Two years ago, there were very few Irish writers in the children’s bestseller list. Indeed, from March to the beginning of August 2023, just 10 books by Irish authors or illustrators charted in the top 10 children’s books in Ireland over 20 weeks. In the same period, 123 Irish writers featured in the adult original fiction chart.
Two years on, and thanks to efforts like the Discover Irish Children’s Books Campaign, more Irish authors and illustrators are enjoying national recognition and international success. The KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards last month celebrated a diversity of stories; the judges read 169 books, whittling down to a shortlist of 10 before deciding six winners. One of the titles receiving an award was picture book Beanie the Bansheenie, the brainchild of former Laureate na nÓg, Eoin Colfer and award-winning illustrator Steve McCarthy. Steve won the Honour Award for Illustration.
Eoin Colfer, born in Co Wexford and now living in Dublin, is one of Ireland’s best-known writers. His Artemis Fowl series is a stalwart favourite which has sold over 25 million copies and is translated into 40 languages. Reflecting on the growth of homegrown children’s literature, Eoin says, “I think the writers were always there, but we just hadn’t broken through.
“More and more Irish writers and illustrators are being appreciated overseas and at home. It’s great to see all these people just taking off and travelling around, and we meet each other at festivals as far flung as New Zealand.”
Ironically, Eoin has met more Irish writers abroad than at home – a reflection of the fact that, although many authors and illustrators write stories set in Ireland, they move abroad for work opportunities. “It’s tough. Most writers I know have a second job and I think a lot of the illustrators, especially, tend to go abroad for work,” says Eoin.
Steve, who splits his time between Wicklow and London, says he “would move back to Wicklow tomorrow” if he could. “It was on my mind the whole time with Beanie,” he adds. “I made half in London and half in Wicklow. Wicklow has everything I could need for inspiration.”
Settings such as Wicklow Parish Church, outside Wicklow town, feature in Steve’s artwork for the book. Beanie the Bansheenie is a quirky take on the role of the banshee (a harbinger of death) in Irish folklore and a play on Eoin’s long-held belief that the banshee got a rough deal of it in Irish mythology.
Eoin Colfer has written over 50 books, including the New York Times bestselling series, Artemis Fowl.
“All they did was sit in a ditch and give you bad news,” says Eoin. “Even as a kid, I thought, that’s probably not really right. So this, in my own little way, is just an update on the banshee. She decides she’s not there just to be moaning at humans. She actually wants to save a human.”
Diversity and belonging
Although not made explicit, the central character in the book, Rose, is an immigrant to Ireland. “She’s probably second or third generation and probably a Muslim girl,” says Eoin.
“We see Muslim communities in Wicklow, and they’re trying their best to assimilate, but you can see it’s quite tough,” adds Steve. “A lot of refugees who moved into the area could probably do with seeing themselves in stories.”
These comments suggest that, as much as picture books introduce children to a world of art and reading, they also invite them to consider life’s bigger questions.
“Like most artists, you’re making stuff during war time and it is hard to turn off your brain and not be aware of it. You’re telling stories for children and children are actively in danger in Gaza,” says Steve.
Eoin has consistently explored subjects like global warming, forced migration and war, most recently in graphic novels (Global and Illegal) co-authored with Andrew Donkin and illustrated by Giovanni Rigano.
“If it’s a book in Ireland, I always try and have one person who’s not an Irish national, who’s a migrant here and they’re trying to fit in. If it’s a book about Santa Claus, it’s the troubles they’re having with climate change at the North Pole. You don’t have to be overt about it but there is no point ignoring what is going on,” says Eoin.
“There was a time when it was the five kids go on a little adventure and they meet some robbers, and then they come home, and that’s it. I think reality is too pressing at the moment to leave out.”
This shift is welcomed by Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland, who tells Irish Country Living: “The most important change, to my mind, over the past 35 years is that children’s literature from Ireland is, happily, becoming more diverse to reflect its young readers.
“The best books act as mirrors, windows and sliding glass doors, allowing readers to see some version of themselves reflected back at them, as well as getting a glimpse at a range of other perspectives and being able to step into someone else’s shoes – which is essential if we want to nurture empathy in our younger generations”, she says.
Steve McCarthy won the Honour Award for Illustration at the KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards 2025. \Tom Clarke
Creative theft
Another reality that has become impossible for artists to ignore is the growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Many Irish writers and artists have expressed concern about the use of their copyright material to train AI models. “It’s all understandably overwhelming,” says Steve. “I think we need a bit more time to come to grips with how we engage with technology, and how we do it in a conscientious and a thoughtful way.
“Drawing has always been like a language to me. There’s just something really nice about sharing that with other people, sitting down and sketching and drawing.
“The act of lessening the value of art seems inherent to what technology is doing. It just seems that people don’t really have the opportunity to get excited about art as often as they should.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised that there are books on the charts right now that have been secretly written by AI,” Eoin says.
Beanie the Bansheenie is Eoin and Steve’s first collaboration. “Steve’s art brought the story to a whole different level,” says Eoin. “With the art, Steve really created this world and he was rightfully awarded for that.
“When you’re working with somebody like Steve, you just cannot wait for that next file to come in.
“You’re going to spend your morning looking at this magical stuff that was inspired by your writing. That’s really the high point of my experience as a writer.”
A gentle little story, Beanie the Bansheenie seems to have struck a chord with many. “Every now and then, you do a book like that, one that’s in every school and classroom,” says Eoin. “I think Beanie has that feel to it, hopefully it’ll stick around for a long time.
