Patients at 7 Irish hospitals will receive free books from 'Book Doctors' on Culture Night

Patients at seven Irish hospitals will receive free books from "Book Doctors" as part of Culture Night tomorrow (Friday September 22). 

The Arts Council will gift over 3,600 books to people in the wards and public spaces of the hospitals as part of their Read Mór initiative. 

Hospitals taking part include Naas Hospital in Kildare, Connolly Hospital in Dublin, Letterkenny Hospital in Donegal, Portiuncula Hospital in Galway, St Luke's Hospital in Kilkenny, Ennis Hospital in Clare, and Croom Hospital in Limerick. 

Patients will have a choice of 29 different books by Irish-based authors and publishers. 

The Book Doctor’s rounds will commence nationwide from 3pm onwards. 

Director of the Arts Council, Maureen Kennelly said, "In a world filled with technological distractions, the joy of reading a physical book remains an invaluable resource. 

"Read Mór is all about the public engaging with stories, ideas, and emotions that transport us to different realms of our imagination.

"This year, Read Mór will also help bring the magic of Culture Night to those who cannot join in with the night’s events in the usual way.

"We could not have done this without the enthusiastic support of so many writers and publishers. We are especially grateful to our partners in HSE Healthy Ireland for their support in making Read Mór happen in hospitals across Ireland this Culture Night." 

HSE Director of Strategy and Research, Dr Philip Crowley, said, "The HSE is delighted to be part of this event. The visit from the Read Mór Book Doctors and their teams to the hospitals will be a wonderful novelty and add some joy to our patients and healthcare staff. 

"We cannot underestimate the benefits of reading to our mental health and wellbeing, and we hope this project will increase awareness of those proven benefits. Many of the benefits that reading bring can last a lifetime and it’s never too late to start reading." 

Once finished, patients are encouraged to share the joy of reading by passing on their book when they leave hospital to a family member or friend. 

Books for all interests and ages will be available, from novels, short stories, poetry, memoirs, children and young adult books, and books as Gaeilge.

Audiobook versions of a selection of the titles will also be available. 

Authors chosen as part of the Read Mór initiative include Eimear McBride, who won the inaugural Goldsmith prize; John Banville, winner of the Booker Prize 2005; Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, leading Irish poet; Oein DeBhairduin, co-founder of LGBT TARA (Traveller and Roma Alliance); and Emma Donoghue, whose book was transformed into the Oscar winning film, Room.