MERCIER PRESS CHILDREN’S RIGHTS LIST 2016
For further information, please contact: Lisa Murphy
Tel: 021 4614 700
Mercier Press, Unit 3, Oak House
Fax: 021 4614 802
Riverview Business Park Bessboro Road, Blackrock, Cork
www.mercierpress.ie Email: info@mercierpress.ie
RIGHTS INFORMATION Moxie the Underdog Annie West ISBN: 9781856355827 Format: Paperback Size: 250mm x 250mm Extent: 32pp Category: Children’s Picture Book Rights Available: All Key Note A delightful tale for children. Everyone loves the underdog and Moxie carries a positive message about coping with bullying.
Selling Points t
Beautifully illustrated
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Wonderful story, simply told
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Engaging characters
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Story and pictures by Annie West
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Description When Moxie, a weather beaten dog with a bullet hole in his ear, mysteriously arrives on a farm where the animals are cowed by a rude and nasty bull, the scene is set for a confrontation between street smart Moxie and the bully. Moxie teaches the rest of the farmyard animals to stand their ground, stick to their guns and take the bull by the horns. Featuring a cast of animal characters and illustrated by Annie West, Moxie the Underdog tells a simple story of tenacity.
Author Information Annie West was born in Glasgow. She graduated from DĂşn Laoghaire College of Art & Design in 1979 with a Diploma in Design for Communications. Annie exhibits every year in Dublin and Sligo. She illustrates figures from history, literature and science with mischief in mind. She also works to commission and her paintings can be found in the collections of such stars as Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Neil Jordan, Mick Galway and Sharon Shannon.
For further information, please contact: Lisa Murphy Mercier Press, Unit 3 Oak House, Riverview Business Park, Bessboro Road, Blackrock, Cork
Tel: 021 4614 700 Fax: 021 4614 802 Email: info@mercierpress.ie www.mercierpress.ie
RIGHTS INFORMATION The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf Liam Farrell ISBN: 9781856356824 Format: Paperback Size: 198mm x 129 mm Extent: 192pp Category: Children 5-8 Rights Available: All Key Note The Big Bad Wolf has a bad reputation but here is the REAL story....
Selling Points t
Easy reading for new readers who have moved on a stage
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Large type, short words, short sentences
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Black and white illustrations
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Collection of three established backlist titles
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Description The True Story of the Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf includes part 2, The Trial of the Big Bad Wolf and part 3, The Return of the Big Bad Wolf. It tells the story of Thomas Blake-Burke Wolfe, who, through a series of unfortunate events, is framed for destroying the property of the Three Little Pigs. He winds up in court at a shambolic trial but after the judge drops dead and the star witness goes missing, a re-trial is called. Will Thomas Blake-Burke Wolfe’s good name be cleared or will he be forever known as The BIg Bad Wolf?
Author Information Liam Farrell is a fulltime children’s author and storyteller living and working in Maynooth, County Kildare, Ireland. He also writes freelance newspaper and magazine articles, mainly on history, religion and general interest subjects. Liam regularly gives talks “Getting Started in Writing Commercially” for 5th & 6th class Primary School students and all Secondary School students.
For further information, please contact: Lisa Murphy Mercier Press, Unit 3 Oak House, Riverview Business Park, Bessboro Road, Blackrock, Cork
Tel: 021 4614 700 Fax: 021 4614 802 Email: info@mercierpress.ie www.mercierpress.ie
RIGHTS INFORMATION Penny Series Eileen O’Hely Nicky Phelan ISBN: 9781856355728 Format: Paperback Size: 198 mm x 129mm Extent: 192pp Category: Children 5-8 Rights Available: All except Korean, Chinese and Turkish language Key Note The sixth and final book in the series that sees our heroine on yet another exceptional adventure, this time at the zoo
Description It’s an exciting day for Class 3B when Mrs Sword announces an excursion to the local zoo. To help solve the riddles set by the zoo keeper, Ralph brings along his favourite pencil, Penny, who is thrilled to be out of the classroom. However, when they arrive Ralph finds out that the zoo is threatened with closure, to be replaced with a Texta factory. Penny suspects that her arch-nemesis Black Texta is involved and with the help of her new friends, Spike the hedgehog, Milligan the stoat, Herby the tiger and Zelda the zebra, Penny must stop Black Texta’s campaign of destruction, while Ralph carries out his own quest to save the zoo.
