The Arts Council partners with the Irish Prison Service for Culture Night’s book gifting initiative, Read Mór
- Free books by 30 Irish authors distributed in 13 prisons
- Seven events in prisons with participating authors
- Helping to make the arts and Culture Night accessible to all
Thursday 5th Sept:
The Arts Council announces that it is partnering with the Irish Prison Service this year to deliver its third annual Culture Night book gifting initiative, Read Mór. Prison service users across 13 prisons will be gifted books in a move that ensures the Culture Night experience continues to include those who cannot otherwise participate.
On the 20th of September the Arts Council, via Read Mór, will gift a curated list of 30 book titles from some of Ireland’s most beloved writers to all 13 prisons nationwide. The list of books was
developed in consultation with teaching staff from the Prison Service, and will offer a diverse selection of novels, short stories and poetry, reflecting the vibrant literary landscape of Ireland.
To mark the occasion of Read Mór, seven prisons will host events featuring readings and discussions with participating authors. Authors who will be handing out copies of the books and reading excerpts in prisons are Pat Sheedy in Portlaoise Prison, Emmett O’Brien in Cloverhill Remand Prison, Colm Keegan in Shelton Abbey Prison, Mike McCormack in Castlerea Prison, Annemarie Ní Chuireáann in Arbour Hill Prison, Will Sliney in Cork Prison and Carlo Gebler in Loughan House Open Prison.
Maureen Kennelly, Director of the Arts Council, said: “I am thrilled that the Arts Council is
collaborating with the Irish Prison Service for this year’s instalment of the Read Mór initiative, spanning 13 prisons in Ireland. We know that access to literature can be a powerful tool for personal growth. By fostering a love for reading, we aim to empower prisoners with the knowledge and inspiration that can open new paths in their lives. This programme underscores our commitment to making the arts accessible to everyone, regardless of their circumstances.”
Caron McCaffrey, Director General of the Irish Prison Service, said: “Reading has always been a popular pastime in prisons. For those with poor literacy skills it can also be a challenge, but our education units do incredible work to enable those in our care to begin to enjoy reading. This brilliant partnership with the Arts Council is yet another chapter in their story, as they will have access to a catalogue of new books from which to choose from so they too can take part in Culture night.”
The Arts Council has a longstanding relationship with the Irish Prison Service through initiatives such as the Artists in Prison Scheme and the Writers in Prison Scheme. These programmes, delivered through the prison service education programme, have provided many service users with the opportunity to meaningfully engage with the arts and artists.
For more information, please contact:
Sarah O’Keeffe – Press & Communications Officer
Telephone: +353 (87) 118 8157 | e-mail: Sarah.OKeeffe@artscouncil.ie
About Read Mór
This is the third year the Arts Council has run Read Mór to mark Culture Night, it’s national culture programme. The initiative continues to support and promote Irish and Irish-based writers, publishers, and independent booksellers.
This year’s Read Mór partnership is with the Irish Prison Service, it was with the HSE in 2023 and in 2022 was with Irish Rail / Dublin Bus, with thousands of books distributed each year.
This year’s authors represent a wide range of genres and disciplines, including Annemarie Ní Churreáin, celebrated poet whose works explore themes of identity, place, and belonging; Will Sliney, comic book artist and graphic novelist renowned for his vivid storytelling and illustrations; and Pat Sheedy, author and former prisoner, completed a creative writing degree
while in prison, bringing a unique perspective to his storytelling.