John is the author and illustrator of a series of Irish history books called Deadly! Irish History aimed at 9-12 year olds, though there’s plenty of stuff for the adult reader too! So far there are three in the series and they feature the Vikings, the Celts and the Normans. All of the books are crammed with cartoons, cutaway drawings, comic strips, recipes, puzzles, games and of course plenty of facts about the people of our past! To buy a signed copy for £7.99 (€8.99) plus P&P, please use the CONTACT US button above, email [email protected] or ring 07985 30 1960. We’ll even throw in a FREE bookmark! Here are a few reviews…
brilliant … entertaining … educational – BBC Radio Ulster’s John Toal Show
An exciting, entertaining and highly informative journey back in time to when the Vikings arrived in Ireland … in-depth insight … packed full of fun quizzes, intriguing facts and clever illustrations about Viking life, which all keep the reader fully engaged … most suitable for use with third to sixth class pupils. It fits perfectly into the ‘Early Peoples and Ancient Societies’ strand in the history curriculum. Pupils will be learning about a significant part of history in a fun way – the best way to bring history alive … well written in a humorous, quirky way, full of action and excitement! I thoroughly enjoyed this read and would highly recommend it. Additional teaching resources can be accessed at www.obrien.ie – Alice Holland, InTouch Magazine
lots of cartoons and fun facts for history loving children – Irish Independent
Farrelly’s approach is fresh, his questioning style right on target for his age nine-plus readership … find out everything you’d never thought to ask about Vikings in this humourous, quirky look at Irish history – Evening Echo
John’s books make history fun and accessible for children – Newry Reporter
Farrelly’s writing and pen-and-ink drawings never miss a beat in this well-informed, witty and irreverent account of the Celts. Its swiftly paced multi-format approach sprinkles the narrative with comic strips, guess-the-answer sessions, roll-the-dice-to-see-which character-you-are games; presents a Celtic fashion show complete with commentary; and shows you how to make your own games board or roundhouse. Its variety of forms means it engages with a variety of learning styles and it never once talks down to its readers. Its companionable wittiness sets it well beyond its English counterparts. Great fun! – Children’s Books Ireland
Inspired and insightful, and filled with down ‘n’ dirty details about the nomadic tribes that settled along the Emerald Isle’s stunning west coast, the slender tome includes sections on storytelling, art and culture, architecture, weaponry, law, religion, food, and more. Presented with bullet points and animated illustrations, the series debut is designed to engage easily distracted audiences (i.e.: young readers). A companion book by the same author, titled The Vikings, is equally entertaining and educational – Celtic Life International
Stocking filler…accessible, anarchic and crammed with cartoons and wacky illustrations, this book is as deadly as Irish history gets! – RTE Guide
Wonderfully illustrated with black & white drawings and cartoons illuminating our new-found knowledge, You’ll laugh, you’ll gasp in horror and you’ll want MORE! – LitVox
