The Arts Council is helping passengers across Ireland look like cool mysterious strangers who read books on buses and trains.

To mark both Culture Night and its 70th anniversary, the Arts Council is launching Read Mór (nice). This project will offer 4,500 books by Irish and Irish based authors to passengers travelling on trains and buses on Friday September 23.

From 14:00, a special Book Conductor will be stationed at Heuston Station, Connolly Station, Kent Station Cork and Ceannt Station Galway. They will also be stationed at Busáras, Sligo and Waterford. Book Conductors will be inside the stations with Library Trolleys ready to gift passengers a book from a wide selection of Irish and Irish-based authors.

Books on offer

Passengers can choose from 21 titles ranging from fiction to poetry to young adult and children’s books.

Some books on offer include A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Corpsing: My Body and other Horror Stories by Sophie White and The Written World by Kevin Power. Irish language books also include Madame Lazare by Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin.

The Arts Council has worked with a selection of Irish publishers and independent booksellers to select these Irish books, such as Book Upstairs, The Stinging Fly and Kennys Bookshop.

“With this new project, we are thrilled to support and promote Irish and Irish based writers, publishers and independent book sellers,” Arts Council director Maureen Kennelly said, “We hope that you continue to enjoy discovering some of the exciting and diverse range of writers in Ireland today and that you in turn pass on the joy of reading.”

Passengers are also encouraged to “share the joy of reading” and regift their book once they have read it.

Click here to see the full list of books available.

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