Tír na nÓg

Erika McGann grew up in Drogheda, County Louth, and now lives in Dublin. She is the author of The Demon Notebook, winner of the Waverton Good Read Children’s Award, The Broken Spell, The Watching Wood and The Midnight Carnival, the ‘Cass and the Bubble Street Gang’ series, Tabitha Plimtock and the Edge of the World and The Strange Tale of Barnabus Kwerk. She has also written thirteen picture books, including the bestselling ‘Puffling’ series, illustrated by Ger Daly; Run Home, Little Fox, winner of Children’s Book of the Year (Junior) at the Irish Book Awards, and its follow-up Swim, Little Otter with Tom McCaughren and illustrated by Shannon Bergin; and Nowhere for a Ghost to Sleep, illustrated by Clive McFarland. Conor Busuttil is the author and illustrator of Billy Conker’s Nature-Spotting Adventure, which was nominated for The Wainwright Prize. He also illustrated Tír na nÓg (words by Erika McGann), The Children of Lir (words by Laura Ruth Maher), which was nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Medal for Illustration, and Ulster Fairytales and Legends (words by Peter and Nicola Heaney). Conor grew up in a small country village on the Strangford Lough coast in County Down, the perfect place for a young creative’s imagination and love of myths and magic to flourish.

Two of O'Brien's stars, Erika McGann and Conor Busuttil, have come together to create this lovely new book. We all know the story of Oisin and Tir na nÓg - but this is Niamh and Tir na nÓg, the first version I've ever seen from Niamh's point of view, which feels like such an obvious oversight! Conor's artwork is amazing, slightly cartoony in the best way and full of detail. I've loved his other books but this might be his best yet! I'm sure I'm missing loads, but I do love the carving on the stone pillar - vibrant and new when Niamh comes for Oisin, overgrown and rubbed down when he returns. This is a fabulous addition to O'Brien's list of folklore inspired titles, and I can't wait to see what else this partnership comes up with.