Laoise Ní Chléirigh
Seánraí: Scríbhneoir don aos óg, Scríbhneoir acadúil, Úrscéalaí
Is múinteoir bunscoile, léachtóir, scríbhneoir acadúil agus scríbhneoir don aos óg í Laoise. Scríobh sí An Uaigh (LeabhairCOMHAR, 2013) agus Na Laochra is Lú (An Gúm, 2012), a bhain áit ar ghearrliosta na bliana 2013 de chuid Leabhair Pháistí na hÉireann. Tá An Uaigh ar liosta théacsanna an CNCM do scoláirí na Sraithe Sóisearaí sna scoileanna Gaeltachta agus sna Gaelcholáistí. Tá Laoise i mbun pinn ar an tsraith is déanaí uaithi agus foilseofar í sa bhliain 2022.
Is céimí ó Choláiste Oideachais Froebel agus Coláiste na Tríonóide, Ollscoil Átha Cliath í, áiteanna ar bronnadh Bonn Vere Foster agus Duais Carlisle Blake uirthi dá cuid scoláireachta. Bhain sí an chéad áit san Eoraip amach dá cuid áiseanna oideachais dátheangacha a dhíríonn ar an mbith-eacnamíocht.
Oibríonn Laoise anois mar léachtóir le bunoideachas i Roinn Froebel don Bhun- agus Luath-Oideachas in Ollscoil Mhá Nuad. Tá an-spéis ag Laoise i litríocht na bpáistí, sa bhéaloideas, sa gheilleagar ciorclach mar ábhar plé sa bhunscoil, oideachas fhorbairt inbhuanaithe timpeallachta trí lionsa Froebelian éicifheimineach, oideachas allamuigh agus CLIL.
Scríobh Laoise pleananna dhátheagacha ceachta do bhunscoileanna agus don rian crann An Tairseach ar son Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, rian a dhéanann cur síos ar chrainn na hÉireann agus ar an mbéaloideas a bhaineann leo. Cónaíonn Laoise lena clann i gcontae Chill Mhantáin agus nuair nach mbíonn sí ag obair le mic léinn óga, bíonn sí ag scríobh do pháistí nó ag baint fad as a cosa i measc an dúlra.
Laoise is a primary school teacher, lecturer, academic writer and children’s writer. Her novels include An Uaigh (LeabhairCOMHAR, 2013) and Na Laochra is Lú (An Gúm, 2012), which was shortlisted for the Children’s Books Ireland Book of the Year 2013. An Uaigh is on the NCCA list of approved texts for Junior Cycle students in Gaeltacht schools and Gaelcholáistí. Laoise is currently working on her latest series of children’s books, which will be published in 2022.
A graduate of Froebel College of Education and Trinity College Dublin, Laoise was the recipient of the Vere Foster Medal and Carlisle Blake Award during her B. Ed. studies. Her most recent award was for her bilingual educational resources focusing on a bioeconomy which were awarded first place in Europe. Laoise now works as a lecturer in education at the Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education, in Maynooth University.
Her research interests include children’s literature, folklore, a circular economy as a topic for discussion in the primary classroom, environmental sustainable development education through a Froebelian ecofeminist lens, outdoor learning and CLIL. Most recently, Laoise co-wrote bilingual lesson plans for schools and The Tairseach Tree Trail for Maynooth University, a bilingual trail tracing the native trees of Ireland, with folklore sprinkled throughout! Laoise lives with her family in Wicklow, and when she is not working with future teachers, she is writing for children, or spending time in nature.