Cork children encouraged to ‘Read Mór’ though free books for Culture Night 

Young people in Cork will be among those receiving 2,500 free books next month as part of Culture Night.

The books come as part of the Arts Council’s Read Mór initiative, in partnership with Jigsaw, the national centre for youth mental health.

At Jigsaw Cork, young people will have the chance to enjoy works by local authors such as Molly Twomey, who wrote Chic to be Sad; Colm Ó Ceallacháin, who wrote Fiche; and Seán Ronayne, author of Nature Boy — A Journey of Birdsong and Belonging.

Edel Connolly, youth advocate with Jigsaw, said that it is “fantastic having young people involved with Read Mór this year”.

“As a young person, I think it’s so important to encourage other young people to pick up reading as a hobby for their mental wellbeing.

“Reading is such an amazing way to get lost in a fictional world where your worries don’t exist, and to inspire young people to express themselves in a healthy and creative way.”

Imagination

Joseph Duffy, CEO at Jigsaw, said everyone at Jigsaw was really excited to partner with the Arts Council for Read Mór 2025.

“So many elements of Read Mór reflect our work with young people in our 14 youth mental health services across Ireland; connection, learning, imagination, and more,” said Mr Duffy.

“Any initiative that seeks to promote reading is therefore hugely important in promoting overall wellbeing among our young people, and we are delighted to be involved.”

Maura McGrath, chair of the Arts Council, said that the initiative focuses on “celebrating Irish literature”.

“Reading has well-documented benefits for mental health, and this year’s partnership with Jigsaw allows us to reach more young people and highlight the important role that arts and culture can play in supporting emotional wellbeing,” said Ms McGrath.

“With Read Mór, we’re not only celebrating Irish literature — we’re also promoting inclusion, connection, and creativity.”

For more information, visit: https://tinyurl.com/5bc4b7hc.