24/06/2026
Cathaoirleach Councillor Dónal Gilroy was joined by County Librarian Donal Tinney, Senior Library Assistant Shannon Thackrah, Library Assistant Ryan O’Dea this week for the official launch of the Summer Stars Reading Initiative 2026. The event was attended by 3rd class students from St. John’s National School, along with Maï Traoré, forward for Sligo Rovers and Shane Crossan General Manager, who lent their support to the initiative.
Summer Stars is a vibrant, reading-focused programme designed to encourage children to engage with books and their local library during the summer holidays. Open to all children across County Sligo, the initiative is inclusive and flexible, with no set targets on the number of books to be read. Instead, it promotes a love of reading by rewarding participation.
All participants will be invited to a special awards ceremony in mid-August, where they will be presented with a certificate and medal to celebrate their reading achievements.
A wide-ranging programme of summer activities is also planned across all Sligo Library branches, including storytimes, competitions, workshops, and events to keep young readers engaged throughout the holidays.
This Summer, to coincide with the FIFA World Cup 2026, Sligo Library are also hosting a World Cup of Books, featuring the Ultimate Football Heroes series. Children can read books of their favourite footballers and vote on a rotating wall of football players in their local library to find out who is the Ultimate Football Heroes Champion. There will be prizes and events along the way, including a Family World Cup Quiz taking place on Saturday 25th of July in Sligo Central Library.
For further details and a full schedule of events, visit your local Sligo Library branch or see sligolibrary.ie/summer-stars-reading-challenge-2026/
Sligo County Council Sligo Rovers F.C.
