Watch: Donegal Sports Stars Pledge to ‘Squeeze in a Read’

A host of Donegal sports stars have pledged to ‘squeeze in a read’ on Saturday, February 25, and want to encourage the public to do the same.

The stars have made their pledges in a video put together by the Further Education and Training FET Service of Donegal ETB and Donegal County Library as part of the national Ireland Reads initiative which invites the general public to pledge to read whatever they want for as long as they want on the day.

Those featured in the video are Eamonn Kelly (rally driver), Emer Gallagher (Donegal LGFA), Frank McGlynn (Donegal GAA), Wendy Patterson (hockey), Colm Richardson (cycling), Ollie Horgan (football), Ritchie Fitzgerald (surfing), Chloe Magee (badminton), Mark English (athletics) and Jason Quigley (boxing).

Speaking about the initiative, Donegal ETB’s Regional Adult Literacy Coordinator Adele McElhinney said, “This is a national day to celebrate reading and we’d like to thank the ten well-known Donegal sports stars for helping us to highlight the initiative through one particular book in this promotional video. The book is called Legends and is a collection of fifteen stories, adapted from autobiographies of some of Ireland’s sporting greats such as Sonia O’Sullivan, Keith Earls, Katie Taylor and Paul O’Connell.

The book is edited by Patricia Scanlon and published by the National Adult Literacy Association (NALA). It is written in plain English to encourage new and emerging adult readers.”

Explaining why people should make the pledge, Joseph Kelly, Leabharlannaí Feidhmiúcháin from Leabharlann Phobail Ghaoth Dobhair said, “Taking some time for yourself to relax and do the things you enjoy (like reading) is important to help look after your mental wellbeing. Copies of the book are available from any Donegal County Library branch and people can join in and pledge to squeeze in a read at www.irelandreads.ie where there are book recommendations suited to a person’s interests and the time they have available. There are more than 1,500 recommendations from librarians all around the country for all interests and reading levels. Why not join us?”

Adults who want to learn through sport and this book or to improve their reading, writing, number and digital skills can register for a part-time course with Donegal ETB’s FET Service by contacting the numbers below:

Donegal Town: Trisha Walsh Gillespie - 086 8207338
Letterkenny/Milford: Emilia Niewulska - 086 1740683
Stranorlar: Georgina Thompson - 087 7002294
Gort an Choirce: Dolores Mhic Geidigh - 086 1740677
Buncrana: Claire McNicholl - 086 1740684
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