Article contributed by Caoimhe Ní Shuibhne
On an early blustery, inclement Monday morning, the Whole Wild World bus blew into Malin Head to initiate its first-of-a-kind trip down along the Wild Atlantic Way.
The exciting roadshow will bring children’s writers and illustrators to schools, libraries, bookshops and cultural venues all along the west coast of Ireland this April.
On the arrival of ‘Whole Wild World Bus Tour’, which will bring children’s writers and illustrators to schools, libraries, bookshops and cultural venues all along the west coast of Ireland this April. the vibrant and multi-coloured 30-seater bus to the school, four eager, early-rising pupils from Rang a 5 and 6 welcomed a team of Ireland’s most esteemed and talented children’s authors and illustrators to Scoil Naomh Mhuire.
With bus tickets at hand, the four pupils boarded the bus alongside their Principal teacher, Caoimhe Ní Shuibhne and manager of Malin Head Community Centre, Ali Farren, to take an exciting trip around the Head to officially open the beginning of the 1400km journey from Malin to Mizen Head.
Whole Wild World Visit to Malin Head
Following a photoshoot that captured some panoramic views which encapsulated a true snapshot of our windswept location, the bus returned to Scoil Naomh Mhuire for a Céad Míle Fáilte from its excited pupils. During this visit, authors and illustrators engaged in hour-long workshops in each of the Junior, Middle and Senior classrooms. Isla McGuckin and Paul Howard greeted na Naíonáin and Rang a 1 and worked on creating an imaginative world through drawing and illustration inspired by Isla’s most recent picture book “April’s Garden” which has been shortlisted for KPMG Children’s Book Ireland Award.
Sadhbh Devlin worked with Rang a 2, 3 and 4 in the Middle Room by igniting their creative imaginations through interactive storytelling and a range of stimulating oral language activities.
Current Laureate na n-Óg, Patricia Forde engaged in imaginative storytelling with Rang a 5 and 6 before discussing the content and her source of inspiration for writing their current class novel, “The Girl Who Fell from Earth” which is her most recent publication and also shortlisted for the KPMG Children’s Book Ireland Award.
Príomhoide Scoile, Caoimhe Ní Shuibhne believes that “this unique educational experience can only encourage our many own budding young artists and writers to continue to develop their individual reading, writing and artistic skills and to instil a confidence within them in believing that they too can aspire to reach their own potential in the creative arts field”.
The staff of Scoil Naomh Mhuire feel a great sense of privilege to have been chosen as one of thirteen schools to participate in this educational coastal roadshow visit and believe that this enlightening experience can only have helped to further nurture a love for reading and an appreciation of the creative arts.
Laureate na n-Óg’s Whole Wild World Bus Tour continues its 15-day adventure on taking children’s writers and illustrators to schools, libraries, bookshops and theatres to work with young readers to imagine new worlds in words and pictures along the Wild Atlantic Way.
