Girls Who Slay Monsters: Daring Tales of Ireland's Forgotten Goddesses

Unsung stories from ancient Irish myths re-imagined for nine-to-twelve year olds

There was a time when tales of Ireland's mythical goddesses--their astonishing powers, bravery, and unbreakable bonds with nature--were famous, in Ireland and beyond. But over time, these stories were lost, often replaced or rewritten to make room for male warriors and kings.

Until Now.

Girls Who Slay Monsters brings these heroes of Irish mythology back to vibrant, magical life. From Éire, Ireland's fierce namesake, and Bé Binn, a giant who overcame her bullies, to Badb, a gleefully gruesome death prophet, and Bé Mannair, a gender-fluid spy who challenged an entire army. These are goddesses of many shapes, skin shades and sizes, from every corner of ancient Ireland, whose daring still inspires today.

Stand by their sides as they wield magic, fight monsters, and protect the powerless--and you might just discover that you, too, are a force of nature.


About the Author
Ellen Ryan is a UCD master's graduate, trained in journalism, with a ten-year youthcomms career based in the UK and Ireland. She is a features contributor to the Irish Independent and other publications. She has a passion for Irish myth and loves to visit archaeological sites (though she always brings a raincoat). Along with her husband and daughter, Ellen is lucky to live by the sea in Ireland's County Wicklow, where she can keep an eye out for sea gods.

Shona Shirley Macdonald is an award-winning children's book illustrator/author, living in the D?ise Gaeltacht of Co. Waterford. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including at the Bratislava Illustration Biennial, 2017, 2019, 2021.

Her debut picture book The Pooka Party (The O'Brien Press 2018) was selected for the IBBY Honours List 2020, and nominated for an Irish Book Award 2018, CBI Award 2019 and LAI Award 2019 and chosen for the World Through Picture Books 2022.

Girls Who Slay Monsters which was written by Ellen Ryan is her latest illustrated book which won the Specsavers Children's (Senior) An Post Book of the Year Award 2022, the KPMG Children's Book of the Year Award and KPMG Junior Jury Award 2023. It has also been nominated for the Yoto Carnegie Illustration Medal 2024.

Other books include 'The Moon Spun Round' by W. B. Yeats, edited by Noreen Doody, (The O'Brien Press 2016) which was gifted to the White House by the Irish Government. Both her Irish language publications 'Cluasa Capaill ar an R?' written by Bridget Bhreathnach (Futa Fata, Oct 2021) and 'An F?ileac?n agus an R?' written by M?ire Zepf (Futa Fata, Dec 2019) won the Gradam R?ics Carl? 2020 & 2021, with the latter winning an LAI Award 2021 also.