Local couple write first GAA-themed book for children

Local couple write first GAA-themed book for children

13 July 2016

AFTER struggling to find a Gaelic football-themed book for their young nieces and nephews, a recently married couple have decided to write one themselves.

Aidan Johnston, originally from Downpatrick and now living in London with wife Claire, have successfully crowd funded the first print run of Bernie Wins the Match.

The book, billed as Ireland’s first children’s rhyming picture book featuring Gaelic Games, is a heart-warming tale that captures the excitement, tension and traditions of a family trip to a GAA match.

Bernie is a little bear who dreams of pulling on his county’s colours and playing in an All-Ireland final. But as a young cub, nobody believes that he can. Through fast-flowing rhyme and eye-catching illustrations, Bernie sets out to prove them all wrong on his big adventure to Croke Park.

Claire and Aidan decided to not go through the traditional route of finding a publisher and instead raised over £2500 with 84 donations from around the world to their crowd funding site.

Aidan said they were “excited, astonished and humbled” by the interest.

He explained the story was aimed at children aged between three and seven, with the aim of teaching young children to have self-belief and to follow their dreams.

“When we couldn’t find a single children’s picture book for our nieces and nephews that featured Ireland’s number one sport, we knew we had to do something about it,” he said. “Together we developed Bernie Wins the Match which we believe has real potential to become a bed-time favourite of children and parents alike.

“Gaelic games seems to be an area that the traditional publishers have steered clear off, perhaps because there are high costs involved and it isn’t commercially attractive. Nevertheless, we believe so strongly in the idea and want young children to experience the excitement, tension and traditions of a big match that we are trying to do it ourselves.”

More information about the book is available at www.berniebelieves.com.