Author Information Eileen O’Hely is an Australian of Irish descent. She is the best-selling author of five previous Penny the Pencil books and currently lives in Sydney. Nicky Phelan is currently working as animation director in Brown Bag Films and was nominated for an Oscar in 2010 when Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty was nominated for Best Animated Short Film.
For further information, please contact: Lisa Murphy Mercier Press, Unit 3 Oak House, Riverview Business Park, Bessboro Road, Blackrock, Cork
Tel: 021 4614 700 Fax: 021 4614 802 Email: info@mercierpress.ie www.mercierpress.ie
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RIGHTS INFORMATION Pep Squad E.T. O’Hely ISBN: 9781781171950 Format: Paperback Size: 198mm x 129mm Extent: 320pp Category: Children 9+ Rights Available: All
Key Note: A fantastic kids spy adventure set in a secret agent training school
Selling Points: t 4JNJMBS UP UIF "MFY 3JEFS TFSJFT t *SJTI CBTFE CVU XJUI B IPTU PG JOUFSOBUJPOBM DIBSBDUFST BOE TFUUJOHT t "VUIPS PG UIF A1FOOZ UIF 1FODJM TFSJFT GPS ZPVOHFS SFBEFST
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Description Fourteen-year-old Jess Tierney is an exceptional teenager: athletically gifted and academically brilliant. Bored at her conventional Dublin school, she is thrilled to be offered a place at PEP Academy, the training ground for the top secret PEP (Planet Earth Protection) Squad. During her first term Jess quickly makes friends with her room-mate, extreme-sport loving Emily Harris, and the Sykes twins, Ben and Matt. Together they start to learn the skills they will need to become world-class spies, like lock-picking, making disguises, abseiling, foreign languages and combat training. At the end of their first-year the teenagers are promised an easy first mission. But then they find out they have to infiltrate a Bavarian castle and steal a sample of a deadly virus that could wipe out all of humanity. Faced with armed guards, a complex security system, an evil genius and a traitor in their midst the trainee spies must save the day or die trying. This is set to be the next big thing in adventure fiction for pre-teens!
Author Information &JMFFO 0 )FMZ XBT CPSO JO "VTUSBMJB UP *SJTI QBSFOUT 4IF JT UIF BVUIPS PG UIF TVDDFTTGVM A1FOOZ UIF 1FODJM TFSJFT GPS o ZFBS olds. This is her first book for older children. She currently lives in Sydney.
For further information, please contact: Lisa Murphy Mercier Press, Unit 3 Oak House, Riverview Business Park, Bessboro Road, Blackrock, Cork
Tel: 021 4614 700 Fax: 021 4614 802 Email: info@mercierpress.ie www.mercierpress.ie
RIGHTS INFORMATION Dead Hairy Debbie Thomas ISBN: 9781856356787 Format: Paperback
Size: 198mm x 129mm
Extent: 256pp Category: Children 9+ Rights Available: All Key Note: A funny, original and gripping adventure story with a wild collection of wacky new characters!
Selling Points: * Award-winning writer * Something completely new to the world of Irish children’s books * Media savvy author with connections in the children’s book world
Description When Squashy Grandma’s teeth get stuck behind the radiator, Abbie calls the Very Odd Job Man. Matt Platt and his even odder daughter Perdita invite Abbie to the Hair Museum, where history has hairstyles and fish have beards. Drawn into a hair-raising hunt for Perdita’s mum Coriander, Abbie befriends Fernando, the heartbroken shrunken head of a Spanish conquistador, and Chester, a helpful patch of chest hair. But waddling in the shadows is a fiendish foe: the white-suited, MFNPO IBJSFE %S )VCSJT ,MFODI "CCJF EJTDPWFST UIBU ÜOEJOH $PSJBOEFS JT POF UIJOH CVU TBWJOH UIF XPSME GSPN ,MFODI T AFFÜM doinks’ quite another. And who are those hairy hobos holed up with Coriander? With kidnaps, kooks and creepy crooks, Dead Hairy is a crazy caper of laughter, love and lice crispies. This quirky tale, full of screwballs and pitfalls, will tickle children, parents and squashy grandmas alike.
