children’s Books Ireland believes that every student on the island of Ireland deserves access to books and a chance to fall in love with reading.

This Spring, Children’s Books Ireland’s various book-gifting programmes will be launched in 39 schools island-wide, bringing the power of stories to primary and secondary schools.