President Higgins marks World Book Day with donation of books to Cabra public library
Date: Thu 6th Mar, 2025 | 12:23
Uachtarán na hÉireann, President Michael D. Higgins today marked World Book Day 2025 by donating some 250 books to Cabra public library.
The books donated by the President include books bought by the President as well as books given as gifts to the President by the books’ authors and related groups.
The donation was the latest in a series of donations of books made by President Higgins to the public library service, commencing with a donation of over 700 books in February 2020. The President will make further donations of books to public libraries over the course of the remainder of his Presidency, ahead of the conclusion of his term of office in November.
In a statement, President Higgins said:
“World Book Day is an important reminder of the importance of reading and of the insight that books can provide into so many worlds, real and imaginary.
Public libraries provide a vital resource within communities, offering assistance and guidance to readers of all ages, and helping each of us to find the book that we need at a given moment.
Books are written to be read, and it is my hope that the books which I am donating today will be read and enjoyed by members of the public, helping to spread the work and knowledge so meticulously written and shared by the authors to new and further readers across the community.”
The books donated today will, like those made in previous donations, be available to the public to borrow at public libraries across the country.
Each donated book will contain a special book plate with the following inscription:
“The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, gifted this book to your Library as a token of his gratitude for the service it provides, offering many people the pleasure of reading books throughout their lifetime.
Books are made to be read and the more they are read the better life can be.”
President Higgins and his wife Sabina have been strong supporters of libraries and librarians throughout the President’s term of office. Last June, the President invited librarians from across the country to Áras an Uachtaráin to mark Bloomsday at a special Garden Party at Áras an Uachtaráin.