Author Information Debbie Thomas lives in Kildare and has worked as a reporter for BBC radio. She now works for a charity supporting people with leprosy and writes for various magazines. She runs a children’s book club and creative writing classes. Stella .D%POBME JT BO BXBSE XJOOJOH JMMVTUSBUPS XIP QSFWJPVTMZ XPSLFE PO A3FBMMZ 3PUUFO 3IZNFT BOE A%P 5FBDIFST HP UP UIF Toilet?’.
For further information, please contact: Lisa Murphy Mercier Press, Unit 3 Oak House, Riverview Business Park, Bessboro Road, Blackrock, Cork
Tel: 021 4614 700 Fax: 021 4614 802 Email: info@mercierpress.ie www.mercierpress.ie
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RIGHTS INFORMATION Class Act Debbie Thomas ISBN:978 1 78117 262 9 Format: Paperback Size: 198mm x 129mm Extent: 224pp Category: Children 9+ Rights Available: All
Key Note: An all-new crazy adventure from established author Debbie Thomas that celebrates bees, friendship and the kind of cleverness that is often overlooked in school.
Selling Points t 1SP BDUJWF BVUIPS JT XFMM DPOOFDUFE JO DIJMESFO T CPPL DJSDMFT BOE LFFO UP EP FWFOUT
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t "MSFBEZ IBT B TVCTUBOUJBM GPMMPXJOH GPS UIF A%FBE )BJSZ USJMPHZ
Description What is the point of Brian O’Bunion? Bottom of the class, slowest on the pitch, never invited to parties ‌ he sometimes wishes he could just disappear. Then, one day, some of his classmates actually do. That’s when Brian’s knack of noticing while going unnoticed leads him into a sticky trap of enchanting honey, freaky bees and not-so-sweet revenge. A buzzing tale of bullies and battleaxes, a bossy fossil, a bottom that longs to dance and a brave-hearted boy who makes the grade without coming top in his class.
Author Information Debbie Thomas lives in Celbridge, County Kildare where she runs creative-writing classes, book clubs and workshops on development issues for kids. Originally from Bristol, she has also lived in Bangladesh and South Africa. She is the author of UIF UISFF "CCJF BOE 1FSEJUB BEWFOUVSFT A%FBE )BJSZ A+VOHMF 5BOHMF BOE A.POLJF #VTJOFTT 4IF JT B NFNCFS PG $IJMESFO T Books Ireland, a Poetry Ireland Writer in Schools and an active participant in the many children’s and general book festivals that take place around the country.
For further information, please contact: Lisa Murphy Mercier Press, Unit 3 Oak House, Riverview Business Park, Bessboro Road, Blackrock, Cork
Tel: 021 4614 700 Fax: 021 4614 802 Email: info@mercierpress.ie www.mercierpress.ie
RIGHTS INFORMATION Arthur Quinn and the World Serpent The Father of Lies Chronicles Alan Early ISBN: 978 1 85635 827 9 Format: Paperback Size:198mm x 129mm Extent: 320pp Category: Children 9+ Rights Available: All except French language Key Note: An exciting new adventure story set in Dublin, where Viking mythology comes to life. Can Arthur stop the trickster Viking God Loki and the World Serpent from destroying the world?
Description: Something wicked has awoken under the streets of Dublin ... When his dad is offered a job working on the new Metro tunnel, Arthur has to move to Dublin with him. While exploring a hidden underground river, Arthur and his new friends Will and Ash find a mysterious glowing pendant. The pendant depicts a giant snake strangling the trunk of a tree. The friends soon figure out that the pendant is a warning, a sign that something evil is waiting underneath the city. Something that’s been imprisoned for a thousand years, something left by the Vikings, something that can and will - destroy first the city, then the world. What did the Vikings bury under the city of Dublin and why did they leave it there? Who is the dark man that spies on Arthur and what is his evil plan? In the end, only Arthur and his friends can save the world from the dreaded World Serpent.
