Fingal County Council, Children’s Books Ireland, Tyrone Guthrie Centre Bursary Award Recipient 2024

Fingal Arts Office, in partnership with Children’s Books Ireland, are delighted to announce Niamh Sharkey as the Fingal recipient of the 2024 Fingal County Council, Children’s Books Ireland Tyrone Guthrie Centre Bursary Award.

Niamh Sharkey is an award-winning author and illustrator of children’s books and a former Laureate na nÓg, or children’s laureate.  This award provides a funded studio space for the period of one week at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig and offers Niamh the time and space to focus on her craft, complemented by an opportunity for creative exchange and collaboration.

Niamh Sharkey said on being awarded, ‘I was honoured to receive the Tyrone Guthrie Bursary from Fingal Arts Office. It was invaluable to have the time and space to work on developing, writing and drawing up new picture book ideas without interruption.  It was motivating to meet and spend time with other writers, artists and practitioners and particularly inspiring to spend time with my fellow children's book writers and illustrators in such a creative and inspiring place. Having a large studio gave me space to tackle, rewrite, and draw up lots of new ideas that I look forward to building on over the next few months. I am hugely grateful to Children's Books Ireland and Fingal Arts Office for this exceptional experience.’ 

Speaking about the award, Sarah O’Neill Arts Officer, Fingal County Council said “I am delighted that Niamh Sharkey is the recipient of this residency opportunity in partnership with the Children’s Books Ireland and Tyrone Guthrie Centre. Fingal County Council has a long relationship with Niamh, since her time as Laureate na nÓg, it’s wonderful that we can continue to support her creative work as she develops her career nationally and internationally.”

Niamh Sharkey is an award‐winning author and illustrator of children’s picture books and Ireland’s second Laureate na nÓg (2012-2014). Her books have won numerous awards including the prestigious Mother Goose Award. Niamh's books have been translated into over twenty eight languages, her titles include The Ravenous Beast, Santasaurus and On the Road with Mavis and Marge. Niamh is the creator and executive producer of Disney Junior's­­­­­­ Henry Hugglemonster, an animated show based on her picture book I'm a Happy Hugglewug (Walker Books). Niamh is also the co-creator and executive producer of Disney Junior's animated series Eureka! produced by Oscar nominated Brown Bag Films.  She is currently working on a new series of picture books with her husband Owen Churcher, they co-created a non-fiction title A Field Guide to Leaflings, published by Templar Books in 2021, and their upcoming picture book Hello Bird will be published by Templar Books in Spring 2024.  

Elaina Ryan, CEO of Children’s Books Ireland, added: ‘Children’s Books Ireland are thrilled to be facilitating Niamh Sharkey’s time at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, building on our four-year partnership with Fingal County Council on this Bursary Award. These residencies at Annaghmakerrig afford artists the space to simply create – removing the noise of errands, emails, all those everyday tasks that get in the way of the art itself. We can’t wait to hear how Niamh got on, and we thank Fingal County Council for their continued commitment to the development of local artists.’

Kindly funded by Fingal County Council, Children’s Books Ireland and Arts Council Ireland.

Read more at www.childrensbooksireland.ie.

About Children’s Books Ireland

Children’s Books Ireland is the national charity and arts organisation that champions every child’s right to develop a love of reading. Their mission is to inspire a love of reading in children and young people in Ireland, to share their expertise and enthusiasm with the adults who guide and influence them, to champion every child’s right to excellent books and live literature events and support the artists who make that goal possible across the island of Ireland