Fallen Star Stories

In just a weeks' time, the Cuirt International Festival of Literature will land in Galway bringing a plethora of writers, illustrators and story-tellers to the city for one of the best festivals we see annually. The programme is diverse, insightful and entertaining. Of course, my interest here is primarily in the programme for young people. Cuirt offers the Cuirt Labs and brings authors, illustrators and other creative artists of all sorts into the lives of our students, giving them entertainment and inspiration. From primary through to young adults, the workshops give young people the opportunity to meet and work with some of the best and most popular in Ireland today. This year, we have Tatanya Feeney, Erika McGann, Caroline Busher, Gerard Siggins, Claire Hennesy, Shirley-Anne McMillan, Dave Rudden....and many others sharing their time and talents in what proves to be a fascinating and exciting time. While the schools have been busy booking places for their classes, there is ...

Today, it has been announced that the 2017 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award has gone to Wolf Erlbruch. Erlbruch was one of 226 candidates from over 60 countries worldwide. Born in 1948, Erlbruch began working in childrens publishing in 1985, when he first illustrated James Aggreys' The Eagle Who Would Not Fly. Best known for his work in 1994 on Werner Holzwarths' The Story of the Little Mole Who Knew It Was None of His Business, Erlbruch has shown himself to be both a traditional and innovative illustrator at the same time. He is unafraid to tackle difficult subject matter in his illustrations, while displaying a sensitivity, delicacy and delightful humour. Last years' winner, Meg Rosoff is quoted as saying, “Erlbruch gives the impression that he is an artist incapable of sentimentality, but his drawings have a delicacy and a sweet humour that helps us cope with the immensity of the subject.” Congratulations go to Wolf Erlbruch for receipt of this prestigious award; ...