About the Author: Born in Leitrim and now living in Dublin, Alan Early studied in the National Film School, Dun Laoghaire. Upon graduation in 2008, he co-founded Annville films. From an early age he used to write and illustrate short stories about Banshees and ghost animals and whatever else struck his imagination. When he was ten, he visited Dublinia, a recreated Viking Village and so began a love affair with Viking lore.
For further information, please contact: Lisa Murphy Mercier Press, Unit 3 Oak House, Riverview Business Park, Bessboro Road, Blackrock, Cork
Tel: 021 4614 700 Fax: 021 4614 802 Email: info@mercierpress.ie www.mercierpress.ie
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RIGHTS INFORMATION Legend of the Golden Key Tom McCaughren ISBN: 978 1 85635 803 3 Format: Paperback Size: 198mm x 129mm Extent: 192pp Category: Children 9+ Rights Available: All
Key Note: New and updated edition of the classic Tom McCaughren tale of fun and adventure. First in the series.
Selling Points: * Popular Irish children’s author 1BSU PG UIF A-FHFOET USJMPHZ A" EFMJHIUGVM CPPL 5IF 4VOEBZ *OEFQFOEFOU
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Description: " UBMF BT PME BT UJNF A 5IF -FHFOE PG UIF (PMEFO ,FZ JT BCPVU B CFBVUJGVM ZPVOH HJSM XIP EFöFT IFS NJTFSMZ GBUIFS BOE IJT QSPNJTF PG a fortune in gold and chooses instead to wed her penniless lover. The lovers disappear but what of the fortune? One summer day five young hopefuls decide to solve the mystery of the Golden Key. Tasper and his friends start their quest at the castle, where strange things begin to happen on the grounds and unexplained lights are seen in the sinister fairy fort. Can they solve the riddle? Will the treasure be found?
About the Author: Tom McCaughren is from Ballymena, Co. Antrim, and has written fifteen books altogether, most of them for children and young adults. They have won five awards for literature including The White Ravens from the International Youth Library in Munich, the Reading Association of Ireland Award and the Bisto/Children’s Book Trust Books of the Decade Award.
For further information, please contact: Lisa Murphy Mercier Press, Unit 3 Oak House, Riverview Business Park, Bessboro Road, Blackrock, Cork
Tel: 021 4614 700 Fax: 021 4614 802 Email: info@mercierpress.ie www.mercierpress.ie
RIGHTS INFORMATION The Book of Learning Nine Lives Trilogy 1 E. R. Murray ISBN 978 1 78117 3626 Format: Paperback Extent: 352pp Category: Children 9+ Size: 198 mm x 129mm Rights Available: All Description After the death of her beloved grandfather on her twelfth birthday, Ebony Smart’s world is turned upside down. Sent to Dublin to live with her weird Aunt Ruby, who she has never met, she has only her pet rat, Winston, for company. With every window nailed shut and a mysterious locked room, 23 Mercury Lane is brimming with secrets. Warned against entering by a voice in the shadows, Ebony fears for her future, but has no idea how much her life is about to change. 'JOEJOH PVU UIBU TIF JT QBSU PG UIF 0SEFS PG /JOF -JWFT o B TQFDJBM SBDF PG QFPQMF XIP SFJODBSOBUF o &CPOZ RVJDLMZ EJTDPWFST that she has to find a way to prevent a terrible evil or else she will die and the future of the Order, as well as the world, will be placed in terrible danger. With so much at stake, does Ebony have what it takes to succeed when nothing is what it seems?
