An Slipéar Gloine, a retelling in Irish of the age-old classic Cinderella, written by Fearghas Mac Lochlainn from An Spidéal, and illustrated by Paddy Donnelly, won the Judges’ Special Award at the KPMG, Children’s Books Ireland Awards. The book, published  by An Spidéal-based Futa Fata, was named winner at an event held in Dublin as part of the International Literary Festival.

While Fearghas has previously translated stories for Futa Fata (An Rás Chuig an Mol Thuaidh and Eachtra Dlúthchara) this is the first book he has written himself.  Luaithrín the heroine of An Slipéar Gloine, and her evil sisters Straoisín and Smaoisín have enthralled young readers since the book, written in humorous rhyme, was published in 2022. It won the Gradam Réics Carló in 2022.

Fearghas is well-known for his award-winning agallaimh bheirte and lúibíní and was a guest storytime reader in Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop as part of the Cúirt Festival of Literature in April, when he read An Slipéar Gloine.