Summer Reading Challenge
2011 – Circus Stars
A summertime spectacle of reading has ended for
children at Clare’s library branches.
Over 500 children from all over the county were presented with
certificates, in Shannon, Ennis, Scariff, Ennistymon and Kilrush
Libraries at special celebration ceremonies held throughout October
for children who completed the Circus Stars Summer Reading Challenge
2011.
The annual summer reading programme attracts
readers of all ages every year who sign up at the beginning of
July to read six books or more during the holidays. This is a
very positive initiative to promote literacy and is run by librarians
in every branch in Clare. It is just one of the many exciting
schemes public libraries have developed to encourage a love of
reading, and to increase confidence in this most important of
skill for children.
This year’s entertainment in the five presentation
centres came courtesy of the multi-talented Tony Baloney, one
of Munster’s top conjurors, along with his resident assistants
Magoufis and Leroy!

A native of Ennis, Tony Baloney has travelled
the world with his hilarious show, which for the library performances
included ventriloquism, puppetry, circus skills and storytelling
along with lots of magic.
He was especially pleased to be invited to perform
in libraries saying:
“As a child the library was one of my favourite
places to hang out, and I heard my first proper storyteller in
the Ennis branch.”
Congratulations to all our young members who
completed the 2011 Summer Reading Challenge.