Pat O'Shea (author) facts for kids

Pat O'Shea (born January 22, 1931, died May 3, 2007) was a famous writer from Ireland. She wrote exciting stories for children. Pat was born in Galway and was the youngest of five children in her family.

Her first book, The Hounds of the Morrigan, became very popular. It took her 13 years to finish writing it! This book was published in 1985 by Oxford University Press. It was so good that it was translated into five different languages. Many people still think it's one of the best children's books ever written.

About Pat O'Shea

Pat O'Shea was born Patricia Mary Shiels in the Bohermore area of Galway, Ireland. She went to Presentation National School and the Convent of Mercy Secondary School. Pat was the youngest of five children. Sadly, her mother passed away when Pat was very young. Her older sister helped raise Pat and her other siblings.

When Pat was 16, she moved to England to join her brothers and sisters. She decided to stay there and found a job working in a bookshop in Manchester. This is where her love for books and writing grew even more.

Becoming a Writer

Pat O'Shea started writing plays for the theatre. In 1967, she received a special grant from the British Art Council. This money helped her continue her writing.

Her plays were supported by people like David Scase and Tony Colegate from the Library Theatre in Manchester. Four of her short plays were even performed there. She also wrote a play called The King's Ears for BBC Northern Ireland. In 1971, she worked on a funny TV show called Flat Earth, but it wasn't very successful.

Writing Her Famous Books

In 1969, Pat began writing short stories and poems. She also tried writing a funny novel, but it was never published. In the early 1970s, she started writing The Hounds of the Morrigan. She wrote it mostly for fun and for her family and friends, not really expecting it to be published.

It took Pat O'Shea ten years to finish The Hounds of the Morrigan. By 1985, when it was finally published, it was quickly translated into many languages because it was so popular.

After her first book became a big hit, Pat wasn't in very good health. She started writing a sequel (a second book in the series), but she only finished a few chapters. People who read them said they were "brilliant."

In 1988, Pat O'Shea published her second children's book, Finn Mac Cool and the Small Men of Deeds. This book retold old Irish folk tales and had lovely pictures by Stephen Lavis. In 1987, a magazine called Horn Book Magazine listed it as one of the best children's books of the year.

Her third and final book, The Magic Bottle, came out in 1999. It was published by Scholastic and also had illustrations by Stephen Lavis.

Pat O'Shea married JJ (Jack) O'Shea in 1953, and they had one son named Jim. They separated in 1962. Pat O'Shea passed away in Manchester in 2007 when she was 76 years old.

Books by Pat O'Shea

See also

In Spanish: Pat O'Shea para niños