Dublin Book Festival’s Farmleigh Family Fun Day
Dublin Book Festival, in partnership with the OPW, is delighted to be back this August Bank Holiday weekend. We’ll be bringing you a fun-filled summer day of book events and creative events for all the family to enjoy, in the beautiful grounds of Farmleigh in the Phoenix Park.
Join us for an exciting and engaging day featuring some of Ireland’s best-loved children’s authors and illustrators, including Bex Sheridan, Oisín McGann, Leona Forde, Sadhbh Rosenstock, Tarsila Krüse, and Jolene and Lily Mae Cox.
Get your next book recommendation from the Children’s Books Ireland Book Clinic, then try your hand at several musical instruments at the Music Generation Dublin City workshop, before kicking back and enjoying a performance for all the family.
We’ll also have plenty of drop-in activities running throughout the day to get immersed in, including a self-led family scavenger hunt around the grounds to enjoy in your own time, book shop browsing, our children’s book swap stand, and our creative arts and craft station.
This is an outdoor event on the lawns behind the house, so please dress for the weather and feel free to bring picnic blankets.
Please note we will be capturing candid imagery at this event for use on our social media.
Please visit the Farmleigh website to help plan your visit. https://www.farmleigh.ie/how-to-find-us/. The Plant Fair and Food & Craft Fair will also be taking place this day, so please allow extra time on your journey to join us.
Full event details
Wild Eyes
Bex Sheridan
11am – 11.40am
Age guideline: 4+ yrs
Wild Eyes (Natural World Publishing) is a beautifully illustrated and wonder-filled book drawing young readers into a little girl’s world as she dedicates herself to tending her garden with care and determination. Along the way, she encounters a variety of challenges; but, through her acts of kindness and resourcefulness, the girl demonstrates an understanding of how to nurture the world around her. Join author and illustrator Bex Sheridan for an active nature-themed creative workshop. Children will have the opportunity to draw their own imagined wild worlds, made up of plants and trees, before getting messy and creating their very own seed bombs to take home and create the real thing!
The Wolfling’s Bite
Oisín McGann
12pm – 12.45pm
Age guideline: 8+yrs
Join award-winning writer and illustrator Oisín McGann to hear all about how he got started in storytelling, and why he enjoys the creepier things in life! Hear a reading from his book, The Wolfling’s Bite – part of the funny (and slightly spooky!) Nightmare Club series published by Little Island – then give him some suggestions as he draws a brand new toy monster based on your ideas.
Milly McCarthy’s Wild Atlantic Antics!
Leona Forde
12pm – 12.45pm
Age guideline: 7+ yrs
Milly McCarthy is bringing the chaos from Cork to Kerry in Milly McCarthy’s Wild Atlantic Antics! (Gill Books). Come and join author Leona Forde for totally brilliant craic as she reads what Milly and her classmates get up to on their overnight trip to the Gaeltacht, then learn the basics of crafting your own story and design your very own Milly postcard to take home with you.
Teach Teidí
Le Sadhbh Rosenstock
12.30pm – 1.10pm
Age guideline: 0+ yrs
Is breá le Teidí a bheith ag spraoi, ag léamh agus ag canadh. Beidh Sadhbh Rosenstock ag léamh a leabhair do pháistí agus ag canadh amhrán leis na leanaí ón leabhar Teach Teidí (Picnic Press). Tabhair an teidí is ansa leat agus beidh spórt is spraoi againn!
Teidí and his family love to play, to read and to sing songs. Sadhbh Rosenstock – author and composer of Teach Teidí (Picnic Press) – will read from her new Irish-language books for children and sing songs based on the books. Bring along your teddy bear and join us for this super fun bilingual event!
A Little Birdie Told Me…
Tarsila Krüse
1.30pm – 2.15pm
Age guideline: 4+ yrs
Get ready for a fun event with author and award-winning illustrator Tarsila Krüse! Join her for a lively reading of her latest book, A Little Birdie Told Me … (The O’Brien Press), a delightful and beautifully illustrated new picture book filled with a charming cast of winged characters. Then, unleash your imagination and dive into a creative adventure as you draw your very own whimsical and festive bird!
