Tipperary illustrator has been nominated for children's book awards

A Clonmel artist has been shortlisted for the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards.

Róisín Hahessy is the illustrator of the Irish language children’s book, ‘Bearradh Gruaige d’Eoinín’.

An award-winning illustrator with over 50 books published, she is daughter of Breda and Anthony  Hahessy from Cherrymount, Clonmel.

Róisín uses bright and playful palettes, which invite children to step inside her small colourful worlds, where she hopes they can connect with her characters, and through this, help them to express empathy and kindness.

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Róisín lives with her husband Felipe and their cat in the city of Porto in Portugal.

Her first publication, the Irish language book Beag Bídeach, which was written by Sadhbh Devlin, was launched in 2018.

At the time she and Felipe were living in the Brazilian city of Joinville, in the southern state of Santa Catarina.

Róisín attended school in Clonmel at the Sisters of Charity and Loreto, before completing a one-year FETAC art portfolio course at the Central Technical Institute.

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She then undertook a Computer and Classical Animation course in Ballyfermot, Dublin, from which she graduated in 2006 with a higher national diploma.

Róisín was interested in art from an early age, attending weekly classes with the South Tipperary Art Group (STAG) from the age of 9 until she was 18.

She worked in the graphics department of TV3 from 2008 until 2015. This involved working on all the live shows, creating graphics and opening titles, including the animated opening titles for shows such as the station’s Christmas Toy Show, The Lazy Chef and Snaptastic, presented by comedian Jason Byrne.

She worked on a number of children’s books with publishers in London, the United States and Futa Fata, an award-winning publisher based in Spiddal, Co Galway.

The citation for ‘Bearradh Gruaige d’Eoinín’, written by Muireann Ní Chíobháin, which has been nominated for this year’s Children’s Books Ireland Award, stated “Eoinín the little lamb has a problem. His hair has grown so long it looks like a nest. He really needs a haircut.

“Like many young children, however, he feels a little apprehensive about going to the hairdresser and asks for some support from his readers.

“Children will greatly appreciate and easily relate to this reassuring story, where every word is carefully chosen by Muireann Ní Chíobháin.

“Róisín Hahessy’s delightful illustrations complement the narrative perfectly. The simplicity and clarity of both text and illustrations are designed to comfort and directly appeal to young readers, who may share similar fears.

“This is a deceptively simple but ingenious boardbook, which hits all the right notes in terms of vocabulary and visual aesthetics. It is sure to be a firm favourite in many households”.

The nominees will compete for six awards at the KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards ceremony, held on May 19 as part of the International Literature Festival Dublin.