THERE’S a new royal on the block and her name is Limarella, a true Treaty City blue-blood and the heroine of a new book on Limerick-located fairytales.
A Limerick Fairytale is a truly Shannonside creation, written by Limerick native Gráinne O’Brien, who works in O’Mahony’s bookshop, and illustrated by Lina Stawowy, who studied at the Limerick College of Art.
Children and adults will be delighted to read adventures set in well-known Limerick landmarks, including Adare Manor and Thomond Park.
And rather than shedding a glass slipper, Limarella is pictured retrieving her white ‘tacky’ from the prince.
Gráinne is the children’s books buyer at the O’Connell St. bookshop, so she is something of an expert on the books that children love.
In a radio interview with Live 95’s Joe Nash, she said that her aim is “to get every child that comes into the shop to fall in love with reading”.
Gráinne describes her book as a “love letter to Limerick children”. It’s aimed at children aged four to seven but, like any good yarn, every age can enjoy it, even if it’s read to them.
A Limerick Fairytale is a series by O’Briens Press, with a Galway and Dublin version of the modern fairytale also available.
“The name “Limerella” began as a joke, but (O’Brien Press) loved it! So that’s what we went with. Limerella is our local princess,” said Gráinne.
The illustrations are a first for artist Lina but Gráinne spoke glowingly about their collaboration.
“It was like she had gone into my brain. The first draft was perfect. She got it. The first picture I saw was the Adare Manor sketch and it was perfect.”
Published by O’Brien Press, the book will officially be launched at O’Mahony’s bookshop on Thursday April 27 at 6pm and is available for pre-order now.