Now You’re Cooking!
Jolene and Lily Mae Cox
2.30pm – 3.30pm
Age guideline: 5+ yrs
Now You’re Cooking! (Nine Bean Rows) is a brilliant new cookbook with kids right at its centre, brought to you by mother-daughter duo Jolene and Lily Mae Cox. Featuring over 70 recipes and all the clever tips and tricks learned over the years, Jolene and Lily Mae speak directly to kids, sharing tried-and-tested recipes that will provide the skills and confidence to cook real food they’ll love to eat, without adults needing to step in and take over! At this engaging and super fun demo event, Jolene and Lily Mae will be making one of their delicious recipes from the book, showcasing their simple prep techniques that are suitable for kids of all ages. So parents, don’t miss this opportunity to bring the family and inspire your own future little chefs!
CBI Book Clinic, 11.30am – 3.30pm
In partnership with Children’s Books Ireland
Age guideline: 0 – 18 yrs
Are you a young reader? Looking for a new series to delve into? Feeling uninspired by your bookshelves at home? Then pop along to Book Doctor Derek at the Children’s Books Ireland Book Clinic! Chat to the Book Doctor, consult on your favourite reads and leave with a prescription for your next book which you can take to your local bookshop or library!
Children’s Books Ireland Book Doctors give guidance about books to children and their families. Based on an informal chat, the white coat-clad Children’s Books Ireland Book Doctors recommend excellent books for any age of young reader, supported by Children’s Books Ireland’s many reading resources.
All families are welcome to the Book Clinic, regardless of ability, need or barriers to reading. Every child leaves the Book Clinic with their own individual Book Prescription and a copy of Children’s Books Ireland’s Reading Guide. The Book Clinic operates on a drop-in basis. Each Book Doctor consultation will be 15 minutes in duration. The Book Doctor will have time to meet a maximum of 16 children over the course of the clinic so places are strictly limited and will be offered on a first-come, first served basis.
Music Generation Dublin City Workshop, 2.30pm – 4pm
Age guideline: All the family
Let the music begin! Join us to try a range of instruments alongside tutors from Music Generation. This workshop will allow children to move around and explore different instruments with the guidance of professionals. Followed by a musical performance for all the family to enjoy.
Farmleigh Family Scavenger Hunt, 11.30am – 3.30pm
Age guideline: All the Family
Pick up your clues at registration for this self-led scavenger hunt, get exploring the grounds at Farmleigh, and return for your prize!
Creative Station, 11.30am – 4pm
Age guideline: All the Family
Bring your imagination for inspiration, then get drawing and crafting at our doodle hang-out where you can even use leaves and other nature items to add to your artwork!
Children’s Book Swap, 11.30am – 4pm
Are your bookshelves at home in need of a shake-up and some fresh stories to get lost in? Bring an old children’s book to swap for one from our book swap stand!
Bookshop, 11.30am – 4pm
Drop by the bookshop stand where you can buy some brand new books and maybe even get one signed by our Farmleigh authors!
Bex Sheridan is an author, illustrator, designer and educator. Her children’s picturebooks include Wild Eyes; Go to Sleep, Hoglet!, Irish Farm Animals and It’s Not Fair!. She creates illustrations in many formats, including real and imagined maps, and stand-alone pieces of all shapes and sizes. Her work often features animals, nature and little lessons for early learners, as well as exploring fantasy concepts and developing works with dark and macabre themes. She has a passion for creating stories and putting them into pictures, to generate excitement among all audiences for story worlds in all formats. As an educator, Bex works with all ages, from hosting exciting children’s workshops to lecturing undergraduates in university.
Oisín McGann studied art at Ballyfermot Senior College and Dún Laoghaire School of Art and Design, and went on to work in illustration, design and film animation. He moved to London in 1998, where he eventually found work as an art director and copy writer for an advertising agency. He now lives in Meath and works as an author, freelance illustrator and artist. He has produced numerous books for all ages of reader, including the Mad Grandad series, The Forbidden Files series, The Gods And Their Machines, The Harvest Tide Project, and the three books in the steampunk series, The Wildenstern Saga: Ancient Appetites, The Wisdom of Dead Men and Merciless Reason.
