Almost two years in the making, I’m absolutely delighted to say my new book “A Children’s Atlas of Ireland” is now out in bookshops in Ireland and all online shops internationally, or directly from the O’Brien Press website.
Published by O’Brien Press, it’s a beautiful hardback with 64 pages of illustration and fun and fascinating facts about Ireland. Even though I was born and bred in Ireland, I learned so much more about our beautiful Island while I was writing and illustrating this book.
This is NOT a geography book and it is NOT a text book.
Yes, it has lots of maps with 26 different themes from folklore to food.
Here’s the official blurb:
From hedgerows to haunted houses, bog bodies to big battles, discover Ireland as you’ve never seen it before.
This atlas gives a flavour of all things Irish, from the natural world to man-made feats. Encompassing history, geography and cultural subjects, each spread introduces a variety of facts through bright illustrations and warm humour.
ISBN: 9781788496117
Let’s have a look inside the book, starting with the contents page.
Atlas of Ireland Contents:
I love stamps. I see them as little miniature pieces of art, and I’ve always wanted to illustrate a stamp for An Post – Ireland’s postal service. It hasn’t happened yet, but it is absolutely on my illustration bucket list. For the book, I wanted it to be visually interesting right from the start and wanted kids to have fun poring over the different stamps that represent each theme in the book. It took me quite a while to figure out the layout for this contents page, but it was really fun to design and illustrate.
Woodlands & Hedgerows:
This is the first map spread in the book, focused on Ireland’s native woodland animals. These animals are basically EVERYWHERE in Ireland so this map is more about the idea of the animals rather than specific points on the map.
Footprints & Fossils:
Ireland is not renowned for dinosaur finds. In fact, there have only ever been two dinosaur bones found on the island of Ireland. Both were found in County Antrim in the north, one bone from a Megalosaurus, and one bone from a Scelidosaurus. Other really important finds are the bog bodies discovered in several bogs across the Midlands. Bog bodies are fascinating and can be seen in the National Museum in Dublin.
Folklore & Mythology
Ireland has a strong tradition of folklore, with stories passed down through the depths of time. From warriors to romantic lovebirds, these stories and myths tell us how the land was shaped and how we should still be looking after it today. Some of the classic characters include the warrior Cu Chulainn, the cyclops Balor of the Evil Eye, and the goddess of winter – the Hag of Beara.
Oceans & Seas:
No matter where you are in Ireland, you’re never too far from the coast. Even if you live right in the middle, it’s no more than two hours to get to a beautiful beach. I’ve always loved he water and illustrating sea animals, so this was one of my favourite spreads to research and create the images for.
The Children’s Atlas of Ireland is out now in all good bookshops in Ireland, and online or directly from the O’Brien Press website.
Reviews of A Children’s Atlas of Ireland
an informative and engaging introduction to the rich culture, history, geography and wildlife of Ireland. This non-fiction book invites young readers to embark on a colourful journey across the island, discovering everything from mountains, rivers and forests to castles, folklore and traditional music. Each spread combines clear maps with fascinating facts, creating an accessible and enjoyable reading experience. A joyful celebration of Ireland’s cultural heritage and natural environment, packed with interesting facts and eye-catching artwork, this is an ideal introduction to Ireland for curious young readers
Children’s Books Ireland’s Best Irish Books of 2026
A brand new, and frankly very, very fascinating atlas of Ireland has hit the shelves. It has everything you need and many things you may not have even thought about to help children (and bigger folk) discover the land, people, culture and history of this amazing land …
I know what you’re thinking, because I was thinking it, too. Ah…another kids atlas of Ireland. But this one is different! We are taken on a real journey across Ireland, beginning with a map showing us all the counties positioned through the four provinces, easily seen and recognised. But then, this atlas breaks it down. Not simply county by county or province by province. Page after page shows us the entire country covering individual aspects and features…small two-page spreads or “chapters”, if you like, that highlight a huge variety of topics both past and present. Want to know about Irelands’ different wildlife habitats and the creatures that live there? There are spreads for that; grasslands and bogs, hills and mountains, glimpses of the shores and the rivers. More interested in history? This book has you covered, from prehistory, the ancient past, battles of old. Looking for something about the food of Ireland? Or its’ treasures? The Gaeltacht Regions? Lighthouses? Power? Airplanes and travel? Yep…it’s all there. There are even gorgeous sections highlighting myths, legends, ghosts and their hauntings, “fairies and scaries.”
On the map(s) of Ireland, showing the locations they can be found and explained in brief, clear text that simply begs you to find out more. The illustrations are wonderful, inviting the reader to explore each page in depth, peaking curiosity and imagination. This is by no means your standard childrens’ atlas…it is much more, without the heavy, tedious, “teachy” stuff. Fascinating, intriguing, wondrous and accessible for young and old alike; it captures the true character of Ireland and lets it sing.
Fallen Star Stories
