For the month of February, readers across the country have been invited to get lost in a book to celebrate the Ireland Reads campaign.
The annual initiative culminates with a day of special events and readings across the country tomorrow to mark the last day of the campaign for 2026.
At Tallaght Library in Dublin, a book club has been involved in the initiative for the past two years.
D24 Reads set its members a challenge of reading 24 books over the last 12 months.
Senior librarian at Tallaght Library Michelle Leamy outlined how D24 Reads has grown over the last two years since it was first set up.
"It started in 2024 and in the first year, we had 250 people sign up and then last year, we had over 400 people sign up," she said.
"So this will be the third year and the aim is to increase the numbers again, and we have our launch tomorrow, Saturday 28 February to tie in with Ireland reads day," she added.
Organisers of the Ireland Reads campaign are keen to highlight the health benefits of picking up a book.
D24 book club member Seamus Whelan agreed with the benefits of reading.
He said people "talk about mindfulness, and everybody's looking for mindfulness and paying money to go on courses for it, but I think reading the book is just mindfulness because once you read in a book, you just get into the story".
"The time flies by and it's just brilliant," he added.
For many of the readers at the Tallaght library, it's the conversations that the book club sparks that draws them in.
However they also described how the book club helps them enjoy the adventures on the page.
"They have book events here and it's great because you can chat about your books with other readers and the librarians here are just brilliant at giving you advice," local resident and book club member Sheila McAdam said.
"You can pick up any book you like and you get a little sticker on a bookmark when you have finished," she said, adding "it's lovely".
Another member of the book club, Mithun Pillai, said: "Coming to Ireland from India has been a tough journey.
"But being here, I know that the Tallaght library will be one of my safest places for me to be at here."
He explained that he has always had "a love for books", adding that it stems from his childhood.
The campaign, he said, has encouraged him "to read as much" as he can.
"I have completed about 50 to 55 books as a member of the club in the last two years," Mr Pillai added.
Local residents, husband and wife Bob and Maureen McNamara, are keen supporters of the Tallaght library reading campaign.
Ms McNamara said the library is "like my second home - I say I am going to Dunnes but I come over here and sit in the library".
Mr McNamara added: "Sometimes we have to set up a search party looking for Maureen, she's addicted to this library."
Ms McNamara said that reading is very important to her and her family.
"I can panic if I have no book and I'd have to go rummaging for something as I can't be without my books," she said.
Members of the D24 book club said reading 24 books in a year can be daunting, but will give those participating a bit of a focus and a good challenge.
Ms McAdam said Covid-19 reminded people of the importance of books.
She recalled how she and her neighbours used to pass books over the wall to each other.
It was "a connection with older people in the community too", she added.
Ms McAdam said people should not feel pressure to finish books and should enjoy the challenge.
She advised people to "just read the first page, once you start reading, you're into it and you will be interested in it".
However, she added: "If you don't like that book, bring it back and get something else. It's supposed to be a fun positive experience."
Mr McNamara said the facilities on offer at Tallaght library are wonderful for visitors.
It includes a busy outreach programme, study rooms and an over size chess set and pool table set amongst the shelves of books
"This library is magnificent, and we're very proud of it. We have this library that a lot of other people haven't got," he said.
Ireland Reads is supported by Healthy Ireland and supported by public libraries and many organisations that promote reading, literacy and the arts including National Adult Literacy agency.
