Writer turns to the past to conjure up children’s tales

An east Cork author and historian has delved into the world of children’s stories with a first collection based on local history and folklore.

The publication Stories for Children about Youghal came about after Mike Hackett exhausted his supply of conventional bedtime stories for his five grandchildren.

The writer of 12 historical books turned to the past, drawing on “stories about local people and places from my own or even my parents’ childhood or that I discovered during research”.