Myra appointed Children's Writing Fellow in role created by Heaney Centre

by Gillian McDade

Co Down mum-of-three and Irish language author Myra Zepf has been appointed Northern Ireland's first Children's Writing Fellow.

This is a role created by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry at Queen's University, Belfast.

The late Bellaghy born Nobel Laureate was a lecturer in the Sixties and early Seventies.

Myra has published three children's books in Irish.

Once in post, the Children’s Writing Fellow will perform a range of duties which promote an interest in reading and writing from an early age by encouraging creativity and engagement with books with children of all ages, from preschoolers, to young adults.

Welcoming the creation of the post, Roisin McDonough, Chief Executive of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, says Myra will embark on a creative journey that will promote reading for pleasure, encouraging children of all ages to discover the joy of books, as well as embarking on their own story-telling adventures.

“Seamus Heaney was one of the greatest literary voices of our time and his work is celebrated across the world. The creation of this post is a fitting tribute to his life, work and enduring legacy,” she adds.

Dr Glenn Patterson, Director of the Seamus Heaney Centre for Poetry at Queen’s, says the Children’s Writing Fellowship is a tremendously important, and exciting, new addition to the Northern Irish literary landscape.

“I can think of no better way to honour Seamus Heaney’S contribution to literature than to inspire new generations of readers and writers. The Seamus Heaney Centre looks forward to working with Myra over the next two years in celebrating and encouraging writing for children and by children of all ages,” he adds.

Myra was nominated for Children’s Books Ireland Book of the Year in 2016, as well as the Irish Language Reics Carló Award three times. Her picture book ‘Ná Gabh ar Scoil!’ (‘Don’t Go to School!’) has been translated into Korean and English.

She says she’s looking forward to tapping into that wonderful energy that is already there in the world of children’s books.

“It will be about shining a spotlight on the talent we already have in the local children’s writing community and inspiring a love of reading and books far and wide. But most importantly of all, it will be about bringing the buzz of the creative process into schools to develop our youngest writers, sparking their imaginations and nurturing their confidence.”