Thousands of books read in Clare schools

Clare Champion, Friday, 19th June, 2009

Mayor of Clare, Madeleine Taylor-Quinn last week lauded the pupils of Lahinch, Furglan and Bansha national schools for their success in Clare County Library’s annual WOW Transatlantic Reading Challenge. These three schools came first, second and third respectively in the competition, which is now in its third year.

Twenty-nine schools from County Clare took part in the reading partnership involving schoolchildren, their teachers, librarians and an Gárda Síochána, which began in November and ended in April.

Children in Ballycar, Ballyea, Ballyvaughan, Bansha, Cahermurphy, Clouna, Coolmeen, Coore, Cratloe, Crusheen, Doonaha, Furglan, Holy Family Junior School, Ennis, Inagh, Inch, Kilbaha, Kilfenora, Killaloe, Kilnamona, Kilshanny, Lahinch, Lisdoonvarna, Moveen, Mullagh, Quin, Rockmount, St Aidan’s National School, Shannon; St Conaire’s National School, Shannon and Tubber read thousands of books over a six-month period in an effort to be named the best readers in the world.

Three schools from Canada, the home of the Adopt-a Library Literacy Project came first, second and third in the overall competition, with two Clare schools, Lahinch and Furglan coming fourth and fifth respectively.

These two schools had performed exceptionally well in last year’s competition, reading the most in Clare, as they did again this year. They also achieved second and third place in the worldwide competition last year, which included schools in Canada, the US and the UK.

Bansha National School came in at a very strong 10^th position in this year’s overall competition and in third place in County Clare.

A spokesperson for Clare County Library praised the commitment of children in the schools who joined the reading challenge this year and also acknowledged the role of Sergeant John Staunton, Ennis, who has provided continued support for the project over the last three years.

Library staff and members of the Clare Garda Division visited the participating schools during the six-month project to promote the benefits of reading.

The Reading Challenge was established 10 years ago by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as part of the Adopt-a-Library Literacy Programme.

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