How Olivia Hope went from athletics pioneer to children's author

From her drive to write to signing up to be a kidney donor, Kerry writer Olivia Hope tells Deirdre McArdle that everything comes back to her boys 

Olivia Hope, author of childrens' books, pictured in her study at her home in Baraduff, Co Kerry. Picture Dan Linehan

Olivia Hope’s career trajectory is a reflection of her energy and zest for life. 

From a national record-holding hammer thrower to a children’s book writer, Hope has marched to her own beat, living life to the full and imbuing all that experience into her books.