She Sang About “9 to 5,” But What Dolly Parton’s Doing for 75 Belfast Babies Is Pure Magic. ML

She’s one of the world’s biggest music stars, best known for a decades-long run of hits and a storied career on screen and stage – but, for dozens of babies in Belfast, Dolly Parton is about to become a major figure in their reading life.

Belfast City Council have teamed up with the star’s Dollywood Foundation to gift free books to 75 babies registered at Belfast City Hall from 1 October 2025

Each child will receive 60 books in total, one free book per month until they turn five.

Elected members agreed to fund the pilot extension of the Imagination Library in Belfast, following a notice of motion from Councillor Séamas De Faoite almost three years ago.

A special event was hosted by Lord Mayor Tracy Kelly at Belfast City Hall on Thursday morning to mark the start of the program.

The Imagination Library, a reading scheme first launched in Tennessee where Parton grew up, is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

Belfast Lord Mayor Tracy Kelly said she hoped the scheme could expand across Northern Ireland©

Belfast’s lord mayor said she was delighted that the scheme had come to Belfast.

“There’s nothing more important than reading and bonding with your child,” Kelly said.

The DUP counsellor said she would like to see the pilot scheme “expanded right across Northern Ireland”.

Kelly added she cannot imagine that “any rate payer in Northern Ireland would be unhappy with children getting books when they’re getting registered in Belfast City Council”.

“I’m sure many parents in Northern Ireland have read to their children and do see the benefit of it.”

“We’ve got to aim big and hopefully we might see Dolly here one day” – Megan Fletcher, regional director at The Dollywood Foundation© 

Megan Fletcher, regional director at The Dollywood Foundation, said they have been working in Northern Ireland since 2015 with “small community programmes”.

“We are continuing to grow, we have a number of programmes across the Belfast area some in partnership with Hagan homes and other housing providers and a few outside of the city as well.”

She said the foundation is “actively seeking partners” to support the Imagination Library across Northern Ireland.

“We’ve got to aim big and hopefully we might see Dolly here one day, if we can go nationwide across the whole of Northern Ireland let’s try and make it happen”, she added.

Mark McBride and his family at Belfast City Hall© 

Mark McBride’s daughter Maria is one of the 75 children receiving books from the program.

He said his wife found out about the scheme online.

“We thought it would be a great opportunity for kids to get a head start,” he said.

“We got the application in as soon as possible.”

Mark said reading to their kids is normal for him and his wife.

“We have an older child to, we’ve been reading with him all the time, he loves it and I’m sure she will to.”

SDLP councillor Séamas De Faoite said he was “delighted” to finally reach this point after his motion in December 2022.

“Our vision is to make sure we try and extend this out to every child in Belfast,” he added.

“I’m a huge fan of Dolly anyway so I’ve seen the work she’s done.”

“She brings a huge amount of joy in terms of all the work she does for charity and good causes.”