Beanie the Bansheenie, is published by Walter Books UK, €13.99
Two years ago, there were very few Irish writers in the children’s bestseller list. Indeed, from March to the beginning of August 2023, just 10 books by Irish authors or illustrators charted in the top 10 children’s books in Ireland over 20 weeks. In the same period, 123 Irish writers featured in the adult original fiction chart.
Two years on, and thanks to efforts like the Discover Irish Children’s Books Campaign, more Irish authors and illustrators are enjoying national recognition and international success. The KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards last month celebrated a diversity of stories; the judges read 169 books, whittling down to a shortlist of 10 before deciding six winners. One of the titles receiving an award was picture book Beanie the Bansheenie, the brainchild of former Laureate na nÓg, Eoin Colfer and award-winning illustrator Steve McCarthy. Steve won the Honour Award for Illustration.
Eoin Colfer, born in Co Wexford and now living in Dublin, is one of Ireland’s best-known writers. His Artemis Fowl series is a stalwart favourite which has sold over 25 million copies and is translated into 40 languages. Reflecting on the growth of homegrown children’s literature, Eoin says, “I think the writers were always there, but we just hadn’t broken through.
“More and more Irish writers and illustrators are being appreciated overseas and at home. It’s great to see all these people just taking off and travelling around, and we meet each other at festivals as far flung as New Zealand.”
Ironically, Eoin has met more Irish writers abroad than at home – a reflection of the fact that, although many authors and illustrators write stories set in Ireland, they move abroad for work opportunities. “It’s tough. Most writers I know have a second job and I think a lot of the illustrators, especially, tend to go abroad for work,” says Eoin.
Steve, who splits his time between Wicklow and London, says he “would move back to Wicklow tomorrow” if he could. “It was on my mind the whole time with Beanie,” he adds. “I made half in London and half in Wicklow. Wicklow has everything I could need for inspiration.”
Settings such as Wicklow Parish Church, outside Wicklow town, feature in Steve’s artwork for the book. Beanie the Bansheenie is a quirky take on the role of the banshee (a harbinger of death) in Irish folklore and a play on Eoin’s long-held belief that the banshee got a rough deal of it in Irish mythology.
Eoin Colfer has written over 50 books, including the New York Times bestselling series, Artemis Fowl.
“All they did was sit in a ditch and give you bad news,” says Eoin. “Even as a kid, I thought, that’s probably not really right. So this, in my own little way, is just an update on the banshee. She decides she’s not there just to be moaning at humans. She actually wants to save a human.”
Diversity and belonging
Although not made explicit, the central character in the book, Rose, is an immigrant to Ireland. “She’s probably second or third generation and probably a Muslim girl,” says Eoin.
“We see Muslim communities in Wicklow, and they’re trying their best to assimilate, but you can see it’s quite tough,” adds Steve. “A lot of refugees who moved into the area could probably do with seeing themselves in stories.”
These comments suggest that, as much as picture books introduce children to a world of art and reading, they also invite them to consider life’s bigger questions.
“Like most artists, you’re making stuff during war time and it is hard to turn off your brain and not be aware of it. You’re telling stories for children and children are actively in danger in Gaza,” says Steve.
Eoin has consistently explored subjects like global warming, forced migration and war, most recently in graphic novels (Global and Illegal) co-authored with Andrew Donkin and illustrated by Giovanni Rigano.
“If it’s a book in Ireland, I always try and have one person who’s not an Irish national, who’s a migrant here and they’re trying to fit in. If it’s a book about Santa Claus, it’s the troubles they’re having with climate change at the North Pole. You don’t have to be overt about it but there is no point ignoring what is going on,” says Eoin.
“There was a time when it was the five kids go on a little adventure and they meet some robbers, and then they come home, and that’s it. I think reality is too pressing at the moment to leave out.”
This shift is welcomed by Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland, who tells Irish Country Living: “The most important change, to my mind, over the past 35 years is that children’s literature from Ireland is, happily, becoming more diverse to reflect its young readers.
“The best books act as mirrors, windows and sliding glass doors, allowing readers to see some version of themselves reflected back at them, as well as getting a glimpse at a range of other perspectives and being able to step into someone else’s shoes – which is essential if we want to nurture empathy in our younger generations”, she says.
Steve McCarthy won the Honour Award for Illustration at the KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards 2025. \Tom Clarke
Creative theft
Another reality that has become impossible for artists to ignore is the growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Many Irish writers and artists have expressed concern about the use of their copyright material to train AI models. “It’s all understandably overwhelming,” says Steve. “I think we need a bit more time to come to grips with how we engage with technology, and how we do it in a conscientious and a thoughtful way.
“Drawing has always been like a language to me. There’s just something really nice about sharing that with other people, sitting down and sketching and drawing.
“The act of lessening the value of art seems inherent to what technology is doing. It just seems that people don’t really have the opportunity to get excited about art as often as they should.”
“I wouldn’t be surprised that there are books on the charts right now that have been secretly written by AI,” Eoin says.
Beanie the Bansheenie is Eoin and Steve’s first collaboration. “Steve’s art brought the story to a whole different level,” says Eoin. “With the art, Steve really created this world and he was rightfully awarded for that.
“When you’re working with somebody like Steve, you just cannot wait for that next file to come in.
“You’re going to spend your morning looking at this magical stuff that was inspired by your writing. That’s really the high point of my experience as a writer.”
A gentle little story, Beanie the Bansheenie seems to have struck a chord with many. “Every now and then, you do a book like that, one that’s in every school and classroom,” says Eoin. “I think Beanie has that feel to it, hopefully it’ll stick around for a long time.
Beanie the Bansheenie, is published by Walter Books UK, €13.99
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