Kilkenny author pens children's book full of folklore

Ancient tales and folklore seem from the pages of Eamonn O Keeffe’s debut children’s book - Blanca and the Ogham Stone.

The Thomastown author recounts stories from his youth about fairies and nature and the magic that surrounds the lands where he grew up.

Eamonn O’Keeffe grew up in a rich and magical storytelling tradition where stories of heroes, heroines, banshees and fairies were passed down from ancient times. Blanca and the Ogham Stone is loosely based on Eamonn’s childhood growing up in Thomastown.

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Eamonn worked at many jobs as he grew up and ultimately discovered his talent for metalsmithing and goldsmithing. Due to an injury he was unable to continue at their work so he turned to cinema and TV where he worked as a background actor on Game of Thrones, Viking and (most recently) Vikings: Valhalla. He also turned his hand to writing in order to carry on the storytelling tradition of his youth.

Blanca and the Ogham Stone is his first book and is loosely based on memories of his adventures as a boy.

The author explains how his love of history helped to shape the story.

“I love history,” he said. “When I was very young, my uncle found an Ogham stone next to an ancient Irish fort. Ogham is a way of writing in ancient Ireland by carving lines at different angles and you will see it in the book.

“After driving a truck for years, I found out I was skilled in arts and crafts so I studied silversmithing and goldsmithing and brought my skill to America for a few years.

“I came home and heard about Vikings, the History Channel television series. I was fortunate to play in it for every season from beginning to end. I also played East Watch, Night Watch and a crow under John Snow on Game of Thrones and featured on the film The Green Knight. I really hope people enjoy the book, which is based on my life as a kid,” he added.

The book is illustrated by Cristina del Morel, a multi disciplinary designer from Madrid in Spain, who spent 21 years in Dublin where she studied for a BA in Visual Communications. She also worked in the TV series Vikings where she met and worked with Eamonn O’Keeffe.

Cristina has done a wide range of artistic mediums like etching, drawing, painting, computer processed imaging, photography and collage to demonstrate her unique creativity which has been described in America as ‘sentimental nostalgia’ and ‘retro-medieval’.

Currently living in Valencia in Spain with her husband and son, Cristina wanted to pay homage to her mum Blanca Aladro and Eamonn’s family by creating the artwork for this magical story. She used Eamonn’s photos on film sets as a cameo for the character Auld Carthy in the story and the character Blanca is inspired by her mum.

Blanca and the Ogham Stone is published by Trademarker books and was launched in The Book and Coffee Shop Williams Street, where it is available. The book is also available to buy on amazon.com