Leona Forde is an English and History teacher from Bandon, County Cork. She wrote Milly McCarthy for her daughter, who wanted to read a Wimpy Kid style story but not one set in the US or UK. Leona is married with four children and is currently writing Milly’s next adventure.
Is údar, cumadóir, múinteoir agus Mamaí í Sadhbh Rosenstock as Baile Átha Cliath. Bhunaigh Sadhbh an teach foilsitheoireachta Picnic Press sa bhliain 2023. Is é Nell agus Joe i dteach Mhamó an t-ochtú leabhar atá scríofa ag Sadhbh Rosenstock agus foilsithe ag Picnic Press go dtí seo. Ainmníodh an leabhar Teach Teidí ar an ngearrliosta do Ghradam Réics Carló 2023. Tá 19 rann agus amhrán nuachumtha aici féin ar fáil sa leabhar. Tá an tsraith leabhar Eachtraí Teidí bunaithe ar amhráin ón leabhar Teach Teidí. An aidhm atá ag Picnic Press agus ag an údar Sadhbh Rosenstock ná leabhair Ghaeilge atá ar ardchaighdeán a chruthú do léitheoirí óga, do thuismitheoirí agus do chúramóirí.
Sadhbh Rosenstock is an author, composer, teacher and mother from Dublin. Nell agus Joe i dteach Mhamó is Sadhbh’s eighth picture book for children in the Irish language. Teach Teidí is her first children’s title and includes a QR code that links to 19 brand new songs and rhymes in Irish for children composed by Sadhbh. She hosts children’s events at festivals and in libraries around the country based on her books and songs. Sadhbh set up the children’s publishing company Picnic Press in January 2023 and its aim is to create books that will encourage parents, caregivers and children to foster their love of reading Irish-language books for pleasure.
Tarsila Krüse is an award-winning children’s book illustrator born in Brazil and Irish at heart. She loves languages, books, stories and drawing. Tarsila illustrates books as Gaeilge and in English in her heartwarming, friendly style and visits schools and libraries facilitating book-making and illustration workshops. Tarsila’s new picture book is A Little Birdie Told Me.
Jolene Cox is an award-winning family food writer, member of the Irish Food Writers’ Guild and content creator who has been featured on national TV as well as in leading newspapers and magazines. As the founder of her Family Cooking Club, Jolene is dedicated to equipping kids with the skills to get hands-on with fresh ingredients and create restaurant-quality dishes. Alongside her daughter, Lily Mae, she continues her mission of empowering kids to cook the food they love, while giving parents the peace of mind to let them lead in the kitchen. When she’s not in the kitchen, Jolene relaxes by taking her dog, Noodles, for walks and enjoying a gin and tonic – though not at the same time!
Lily Mae Cox has been cooking alongside her mum, Jolene, ever since she could sit in a feeding chair. Now a key part of their Family Cooking Club, Lils helps lead weekly cooking classes, acting as a fun and relatable role model to inspire other kids in the kitchen. With her infectious enthusiasm and encouraging, lovable manner, she adds joy to every class and has even joined her mum on TV and at live cooking demos. When she’s not whipping up dishes, Lily Mae enjoys crocheting, art, drama and chatting with friends, always adding her creativity and warmth to everything she does.
Children’s Books Ireland is the national books organisation of Ireland. Through their many activities and events they aim to engage young people with books, foster a greater understanding of the importance of books for young people and act as a core resource for those with an interest in books for children in Ireland. One of their missions is to champion every child’s right to excellent books and live literature events and support the artists who make that goal possible across the island of Ireland.
Music Generation Dublin City provides a variety of music programmes for children and young people around the Dublin City area. Professional musicians facilitate learning on a wide range of instruments, voice and music technology across all styles of music. Through partnerships across the city we aim to offer rich and diverse musical opportunities to young people. Music Generation Dublin City is managed by the Dublin City Music Education Partnership, led by the City of Dublin Education and Training Board in partnership with Dublin City Council.