Kathleen Watkins Announces 3 More Book Signings Nationwide for Pigín of Howth

The second leg of Kathleen Watkins book tour is about to commence

Kathleen Watkins is to visit Cork, Kilkenny and Limerick for further book signings in the coming weeks as her debut children’s book Pigín of Howth continues to fly off the shelves. The book has captured the imagination of people all over Ireland – in particular grandparents -- and has gone back to press for the third time in just the few weeks since publication. It debuted at No. 1 in the bestseller lists after Kathleen appeared on The Late Late Show for the first time on 14 October to discuss it – the same weekend she turned 82.

Ryan Tubridy has described Pigín of Howth as ‘a beautiful book, written by a beautiful woman, for beautiful children’. Pigín tells the tales of a little pig and his pals in the Dublin seaside town of Howth and it brings to life the stories Kathleen has been telling her grandchildren for the past ten years.

And Pigín is in good company. He joins a hat-trick of recently published children’s titles from Gill Books: Irelandopedia, Naturama and Historopedia, all of which reached No. 1 in children’s non-fiction. “It has been so exciting to start a children’s list for Gill Books“ said director, Nicki Howard, “and it’s been a real privilege to help bring the Pigín stories to so many children all over the country. I’m certain the book is going to become a classic to be enjoyed by families for many years to come.“

The dates for Kathleen’s book signings are as follows

• 19 November, 2pm, Waterstones, 69 Patrick St, Cork
• 26 November, 2pm, O’Mahony’s, 120 O’Connell St, Limerick
• 10 December, 2pm, The Book Centre, 10 High Street, Kilkenny

Pigín of Howth, contains three standalone stories – Pigs Can’t Fly, but They Can Swim!, Pigín’s Magical Midnight Adventure and A Day to Wear a Top Hat – and is published by Gill Books, priced at €16.99, £14.99. The stories are accompanied by illustrations from Margaret Anne Suggs.

Follow us @GillBooks on Twitter, @gillbooks on Instagram and like us on Facebook for the latest author news. Check out the highlights from the launch below and the full album on Facebook and listen to an exclusive Pigín of Howth extract!

About the author

Kathleen Watkins was a well-known harpist and folk singer when she became the first continuity announcer to appear on screen on Teilifís Éireann’s launch night in 1960. She married the broadcaster Gay Byrne and lived for many years in Howth where the Pigín stories are set. Although her Pigín stories have been told many times, this is her first book. Kathleen has served on the board of the Arts Council of Ireland and National Gallery of Ireland. In recent years she has done poetry readings in the National Library and National Gallery of Ireland.