One County One Book is an initiative run by Laois Libraries as part of Leaves, designed to connect communities through the shared experience of reading and discussing the same book. This initiative successfully fosters a sense of community, promotes literacy and encourages a love of reading.
This year’s One County One Book is Roisín O’Donnell’s book Nesting. Nesting is a powerful debut novel that has captured widespread acclaim since its release in January 2025. Longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, it’s a story that resonates deeply with themes of resilience, motherhood and survival.
For this special schools event Roisín O’Donnell will be joined by local journalist and career guidance expert, Martina Mulhall.
Roisín O'Donnell
Roisín O'Donnell is an award-winning Irish writer. Her short story collection Wild Quiet was shortlisted for the Kate O’Brien Award and longlisted for the Edge Hill Prize. She won the An Post Irish Book Award for Short Story of the Year in 2018, and was shortlisted for the same prize in 2022. Her short stories have been published in The Stinging Fly, The Irish Times and many other places, and have been broadcast on RTÉ Radio. Roisín’s first novel Nesting was published in January 2025; it became an instant Sunday Times Bestseller, and was long-listed for the Women's Prize for Fiction. Roisin was listed as one of the Observer’s Ten Best New Novelists of 2025. Donal Ryan described Nesting as ‘one of the best and most important novels of our time,’ while the Irish Independent declared it ‘A novel that truly matters.’
Martina Mulhall is a Guidance Counsellor at Gold Star Careers and Careers Correspondent with LaoisToday. A former Deputy Principal and Arts Coordinator at Timahoe NS, she is also a Peace Commissioner and has a long-standing interest in promoting education and the arts. An avid reader and lifelong lover of literature, Martina’s earliest memories are of spending countless hours in Stradbally Library, which now sits alongside the wonderful Arthouse and Gallery.
RTÉ supports more than 100 arts events nationwide every year. More info: about.rte/supporting-the-arts
For more information on the Leaves Festival and the Laois Arts Programme contact The Arts Office
tel.: 057 866 4033/13
email: artsoff@laoiscoco.ie
For events at Dunamaise Arts Centre and St. Peters Church of Ireland book online or call 057 866 3355.
For events at Laois Libraries, contact the Library branch. Contact details are on each event listing.