Début author shines with double win at KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards

Announced by host Rick O’Shea at a ceremony held in Merrion Square, in partnership with International Literature Festival Dublin, a total of six awards were presented to Irish authors and illustrators, who will also receive a total prize-fund of €16,000. Winners of this year’s awards are:

• The Honour Award for Illustration – ‘Beanie the Bansheenie’, written by former Laureate na nÓg, Eoin Colfer and illustrated by Steve McCarthy
• The Honour Award for Fiction – ‘Little Bang’, the second book from Northern Ireland YA author, Kelly McCaughrain
• The Junior Juries’ Award - ‘Little Bang’ by Kelly McCaughrain also received the children’s choice award as voted for by thousands of young readers island-wide. The author previously won this award in 2019 for her début ‘Flying Tips for Flightless Birds’
• The Judges' Special Award – ‘The Dictionary Story’ by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston. Celebrating 20 years since Northern Ireland artist Jeffers’ first ever Children's Books Ireland Award for his début ‘How to Catch A Star’
• The KPMG Book of the Year Award – ‘Fia and the Last Snow Deer’ written by Eilish Fisher and illustrated by Dermot Flynn. This début middle grade novel was also the winner of the An Post Book Award in the Senior Children's category in 2024 and was shortlisted for the overall An Post Irish Book of the Year.
• The Eilís Dillon Award – was awarded to Eilish Fisher recognising an outstanding first children’s book for ‘Fia and the Last Snow Deer’.

About the winning titles:

• Beanie the Bansheenie A quirky and original take on the story of a young banshee who builds a friendship with her ‘human’, a little girl called Rose, written by Eoin Colfer and illustrated by Steve McCarthy (Walker Books).
• Fia and the Last Snow Deer A début-authored verse novel about thirteen-year-old Fia and her beloved snow deer Solas, set in pre-historic, snow-covered Ireland, written by Eilish Fisher and illustrated by Dermot Flynn (Puffin Books).
• Little Bang Young adult fiction set in Northern Ireland, where a teenage couple from different backgrounds face an unexpected pregnancy. By Kelly McCaughrain (Walker Books)
• The Dictionary Story A wonderfully inventive picturebook about words which encourages creativity, problem-solving and attention to detail. This brilliant concept is a collaboration between Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston (Walker Books).

Kilkenny schoolboy recognised as a ‘KPMG Reading Hero’

Ned McCarthy (age 9), a second-class student from St. Patrick’s De La Salle Boys National School received the KPMG Reading Hero Award, which recognises remarkable passion and achievements in reading by a young person. Speaking on the award, Ned said, “I am very happy to get this award because I love to read. Reading makes you smarter and makes me feel calm and I'm never bored when I'm reading.”

Ned has been awarded a trophy, a €200 book voucher and his school St Patrick's De La Salle N.S will receive a collection of books worth more than €1,000. Five runners­ up for the award also received €100 book tokens.

Speaking at today’s awards ceremony, Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland said: “Thirty-five years on, these awards continue to recognise the incredible and enduring talent we have on this island. It’s such an honour to come together each year and celebrate the many Irish artists creating quality books and unforgettable stories for children and young people.

Choosing from a shortlist of just ten books that represent the rich diversity of titles published by Irish authors and illustrators, was an enormous challenge and I want to extend a huge thanks to our committed judges whose passion for contemporary Irish children’s literature is instrumental in bringing this event to life. These shortlisted books have been enjoyed across Ireland by 11,645 young people involved in this year’s Junior Juries’ programme and will undoubtedly bring so much joy for years to come to readers of every age.”

Ryan McCarthy Managing Partner KPMG in Ireland said:  “Congratulations to all our winners and special congratulations to nine-year-old Ned McCarthy from St. Patrick’s De La Salle Boys National School in Kilkenny, winner of this year’s Reading Hero Award. Ned was nominated by his teacher Lucy Schneider and has shown just how much fun and enjoyment can come from reading - Ned really epitomises what the Reading Hero Award is all about.”

The KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards and Junior Juries’ programme are sponsored by KPMG and supported by the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery Funding.

Damian Smyth, joint Head of Literature and Drama at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said:  “These awards pay tribute to some of the most fantastically talented writers and illustrators producing new work on the island of Ireland today. The stories they create cross lands and seas, to shape and ignite the minds and hearts of young audiences across the globe. We send our congratulations to all of this year’s worthy winners.”