Birr illustrator Shannon Bergin wins Best Children’s Book of the Year at Irish Book Awards
By Rebekah O'Reilly
Birr native and talented illustrator Shannon Bergin has won the prestigious Best Children’s Book of the Year award at the Irish Book Awards for her work on Run Home, Little Fox.
This is Shannon’s third nomination for the award, and her first win, marking a significant milestone in her career as an illustrator.
A past pupil of St. Brendan’s Community School, Birr, and Moate Business College, where she completed her portfolio, Shannon graduated from the Limerick School of Art and Design in 2018 with a BA (Hons) in Animation and Motion Design.
Growing up in Birr, Shannon developed a deep passion for creativity, often wandering the countryside crafting stories and drawing on anything she could find. Now, as an adult, she continues to bring those early interests to life, but through children's books, galleries, and other exciting projects. She began illustrating children's books in 2020.
"Growing up in Birr was really important in developing my career as an artist," she shared. "The art community here has always been supportive, and my friends and I were encouraged from a young age to pursue our creative passions."
Shannon has already earned recognition in the literary world with previous books like Evie’s Christmas Wishes, written by Siobhán Parkinson, and Over the Red-Brick Chimney, written by Una Leavy, both of which were shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards.
Speaking about her recent win, Shannon expressed her thanks to her collaborators, O'Briens Press, and all of her supporters.
"I'm completely over the moon that "Run Home Little Fox" won Best Children's Book of the year at the Irish Book Awards! Big thanks to all at The O'Brien Press for everything, a bunch of excellent people. And to Erika and Tom for being the loveliest co-creators a person could ask for."
Run Home, Little Fox was a collaborative effort between Shannon and authors Tom McCaughren and Erika McGann. The book, which tells a heartwarming story of a little fox’s journey home, took about seven months to complete.
Shannon explained the process behind the creation of the book: "It was a bit of a tight deadline this time around. The process is less collaborative than people might think, I actually never met or spoke to the authors until the book was finished.
"The publisher brings me the story, and I work with their art director to develop the illustrations. We send them back and forth, making revisions as needed. The author has some input, but I never hear their feedback until the book is published."
Once the book is finished and out in the world, Shannon said it’s always a rewarding experience to finally meet her collaborators.
"It’s nice to hear what they really love about the book because it’s often different from what I love. After all the waiting, it’s just wonderful to see the finished product and hold it in your hands."
Run Home, Little Fox has been praised for its charming illustrations and heartfelt storytelling. It’s clear that Shannon’s dedication and passion for her craft have played a huge role in the book’s success.
To see more of Shannon’s work, visit her website: www.shannonbergin.com