Dr Eilish Fisher is an award-winning children’s fiction author and poet. Her debut middle grade novel in verse, Fia and the Last Snow Deer was the winner of several awards, shortlists and nominations. Eilish’s second novel, The Waters and the Wild, published in 2025 by Puffin UK, is longlisted for the 2026 KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards.
Eilish’s poetry has been published in Crannog Literary Magazine, Three Drops From a Cauldron, The Ogham Stone and Cailleach literary journals and in the anthology Writing Home; The ‘New Irish’ Poets, published by Dedalus Press.
She received a master’s degree in early medieval Irish history and literature in 2002 and a doctorate in medieval English literature in 2006 from the National University of Ireland, Maynooth.
Eilish is involved in the Champion for Reading Programme with Children’s Books Ireland and is a member of the Discover Irish Kids Books Campaign.
Short summary of your specific area of research interest
Middle English Arthurian literature, medieval Irish literature, mythology and history, children’s literature.
Books:
The Waters and the Wild. Puffin, London, 2025
Fia and the Last Snow Deer. Puffin, London, 2024
Anthologies:
I Am A Man Of Peace: Writings Inspired by the Maynooth University Ken Saro-Wiwa Collection. Edited by Helen Fallon, Daraja Press, 2020. Poem Title: “Night Feedings”
Writing Home: The New Irish Poets, Dedalus Press, 2019. Poem Title: “Candle Making at Winter Solstice”
Literary Journals and Publications:
Mary Evans Picture Library and Poetry Blog. December 2020. Poem Title: “Mince Pies—For Phyllis”
The Ogham Stone. 2018. Poem Title: “Autumn”
Cailleach. Summer, 2018. Poem Title: “Referendum”
Three Drops From a Cauldron. Autumn, 2017 Poem Title: “Innana’s Descent, Samhain, 1989”
Crannog Issue 45. Summer 2017. Poem Title: “Kilmacurragh–For Kaeden”
Academic Conference Papers:
‘Dangerous Margins’: Sex, Speech, and Spirits in Middle English Arthurian Romance. International Medieval Congress, Leeds, 2008.
Beauty in the Beast: The Early Irish Sovereignty Motif in Middle English Romances. International Medieval Congress, Leeds, 2005
‘The Women Free from Guilt and Guile:’ Gender in the Metrical Dindshenchas. International Medieval Congress, Leeds, 2004
Accolades and Awards:
Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month, November, 2025. Book Title: Fia and the Last Snow Deer.
The Carnegie Award, 2026. Nominated (results for long and shortlist pending). Book Title: Fia and the Last Snow Deer.
KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards, 2026. Longlist (results for shortlist and awards pending). Book Title: The Waters and the Wild.
The Week Junior, Poetry Category, 2025. Winner. Book Title: Fia and the Last Snow Deer.
The Wainwright Prize, Children’s Category, 2025. Longlisted. Book Title: Fia and the Last Snow Deer.
Book of the Year, The KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards, 2025. Book Title: Fia and the Last Snow Deer.
Eilís Dillon Debut Book Award, The KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards, 2025. Book Title: Fia and the Last Snow Deer.
An Post Children’s Book Award, Senior Children’s Category, 2024. Book Title: Fia and the Last Snow Deer.
An Post Book of the Year, shortlist, 2024. Book Title: Fia and the Last Snow Deer
Book of the Year, Halfway Up the Stairs Award, 2024. Book Title: Fia and the Last Snow Deer
Mslexia Children’s Novel Award, Middle Grade Category, shortlisted 2019.
Bray Literary Festival, third prize, 2018. Poem Title: “The Rag Tree”.
Bray Literary Festival, shortlist, 2017. Poem Title: “Domestic”.
List qualifications, including year of attainment
Ph.D. English Literature, NUI Maynooth, 2006. Thesis Title: ‘Ther is a Byrd Men Calle an Owle, and Yett a Lady I am:’ Liminality and Women in Middle English Arthurian Romance
M.A. Honours Medieval Irish Literature, NUI Maynooth, 2002. Thesis Title: ‘The Women Free From Guilt and Guile:’ Gender Inversion in the Metrical Dindshenchas
B.A. Honours English Literature and Medieval Irish Literature and History, NUI Maynooth, 2001.