Martin Waddell is one of the most popular and successful authors for children. His books have been published internationally and sell worldwide. They range in age from read-aloud, full-colour picture books for the very young to books for teenage and young adult readers. He has written more than ninety books (some of them under his pseudonym, Catherine Sefton) and has won many awards. He is married, with grown-up children, and lives in Newcastle, County Down.

Martin won the won the Hans Christian Andersen author award in 2004 from IBbY International, in recognition of the range of his work throughout his career as a children's writer.

Robert Waldron taught at America's first school, founded in 1635: Boston Latin School, where he lectured in English Literature. He is the author of ten books -- two works of fiction, and right non-fiction; of the latter four are books devoted to the work and life of Trappist monk and writer Thomas Merton. He has also written three books on Henri Nouwen. He is often in demand to conduct Merton or Nouwen retreats and as a lecturer on Thomas Merton. He has received awards for his writing on modern spirituality from the Catholic Press Association; he is also the recipient of four fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Ged Walsh has had a lifelong interest in local history, particularly that of the Rathgar/Churchtown area where he lives. A member of the Old Dublin Society since 1970 and of the Rathmines, Ranelagh and Rathgar Historical Society since its foundation in 1996, he has given talks on various topics to several Local History Societies and Active Retirement Associations, mainly in South County Dublin. Ged earned a Diploma in Local History from Maynooth University in 2008.

Dr. Jennifer Walsh, MB PhD MRCOG FRCPI, is a Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at both The National Maternity and Mater Misericordiae University Hospitals in Dublin. She is Subspecialist in Maternal-Fetal Medicine with a focus on high-risk obstetric care and prenatal ultrasound.

Stephen Walsh has a long association with leprechauns. He is the inventor of the emblematic leprechaun costume seen at many public events. He participated in a record breaking gathering of leprechauns which made the Guinness Book of Records in 2011, and he has run several marathons dressed as a leprechaun. His work with Connemara Marble has connected him to Ireland’s landscape, heritage and mythologies - of which leprechauns are a natural part.

Philip Watson spent thirteen years as a coastal conservationist, caring for The Giant's Causeway and other sights on the North Antrim Coast. He is now a freelance writer and naturalist. He has a keen interest in environmental and rural issues and has worked in Ireland, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Newfoundland and Wales. He lives on the North Antrim coast.

Sarah Webb is an award-winning children’s writer. Her books include Blazing a Trail: Irish Women who Changed the World (illustrated by Lauren O’Neill) and A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea: Favourite Rhymes from an Irish Childhood (illustrated by Steve McCarthy), both winners of Irish Book Awards.

She runs creative writing clubs for young writers, reviews children’s books for the Irish Independent, and programmes children’s and family events for book festivals and MoLI (Museum of Literature Ireland). She also works part-time in a children’s bookshop.

Passionate about bringing children and books together, Sarah was awarded the Children’s Books Ireland Award for Outstanding Contribution to Children’s Books in Ireland.

Her latest novel for children is The Little Beekeeper of Henrietta Street (illustrated by Rachel Corcoran), set in Dubiln in 1911.

www.sarahwebb.ie