Joe Duffy opens Reading Room

It was an absolute honour to have Joe Duffy RTE Broadcaster and Author to come to our school to launch the new Reading Corner which was funded by JCSP. Joe was greeted with a guard of honour as he arrived to the Holy Family School for the Deaf. Students, Principal Eimear O Rourke and staff greeted him and talked to him about the wonderful things in our school, for example the choir, our ISL noticeboard, the JCSP Comic Strip Competition etc. Joe was then invited into the Reading room where some students shared their favourite book with him. Joe was then invited to cut a red ribbon and to officially launch our new colourful, reading room which has a good collection of current magazines, newspapers, books and graphic novels. Joe commented how lovely and colourful the room is. He shared with the students and staff that in times of trouble books are more valuable than money. You are richer with a book, Everyone should read. He also said if he could write a book so can any of us, and he encourage us to keep a journal. Hopefully one day we get to see a pupil from Holy Family School for the Deaf write their own book! Peter Grogan a children’s author also visited our school to donate some of his books ‘Seamróg’ to our reading room. Joe Duffy also donated all of his books to our reading room – his autobiography ‘Just Joe’, ‘The Children of the Rising’ and ‘The Children of the Troubles’.
Thank you Joe for helping us raise awareness about the importance of creating a positive reading culture in our school community. We are in the process of applying for the WELL READ award for our school.
We presented Joe a picture frame with his name fingerspelled and the description “I SIGNED & TALKED TO JOE” He loved it! ❤️ #Justjoe #Promotingapositivereadingculture #readforpleasure #Jcsp