Girls Who Slay Monsters: Daring Deeds of the Irish Goddesses

Unsung stories from ancient Irish myths re-imagined for nine to twelve-year olds Discover the strength of a super-scholar who spoke up against her nasty foster carer and a gender-fluid spy who challenged an entire army. Root for an Iranian-Irish hero trainer, a shape-shifting eco-warrior, and Ireland’s first farmer.

From mermaids and fashionistas to athletes and monster-slayers, meet goddesses of different shapes and sizes from Ireland’s ancient past.

Ellen Ryan has brought Ireland’s rich folklore to modern readers with these exciting and vibrant tales, all complemented by beautifully detailed illustrations. Girls Who Slay Monsters is a book sure to be cherished.

Note From The Author While many of us grew up learning about Greek and Norse myth, the Irish goddesses were an undiscovered secret. At my convent school, I was taught about two or three magical women from mysterious lands, but they were not described as goddesses, and I had no idea how warped these tales had become.

Then years later, I took a trip to Rathcroghan, an Irish archaeological site known as the ancient capital of Connacht, and the original home of Halloween. I learned the land there was linked with powerful goddesses like Morrígan – whose name I barely knew – and Medb, described in my schoolbooks as a greedy mortal, no more than a villain in a man’s story.

I couldn’t understand why I hadn’t been taught about these goddesses and felt something had been stolen from me. So, for many years after, I went digging through ancient Celtic texts and discovered a pantheon of exciting goddesses with brilliant abilities. But what I found most remarkable was that these women from thousands of years ago often faced the kind of challenges we experience today. Their stories are relevant and inspiring, yet girls everywhere have been stripped of the Celtic goddesses – an important part of our shared female heritage.

I am grateful and honoured to retell their stories for you now.