Desert Island Books Participants;

Gráinne O’Brien is a writer and the children’s book buyer for O’Mahony’s booksellers, a role she has proudly held for almost ten years. She is the founder of Silver Apples Magazine and Rontu Literary Service, which she created to help guide writers of fiction for children through the murky waters of the publishing world. She has an MA in Creative Writing from UL. Her first book for children will be published by The O’Brien Press in Spring 2023.

Petula Martyn completed an MA in Journalism at DCU in 2004. She joined the news team at Limerick’s Live 95FM where she cut her teeth in journalism in her native city. Three years later, she joined the Limerick Leader where she reported on stories of local and national interest. In 2011, Petula joined RTÉ and has worked at the Oireachtas, TV and news online. Morning Ireland was always on the radio in the Martyn household when Petula was growing up, so it’s where she feels most at home. Petula loves a trip to Croke Park to support Limerick and Galway – especially when they beat Tipperary and Kilkenny. She has lots of medals for running (the ones they give everyone at the finish line). She recently completed her first triathlon.

James Lawlor is the director of Narrative 4 Ireland, a not-for-profit empathy education project that harnesses the power of personal stories to foster connection between young people. He has recently completed a Ph.D on a study of the vellum manuscript The Great Book of Ireland. James is editor of the poetry anthology I Live in Michael Hartnett and he lives in Limerick.