Children’s writing is my big love. I am currently trying to pivot my writing to focus more and more in this direction.
To date, I have published an Irish-language picture book with Meitheal Chléire (illustrated by Leah O’Donoghue) and a series of audio stories with Super Paua theatre company. The audio stories include the tale of a bear with no arms (in English), a small elephant whose short stature ultimately wins her the game (in Irish) and bilingual underwater adventure with a young Muslim girl and an egotistical limpet (Arabic/English).
Hug Me With Your Words audio story was chosen to feature as part of Mother Tongues Festival, and as an audio installation in Riverbanks Arts Festival.
I’ll tell you more about Parthas na nÉan (The Paradise of Birds) as we continue but while I have you, you might be interested in these two facts:
The entire project was completed through the Irish language
We facilitated a number of workshops with the island’s children around the story and now their illustrations line the front and back inner cover page of the book. This was to ensure they felt an important part of the story (which they are!).
Workshops
I always love engaging face-to-face with the people for whom I write. So it’s with great enjoyment that I have facilitated bi-lingual story-telling workshops with the children of Cape Clear, in the Seamus Heaney Centre Dublin, with Maltese children through the Irish embassy to Malta, and a writing course in Mount Temple Comprehensive School.
Other:
I’ve been reviewing Children’s Books (picture books for the most part) for Children’s Books Ireland Inis Magazine (in English and Irish) since 2016) and for Paper Lanterns Literary Journal since (2020).
I’ve also received mentorship from Myra Zepf and Roddy Doyle for my children’s writing.
