Dolores Keaveney, Illustrator, Children's Book Author, Artist

Story Trail – DEE THE BEE

I am absolutely delighted to say that Westmeath Library have just installed a Dee the Bee Story Trail here in my own hometown Mullingar. It is down along the Greenway which is really the old railway line from Mullingar to Athlone. This little Story Trail has 12 spreads printed on polyboard and installed down along the running path. Children and adults can stop at each board and read the Story. Story walks are a wonderful way to get children out in fresh air and encourage a love of books and reading. The book is all about pollination of some of the fruit and vegetables that the humble bee calls to to collect pollen and in doing so they pollinate the flower and that is how we get fruit and veg etc.,

Pollination is a very important part of the life cycle of plants. This title explores the role of bees in the pollination process. Readers will see that many of their favorite fruits, vegetables and plants depend on the hard work of bees.

This Story Trail has been used by two other libraries. Firstly Laois Library installed it last year in Mountmellick town playground and Kerry Library launched it in Tralee Town Park earlier this year. Hopefully this series of walks is just the beginning. I would love to see Dee becoming an attraction on international trails as well as Irish ones.

An outdoor adventure with Dee the Bee on the Old Rail Trail

A new educational attraction on the greenway in Mullingar has been added, and it has the backing of a prominent local author as well as the Library Service.

Cllr Aoife Davitt, the mayor of the Mullingar Kinnegad District, performed the official launch of The Dee the Bee Storybook Trail on Monday of this week. She expressed her pleasure to be there with Dolores Keaveney (author) and Mary Stuart and Catriona Duffy from Mullingar library, and her gratitude to Westmeath County Council as partner on the project.

“Dolores is a an accomplished craftsperson, illustrator, author, artist and publisher,” said Cllr Davitt. “Her work is inspiring, full of enthusiasm and vibrant.

“How lucky we are to have Dee the Bee grace us on the beautiful Old Rail Trail. Dolores has given us a glimpse into the busy world of a bee and the importance of their work as they hop and skip from flower to flower.

“Thank you to the staff of Westmeath Co Council, to Mary and Catriona, for their work on this initiative and taking it from its infancy to the 12 storyboards people can enjoy on the route.” % buffered00:00-01:43

Ms Keaveney said has a special reason to be pleased that the project is now available for all to enjoy, as her father worked on the railway for more than 50 years, and she was she is delighted to have Dee the Bee in Mullingar on the greenway,nd especially along the Old Rail Trail.

The storybook trail, a new outdoor adventure for all the family, is an initiative of Westmeath County Council Libraries and Environment. It encourages literacy and exercise and is an educational and fun way to build a child’s interest in reading, while engaging in outdoor activity.

The trail is a stroll of 550m on the Old Rail Trail Greenway, from near the Newbrook Bridge entrance in Mullingar. There are 12 boards to find and read along the walk, and trail will be available to explore for approximately two months.

funding from LEO