Fun-filled Towers and Tales Children’s Book Festival returns to Lismore
The Towers and Tales Children’s Book Festival team are thrilled to announce the return of its in-person fun-packed festival day this year at beautiful Lismore Castle on Saturday, April 30th.
An enchanting and inspirational celebration of books, stories and illustrations, designed to give young audiences unforgettable, creative and transformational experiences with books will be on offer at Lismore Castle and in venues in the historic town of Lismore.
Authors and artists featured at the festival include illustrator, author and character designer Dapo Adeola; Oein DeBhairduin, the award-winning author of Why the Moon Travels (illustrated by Leanne McDonagh) and former record-breaking athlete Olivia Hope, the author of soon-to-be-published picture book Be Wild, Little One.
This year the festival team are also delighted to welcome David King, author of picture book, A Hug For You, illustrated by Rhiannon Archard and inspired by his son Adam, who will join him for the event. Adam has been the source of great joy and inspiration to children and adults all over Ireland with his now-famous virtual hug in 2020. Join David and Adam in Lismore to create your own ‘Hug for You’ for our Hug Wall.
To complete the lineup, the team are very excited to announce that this year the festival will feature the work of Áine Ní Ghlinn, Laureate na nÓg/ the Children’s Literature Laureate; Nadia Shireen award-winning author and illustrator, plus Sarah Webb, winner of two Irish Book Awards.
FESTIVAL HUB
Known for its carnival atmosphere, the Towers and Tales Festival Hub will bring the magic of the authors’ stories and illustrations to life through a range of activities and workshops designed to spark the imagination and create a day that reading enthusiasts will never forget. There will be lots of free activities for children of all ages throughout the day.
This year the Festival Hub will offer Knock for a Story on the front porch of the castle, get a reading prescription from the Children’s Books Ireland Book Clinic, sketch and draw at The Inspiration Station with Lismore Castle Arts and participate in art workshops with Cork’s Glucksman Gallery. Visitors to the festival can also doodle on the walls of the castle’s creepiest place in the castle for ‘Dungeon Doodle’ and Sketch and Stroll with illustrators Olivia Golden and Jennifer Farley around the magical Lismore Castle Gardens.
At the Childvision Camp, visitors can learn a new way of experiencing the world, take part in fun games where you can ‘crack the code’ using Braille, complete puzzles while in total darkness. There will also be Pop Up Poetry for Lil’ Peeps, a new multi-platform project presented by Branar along with a Super Star Circus Show and Disco and much more.
A FREE LIBRARY OF BOOKS!
To ensure as many young people as possible experience the magic of Towers and Tales, the festival continues its partnership with Waterford City and County Library Services, taking authors and illustrators into schools, libraries and venues across the county on Friday, April 29th for readings and meet the author opportunities. In addition, Bookbag, the children’s book-gifting initiative established by Niamh Sharkey, will place books into the hands of as many primary school children as possible. This project was and is a joint initiative of Brown Bag Films and Children’s Books Ireland. In addition, one lucky school will receive a free library of books.
Supported by The Arts Council, Waterford City & County Council and Visit Waterford, there will be food stalls and much, much more over the duration of the festival. Further details and tickets at www.towersandtalesfestival.ie