Forget the Stage—Dolly Parton’s New Mission in Belfast Is the Kind of Story That Melts Hearts. ML
Dolly Parton Brings Her Imagination Library to Belfast: 75 Babies to Receive Free Books
Global superstar Dolly Parton is adding another chapter to her legacy — this time in Northern Ireland.
Belfast City Council has officially partnered with Parton’s Dollywood Foundation to bring the singer’s beloved Imagination Library program to the city for the first time, gifting free books to 75 babies registered at Belfast City Hall since October 1, 2025.
Each participating child will receive 60 books in total, delivered one each month until they turn five years old, ensuring a steady stream of stories to spark imagination and early literacy.
The program, first launched by Parton in her home state of Tennessee in 1995, celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Over the decades, it has distributed over 230 million books worldwide, aiming to make reading accessible for every child, regardless of income or background.
A special ceremony marking the Belfast launch was held Thursday morning at Belfast City Hall, hosted by Lord Mayor Tracy Kelly, who called reading “one of the most important ways to bond with your child.”
“I’m absolutely delighted that the Imagination Library has come to Belfast,” Kelly said. “There’s nothing more important than reading together, and I can’t imagine any ratepayer objecting to giving children this head start.”
The council’s pilot expansion follows a motion introduced by SDLP Councillor Séamas De Faoite nearly three years ago, approved by elected members earlier this year.
De Faoite, who described himself as a “huge fan of Dolly,” said seeing the initiative realized was deeply rewarding.
“Our vision is to extend this to every child in Belfast,” he said. “Dolly’s work brings joy, generosity, and opportunity wherever it goes.”
Megan Fletcher, regional director for The Dollywood Foundation, noted that the charity has been operating small-scale programs across Northern Ireland since 2015.
“We’re continuing to grow,” Fletcher said. “We’ve built partnerships with housing providers like Hagan Homes, and we’re actively seeking new partners to expand across the region. We’ve got to aim big — and hopefully, one day, we’ll see Dolly herself visit Northern Ireland.”
For Mark McBride and his young family, the initiative is already making an impact. His infant daughter, Maria, is among the first 75 children enrolled.
“We thought it would be a great opportunity for kids to get a head start,” McBride said. “We read with our older child all the time — he loves it, and I’m sure she will too.”
If successful, the Belfast pilot could serve as a model for a Northern Ireland-wide rollout, bringing Dolly Parton’s lifelong love of literacy to even more children.
