Golfer Leona Maguire teams up with KPMG to deliver hundreds of library books to Clare schools

THE ‘back to school’ buzz reached fever pitch at Clonmoney NS, Newmarket-on-Fergus when golfer Leona Maguire paid a visit to launch their new ‘little library’ of books, gifted through the Books for Birdies initiative.

For every birdie recorded by Leona Maguire, since June, and subsequently by every player at the 2023 KPMG Women’s Irish Open at Dromoland Castle, KPMG have donated one children’s book to local schools in Clare and Limerick.

The initiative, which is run by Children’s Books Ireland and sponsored by KPMG, saw a grand total of 1,564 books being donated following the conclusion of the tournament earlier this month.

The 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. 

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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. 

Speaking at Clonmoney National School, Leona Maguire, a KPMG ambassador, said: “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.”

Seamus Hand, Managing Partner at KPMG Ireland, added: “We are very proud of Leona and her performance throughout this year’s KPMG Women’s Irish Open. KPMG is thrilled to give back to the Dromoland community through our partners at Children’s Books Ireland, and hope that these books inspire their readers for many years to come.”

Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland, commented: “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 the books for the school library, David McCormack, Principal at Clonmoney National School, said: “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.”