Author Information After living in various locations around the world, Elizabeth Rose Murray moved to West Cork to write full time. She has poetry and short fiction published in journals across the UK and Ireland including Southword, South Circular, Esc and 3am. Elizabeth has been shortlisted in the following competitions: Francis MacManus 2013 (Short Story), Penguin/RTÉ Guide 2013 (short story), Powers/Irish Times 2013 (flash fiction), Writing.ie/Anam Cara 2013 & 2012 (flash fiction) and Aesthetica $SFBUJWF 8PSLT QPFUSZ *O TIF QFSGPSNFE JO $JVEBEFT 1BSBMFMBT 4UBUJPO o B MJWF XSJUJOH JOTUBMMBUJPO BU UIF $PSL Midsummer Festival.
For further information, please contact: Lisa Murphy Mercier Press, Unit 3 Oak House, Riverview Business Park, Bessboro Road, Blackrock, Cork
Tel: 021 4614 700 Fax: 021 4614 802 Email: info@mercierpress.ie www.mercierpress.ie
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RIGHTS INFORMATION A History Of Irish Fairies Carolyn White ISBN: 9781856350099 Format: Paperback Size: 198mm x 129mm Extent: 88pp Category: Children Rights Available: All except USA Key Note 5IF TUPSZ PG UIF AXFF QFPQMF JO BMM UIFJS HVJTFT
Selling Points *O A" )JTUPSZ PG *SJTI 'BJSJFT XF ĂśOE BMM UIF NBHJD PG UIF AXFF QFPQMF The author deals with their important place in country folklore and tells us of their mannerisms, clothing, food and love lives
Description Whether you believe in fairies or not you cannot ignore them and here for the first time is a history of fairy life in Ireland. A large part of this book is concerned with relations between mortals and fairies. Stories of magical groups of fairies such as the Far Darrig, .FSSPXT 4JMLJFT #BOTIFFT UIF -JBOIBO 4IFF 1PPLBT %VMMBIBOT BOE (IPTUT UIFJS DIBSBDUFSJTUJDT BOE UIFJS BDUJWJUFT BCPVOE A" History of Irish Fairies’ takes fairies as seriously as they deserve to be taken.
Author Information Carolyn White has a PhD in Comparative Literature. She has studied in France and has travelled extensively in Europe.
For further information, please contact: Lisa Murphy Mercier Press, Unit 3 Oak House, Riverview Business Park, Bessboro Road, Blackrock, Cork
Tel: 021 4614 700 Fax: 021 4614 802 Email: info@mercierpress.ie www.mercierpress.ie
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RIGHTS INFORMATION Irish Leprechaun Book Mary Feehan ISBN: 9781856350891 Format: Paperback Size: 198mm x 129mm Extent: 96pp Category: Children 5-8 Rights Available: All
Key Note All the best stories about the elusive Irish spirit who can lead you to the crock of gold.
Selling Points * Worldwide interest in leprechauns * Fun and engaging way to access Irish folklore and mythology
Description Leprechauns are supposed to know where pots of gold are buried and they guard this secret very well. They are hard to ensnare, and if you manage to catch one then you must hold him very firmly and never, even for a second, take your eyes Pò IJN CFDBVTF JO UIF CMJOL PG BO FZF IF DBO EJTBQQFBS BOE IF XJMM VTF FWFSZ USJDL IF LOPXT UP FTDBQF o TP CF XBSOFE 5IJT collection of leprechaun tales is one to be treasured.
Author Information .BSZ 'FFIBO JT UIF DPNNJTTJPOJOH FEJUPS BU .FSDJFS 1SFTT JO $PSL )FS PUIFS XPSLT JODMVEF A5IF #PPL PG *SJTI $IJMESFO T +PLFT
For further information, please contact: Lisa Murphy Mercier Press, Unit 3 Oak House, Riverview Business Park, Bessboro Road, Blackrock, Cork
Tel: 021 4614 700 Fax: 021 4614 802 Email: info@mercierpress.ie www.mercierpress.ie
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RIGHTS INFORMATION Irish Tales of Mystery and Magic Edmund Lenihan ISBN: 9781781174173 Format: Paperback Size: 212mm x 165mm Extent: 224pp Category: Children 9-12 Rights Available: All except Chinese Language
Key Note New edition of the award-winning collection, complete with Alan Clarke’s witty, eye-catching illustrations
Selling Points * Well-known, established Seanchaà and illustrator * Lavishly illustrated children’s gift book
Description A*SJTI 5BMFT PG .ZTUFSZ BOE .BHJD JT B DPMMFDUJPO PG NBSWFMMPVT TUPSJFT CZ TFBODIBÓ &EEJF -FOJIBO UIBU XJMM DIBSN FOUFSUBJO and amuse children of all ages.These tales of ancient Irish heroes and druids tell of strange and peculiar adventures at a time when creatures of the night walked the earth and magic was everywhere‌ Stunningly illustrated, these hair-raising stories capture some of that magic.
