Mayo writer wins prestigious children’s books award
Mayo primary school teacher Kevin Moran was honoured for his debut novel at the national children’s literature awards
A writer and primary school teacher from Castlebar has received national recognition after winning a prestigious prize at this year’s KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards.
Kevin Moran was announced as the winner of the Eilís Dillon Award for Best Début Novel for his book The Doomsday Club during a ceremony held in Merrion Square in partnership with the International Literature Festival Dublin.
Hosted by Rick O’Shea, the awards recognised outstanding achievements in Irish children’s literature, with six honours presented to authors and illustrators from across the country.
The Doomsday Club, Moran’s debut novel, blends adventure, fantasy and humour in a story set in Dublin, where school students Jack, Conan and Yash uncover a strange discovery in their schoolyard that leads them into an extraordinary adventure.
The Castlebar teacher’s success marks a significant achievement for Mayo literary talent and highlights growing recognition for children’s and young adult writing from the West of Ireland.
The KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards celebrated a range of works across fiction, illustration and young adult literature. The judges reviewed 151 titles before narrowing the field to ten shortlisted books and eventually selecting the winners.
The top KPMG Book of the Year Award went to Don’t Trust Fish! by Neil Sharpson and illustrator Dan Santat, while the Honour Award for Fiction went to My Name is Jodie Jones by Emma Shevah.
Speaking at the ceremony, Elaina Ryan praised this year’s winners and shortlist, describing the selected books as imaginative, original and inclusive.
“Children’s literature in Ireland is ever-evolving and this year’s winners undoubtedly reflect that,” she said, noting the strong representation of neurodivergent characters and the diversity of themes explored.