'Books for Birdies' sees 2,000 new books gifted to schools in Limerick and Clare

Pictured is Leona Maguire with children from Clonmoney National School in Co. Clare. Clonmoney is just one of the schools in the Dromoland area who will benefit from KPMG’s Books for Birdies initiative. For every birdie recorded since June by Leona Maguire and subsequently by every player at the 2023 KPMG Women’s Irish Open, KPMG have donated one children’s book to twenty local schools in the Limerick and Clare area, reaching a grand total of 1,564 books following the conclusion of the tournament earlier th

KMPG And Children’s Books Ireland donate 2,000 new books to schools In Limerick and Clare as part of their 'Books for Birdies' initiative

For the pupils at Clonmoney N.S, Newmarket-on-Fergus, the ‘back to school’ buzz reached fever pitch this month, as pro-golfer Leona Maguire paid a visit to launch their new ‘little library’ of books, gifted through the Books for Birdies initiative run by Children’s Books Ireland and sponsored by KPMG.

For every birdie recorded since June by Leona Maguire and subsequently by every player at the 2023 KPMG Women’s Irish Open, KPMG have donated one children’s book to local schools in the Dromoland area, reaching a grand total of 1,564 books following the conclusion of the tournament earlier this month. These books, selected for their diverse characters and inclusive themes, with many featuring empowering stories of women in sport, will be delivered to twenty local and DEIS schools. In a gesture of thanks towards Dromoland and the wider community, KPMG added a further 436 books to the final total, with each school receiving a little library of 100 books.

Leona Maguire and Annie Purcell, a student at Clonmoney N.S, at the launch of 'Books for Birdies' in early September.

KPMG has been a proud partner of Children’s Books Ireland since 2017, running a number of initiatives such as BOLD GIRLS, which promotes gender equality, and Free To Be Me, which encourages the celebration of diversity through children’s books, as well as sponsoring the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards since 2020. The Awards have been running for over thirty years and offer a total prize fund of €16,000 across six categories. This year’s KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards took place in May in Merrion Square.

Leona has been a KPMG ambassador since she turned professional in 2018. KPMG is committed to supporting Leona throughout her career and as she continues to inspire the golfers of the future.

'Growing up with two teachers as parents, the importance of books and reading were instilled in me from a very young age. I’m thrilled that my performance at the KPMG Women’s Open, and that of my co-competitors, will make such a lasting impact for the young readers I’ve met today in Clonmoney school, and in all of the schools that will benefit from this initiative.'

– Leona Maguire, pro-golfer and KPMG Ireland Ambassador

Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland, added: “Gifting a new book to a child, watching them discover the magic and the excitement of reading, is such a joy. Thanks to Leona’s efforts this summer, and to our partners at KPMG, we can share this joy with the pupils of twenty schools, inspiring young readers for life. We are delighted to have been a part of the Books for Birdies initiative and cannot wait to see where these journeys through reading will take them.”

Receiving this gift for their school library, David McCormack, Principal at Clonmoney National School, said: “Here in Clonmoney N.S., we are absolutely thrilled and honoured to have received the very generous donation of children’s books through the ‘Books for Birdies’ initiative. These empowering stories aim to encourage children, especially young girls, to dream big, break stereotypes, and pursue their passions fearlessly. We believe that a love for reading is one of the most valuable gifts we can give to children, and no doubt these books will captivate our young minds, encouraging them to explore the magic of literature. We are extremely grateful to Leona Maguire, KPMG and Children's Books Ireland for visiting us and giving us this truly wonderful gift.”