Author Information Eddie Lenihan, who lives in Crusheen, County Clare, is a celebrated storyteller and the author of many books for children and BEVMUT JODMVEJOH A(SVFTPNF *SJTI 5BMFT GPS $IJMESFO A*O 4FBSDI PG #JEEZ &BSMZ BOE A*O UIF 5SBDLT PG UIF 8FTU $MBSF 3BJMXBZ "MBO $MBSLF IBT JMMVTUSBUFE OVNFSPVT CPPLT GPS CPUI DIJMESFO BOE BEVMUT JODMVEJOH A4PNFUIJOH #FHJOOJOH XJUI 1 )JT paintings and drawings have been exhibited in Ireland and abroad - at the International Children’s Book Fair in Bologna, Italy; the Itabashi Art Museum in Tokyo and the Art Institute of Chicago, among others.
For further information, please contact: Lisa Murphy Mercier Press, Unit 3 Oak House, Riverview Business Park, Bessboro Road, Blackrock, Cork
Tel: 021 4614 700 Fax: 021 4614 802 Email: info@mercierpress.ie www.mercierpress.ie
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RIGHTS INFORMATION Fionn Mac Cumhail’s Tales from Ireland The Irish Mystery & Magic Collection Eddie Lenihan ISBN: 9781781173572 Format: Hardback
Size: 188mm x 135mm
Extent: 64pp Category: Children 9+ Rights Available: All Key Note: A new miniature series of Eddie Lenihan’s charming stories with fabulous illustrations by Alan Clarke
Selling Points: * Striking illustrations make them stand out from the competition
Description 8IFO &EEJF -FOJIBO T A*SJTI 5BMFT PG .ZTUFSZ BOE .BHJD XFSF ÜSTU QVCMJTIFE JO "MBO $MBSLF T RVJSLZ JMMVTUSBUJPOT perfectly complemented Eddie’s take on the stories of Fionn Mac Cumhail and the Fianna. Unavailable for several years and much sought after, these beautifully illustrated stories will now be available in a collection of UISFF HJGU FEJUJPOT 5IJT FEJUJPO DPOUBJOT UIF TUPSJFT A'JPOO .BD $VNIBJM BOE UIF 'FBUIFST GSPN $IJOB BOE A'JPOO .BD $VNIBJM BOE the Making of the Burren’. These tales of ancient Irish heroes and druids tell of strange and peculiar adventures when creatures of the night walked the earth and magic was everywhere. Stunningly illustrated, these hair-raising stories capture some of that
magic.
Author Information Originally from Kerry and now living in County Clare, Eddie Lenihan’s storytelling is beloved by generations of children and adults alike. He has published several books of folklore for both children and adults, the most successful of which has been A*SJTI 5BMFT PG .ZTUFSZ BOE .BHJD "MBO $MBSLF IBT JMMVTUSBUFE OVNFSPVT CPPLT GPS CPUI DIJMESFO BOE BEVMUT JODMVEJOH A4PNFUIJOH #FHJOOJOH XJUI 1 )F IBT DPNQMFUFE numerous commissions for murals, book covers,caricatures and magazines and has designed concepts for animation and theatre.
For further information, please contact: Lisa Murphy Mercier Press, Unit 3 Oak House, Riverview Business Park, Bessboro Road, Blackrock, Cork
Tel: 021 4614 700 Fax: 021 4614 802 Email: info@mercierpress.ie www.mercierpress.ie
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