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The gods of Ireland were once worshipped throughout the land. Powerful and brave, they were unafraid to show their vulnerability, reject violence, or lean on others for support. Sadly, their stories are all but forgotten.
Gods Don’t Cry reawakens these gods, whose ancient tales redefine modern ideas of what it means to be a hero. From Mannanán, who uses his neurodiversity to discover the Otherworld, to Méiche, who finds the courage to accept his illness, Fer Maisse, a monster slayer who gives up glory to become a healer, and Cnú Deróil, who overcomes bullies with his musical talent. Hurlers and warriors, academics, and activists – these are gods of many abilities, sizes, and skin shades, from every corner of Ireland.
Follow their adventures as they perform magic, battle demons, overcome struggles and find the courage to be true to themselves. You might even see yourself in their stories and discover, that you too, are a modern hero.
Ellen Ryan is a writer and journalist from County Wicklow, who has contributed to the Irish Independent and Irish Times, among other media. Her debut book, Girls Who Slay Monsters: Daring Tales of Ireland’s Forgotten Goddesses won both the Children’s Books Ireland KPMG Book of the Year Award and the Children’s Books Ireland KPMG Junior Juries Award, 2023, as voted for by thousands of young readers across Ireland. Girls Who Slay Monsters also won Children’s Book of the Year: Senior at the An Post Irish Book Awards 2022.
Conor Merriman is an award-winning designer and illustrator from Dublin, Ireland. Conor specialises in narrative world-building through illustration, inspired by folklore, fantasy and pop culture. In addition, Conor runs a multi-disciplinary design studio and works across a range of industries including film, hospitality, product design, and branding. Through children’s books, Conor’s goal is to make illustrative storytelling an experience that allows readers of any age to dive into incredible new worlds of imagination.