We were delighted to celebrate a book that’s very close to our hearts, Charlie Barley and All His Friends,  at The Model in Sligo, recently. A special thanks to support from Sligo Credit Union for this event!

An Cathaoirleach, Councillor Declan Bree, gave a wonderful speech, emphasising the importance of this book, and continued celebration of cultural heritage.

Later, Bernadette Maughan,  Manager, Sligo Traveller Support Group also gave a lovely speech, talking about the book’s continued importance for the community and the families of those involved in making the book.  Additionally, Ciara Gallagher our CEO discussed the book’s ongoing role in celebrating cultural heritage, she said:

“Charlie Barley was also the first book we created with Traveller children and their communities. Over the 20+ years since Charlie Barley, we have made many more books with Traveller children and their communities. We are committed to continuing to create books with Traveller children who still do not see themselves as often as they should in the books and materials they encounter. We are really committed to giving a platform to all the multiple voices of Traveller children – there’s no single book or viewpoint that can represent them. We will continue to do our best to create spaces where Traveller children can have their voices heard, express themselves artistically, and to find out what they want to say, and what they want to share.”

Mary Branley, our associate writer who worked on Charlie Barley 23 years ago, shared her experience. She explained how this book was a pioneering project, opening doors for many more collaborations with the Traveller community. Mary emphasised that Charlie Barley was the first book dedicated to amplifying the voices of Traveller children and young people.

First published in 2001, Charlie Barley and All His Friends features nursery rhymes, jokes, and illustrations created by children from St Edward’s National School, Our Lady of Mercy Primary School, and St Enda’s National School in Sligo. The book, crafted through workshops with Traveller children, their families, and local artists, remains a testament to our community’s creativity.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this special celebration. For more information about the book and how to get your copy, visit https://kidsown.ie/bookshop/