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Reading was child's play in Irish libraries last year as Dog Man and Diary of a Wimpy Kid topped the list of the most borrowed books.
The 2024 list was compiled using data provided by Ireland's 330 public libraries and was published by the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) ahead of Ireland Reads Day on February 22.
Dav Pilkey’s Dog Man, The Adventures of Dog Man 2: Unleashed, and Dog Man: A Tale of Two Kitties, took the top three spots.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: No Brainer by Jeff Kinney, Dog Man and Cat Kid and Dog Man: Brawl of the Wild, made up the top six.
Pilkey's works were physically borrowed or checked-out online 129,955 times in 2024, followed by Kinney’s at 112,950 times.
Both series formed a trend that saw children's and teenage-themed books dominate in-house and online borrowing within the library service, accounting for the top 37 spots.
"Not for the first time, children's titles have dominated the most borrowed books in Irish libraries, reflecting well on efforts to improve reading among children and teenagers," said Stuart Hamilton, Head of Libraries Development with the LGMA.
"The full list is a brilliant testament to the different tastes and interests of Irish readers – who are being entertained, informed and challenged by engaging with their local library."
Marita Conlon-McKenna was the first Irish author on the list at number 22 for her bestselling children's book, Under the Hawthorn Tree, set during the Great Famine.
Irish novelist Liz Nugent's 2023 award-winning crime novel, Strange Sally Diamond, was the first adult book to break the pattern, featuring at number 38.
The national campaign, led by Libraries Ireland, is designed to encourage people to 'get lost in a good book’ during February.
Top 10 most borrowed books of 2024:
For reading recommendations and to see a list of events taking place in libraries across the country to mark Ireland Reads Day, visit www.irelandreads.ie.
