Bloomsday celebrations ring hollow as poor literacy statistics persist

There is a danger that Bloomsday celebrations will begin to ring very hollow if our poor literacy statistics are not challanged, Cllr Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, has said.

Speaking at celebrations on North Great George's Street, Ó Ríordáin said that 30 per cent of children in some disadvantaged areas have basic reading problems: "It is important that our literary city becomes a literate city; 22.6 per cent of our adult population are functionally illiterate which means they can't play a full and empowered role in society."

"My Right to Read Campaign has succeeded in aquiring €1m investment in the library service that has helped every library in Dublin to open seven days a week and established homework clubs within those libraries", he continued.

"We need to irradicate illiteracy as a long-lasting tribute to the memory of James Joyce."