“ The rich coloured light of the folktales illuminates the grey shadows of modern life which I am trying to capture in my writing .” Éilís Ní Dhuibhne, Laureate for Irish Fiction
Through hands-on writing activities, imaginative prompts, discussion and readings, young writers explore how mythology and folklore can inspire original storytelling. Children’s authors Alex Dunne and Laura Keohane draw heavily on Irish folklore and mythology in their writing, and have lots of insights into how ancient tales can spark new adventures in fiction.
Alex’s first children’s novel, The Book of Secrets won the Eilís Dillon Award for a First Book at the 2023 KPMG Children’s Book Ireland Awards. It was also nominated for the 2023 Yoto Carnegie Medal for Writing. Her follow-up The Harp of Power , was published in 2023. Laura won the Children’s Books Ireland Betty and Jenny Bursary for emerging, promising writers in 2024. Secret of the Selkies , her debut novel weaves myth and magic seamlessly into the everyday.