SUMMER STARS AT BALLYWALTRIM LIBRARY CULMINATES IN A CELEBRATION OF OUR YOUNG READERS, WITH PRIZES AWARDED BY CATHAOIRLEACH OF WICKLOW COUNTY COUNCIL CLLR. DR. CAROLINE WINSTANLEY

Summer Stars is the public library national initiative that promotes and encourages reading for children across June, July and August. Ballywaltrim Library held its Summer Stars Prize-giving Ceremony on Saturday 22nd August 2026. Over 40 children were awarded Summer Stars medals by Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Dr Caroline Winstanley, with ten children winning prizes as part of the library’s Summer Stars Golden Tickets Raffle.

Commenting at the awards ceremony, Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council Cllr. Dr. Caroline Winstanley said, “Summer Stars is a wonderful initiative that nurtures a love of reading among our young people. Reading for pleasure is important in building reading skills, and it is fantastic to celebrate so many young readers today in Ballywaltrim Library, and to think of the thousands of books read across the summer.”

Chief Executive of Wicklow County Council Emer O’Gorman, commenting on the importance of the programme, said, “Summer Stars is an excellent example of the types of programmes run in our libraries to encourage and support reading and literacy. Wicklow County Council is proud to support this programme and the committed library staff who make it such a success.”

County Librarian Margaret Birchall, commenting on the success of Summer Stars across the county, said, “It’s been a bumper summer for reading at Ballywaltrim Library with more children signing up for Summer Stars than ever before. Stars designed by young people have adorned the library since June, hundreds of certificates of achievement have been awarded, and book chats have been enjoyed between our young members and library staff.”