Culture Ireland is once again supporting the Ireland stand at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair this year, delivered by Children’s Books Ireland. This is the 12th year of the Irish stand at the Book Fair, which is the main European meeting point for writers and the publishing industry creating literary works for younger audiences. The title of the Ireland stand this year is A Nation of Storytellers/Tír na Scéalta.
The Bologna Children’s Book Fair is an industry leading event that brings together a unique and diverse global audience for the past 62 years. It is the world’s premium copyright exchange hub for children’s publishing and extends to current multimedia/licensing businesses for children’s stories, illustration, animation and related areas. Publishers, illustrators, graphic designers, agents, authors, translators, literature organisations, mobile developers, licensors and licensees, packagers, printers, distributors, audiobook professionals, booksellers, brands, librarians, booksellers and teachers flock to the event to experience the world of books in thousands of booths across six huge halls.
As well as supporting the stand, Culture Ireland also provides funding to independent Irish publishers and exhibitors to attend the prestigious event. The 2025 delegation includes:
- The O’Brien Press
- Little Island Books
- Futa Fata
- An tSnatháid Mhór
- My Irish Books
- iBbY Ireland
- Gill Books
Children’s Books Ireland is the national charity and arts organisation that champions every child’s right to develop a love of reading. Their mission is to inspire a love of reading in children and young people in Ireland, to share our expertise and enthusiasm with the adults who guide and influence them, to champion every child’s right to excellent books and live literature events and support the artists who make that goal possible across the island of Ireland.
Further details on the work of Children’s Books Ireland can be found here. The Bologna Children’s Book Fair programme of events can be viewed here. More details on the Ireland Stand at Bologna Book Fair can be found in this article from Books Ireland Magazine.
Photo: Deputy CEO of Children’s Books Ireland, Jenny Murray and Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde
