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Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde visits schools and libraries across NI before delivering her final lecture tomorrow night in Belfast

26th February, 2026

Join Children’s Laureate/Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde and Children’s Writing Fellow for Northern Ireland, Shirley-Anne McMillan at a special event on Friday evening (27 February), where Forde will deliver her final lecture as Laureate na nÓg and launch ‘Northern Lights’, a first-of-its-kind curated reading guide that spotlights artists from, or based in, Northern Ireland.

a group of adults and children sitting on the steps of a building, looking at the camera and smiling
Patricia Forde is joined by children’s artists Andrew Whitson, Sadhbh Devlin, and Neil Sharpson, pictured here with pupils from Primary 1 in Scoil na Seolta as part of the Whole Wild World North tour. Photo credit: Hannah McCallum Photography

The event follows a week of workshops during the Whole Wild World Tour North, led by Patricia Forde and a host of local authors and illustrators. They engaged children and young people in discussions about the joy of books, while visiting schools, bookshops, libraries and cultural spaces in Belfast, Derry~Londonderry, Coleraine, Rathlin Island, Ballycastle, Ballymena, and Bellaghy.

Patricia Forde, Laureate na nÓg said: 

“Northern Ireland has an enormous wealth of artistic talent, and I wanted to celebrate this, and bring unique experiences to children and young people along the way, introducing them to some of the most brilliant and creative artists from their doorstep and from across the island too!

“This tour seeks to spark young imaginations and nurture the next generation of Irish writers and illustrators. By bringing books and their creators directly into communities that may not often have the opportunity to meet them locally, we’re making literature more accessible and inspiring for all, a timely initiative during this National Year of Reading 2026.

“The artists joining me on this tour were eager not only to share their stories and creative journeys, but also to connect with audiences, young and old, exchange ideas, and celebrate in the joy of storytelling together.”

Having curated the ‘Whole Wild World’ tour in 2024 that ran from Malin to Mizen Head, Forde was committed to bringing a similar celebration of children’s literature and artists to Northern Ireland before her Laureate term ends in April 2026. Artists joining Patricia Forde on the Whole Wild World tour include Ashwin Chacko, Paul Howard, Neil Sharpson, Sadhbh Devlin, Andrew Whitson, Máire Zepf, Alan Nolan, Judith McQuoid, Flora Delargy, Clive McFarland, Derek Keilty, Dave Rudden, Sue Divin, Shirley-Anne McMillan, Eoin Colfer and Oliver Jeffers.

Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland said: 

“Whole Wild World North is a gift to children and young people from Belfast to Ballycastle and Ballymena to Bellaghy. Through this week-long tour, Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde is connecting young readers with writers and illustrators from all over the island of Ireland. Bringing the joy of reading to communities in Northern Ireland and visiting brilliant bookshops, libraries and other cultural venues along the way, will be the perfect way to kick off the National Year of Reading 2026.”

Damian Smyth, Head of Literature & Drama, Arts Council of Northern Ireland said:

“One of the benefits of National Lottery funding is that young people in Northern Ireland can have access to local and international artists where they themselves live. This Children’s Books Ireland roadshow visits towns and cities across NI, bringing distinguished writers to their doorstep thanks to Patricia Forde, the Laureate na nÓg. The Arts Council is delighted to welcome the initiative as it champions children’s writers and artists island-wide”.
A woman standing in front of a classroom of pupils who are sitting with their backs to the camera and their hands up
Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde pictured at Oakgrove Integrated Primary School, Derry~Londonderry, on day two of the ‘Whole Wild World North’ tour. Photo credit: Ruth Ní Eidhin Photography

The tour, organised by Children’s Books Ireland, culminates in the launch of Northern Lights, which features 44 book recommendations in English and Irish published within the last five years, suitable for readers aged 0–18. The guide has an introduction from Patricia Forde Laureate na nÓg 2023–2026 and Frank Cottrell-Boyce Children’s Laureate 2024–2026 and the cover illustration is by Belfast illustrator Mel Carroll as taken from his 2025 picturebook ‘A Belfast Fairytale’.

Children’s Writing Fellow for Northern Ireland, Shirley-Anne McMillan joined Patricia Forde on the Whole Wild World Tour North and her book ‘Grapefruit Moon’ also features in Northern Lights. Her Children’s Writing Fellowship was created as part of Queen’s University Belfast and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland's joint ten-year Seamus Heaney Legacy project, supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies. McMillan is based at the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast and has engaged in a range of outreach initiatives which promote creativity and reading.

Find out more about the reading guide Northern Lights here Northern Lights reading guide | Childrens Books Ireland