Since its first publication in 1990, Marita Conlon-McKenna's Under the Hawthorn Tree has broken all records for sales of an Irish-published children's book, has won national and international awards, and has been translated into Danish, Swedish, Dutch, French, German, Japanese as well as selling editions in the US. It tells the story of three children left to fend for themselves during the horror of the Great Irish Famine.

Now, for the first time, the book is being made available in the Irish language, as Faoin Sceach Gheal, translated by Maire Nic Mhaolain.

Sceal eachtach ar an Drochshaol, agus ar thriur oga a sharaionn gach guais lena linn.

I ndaichidi an naou haois deag ta Eire I ngreim ag an ngorta. Nuair a imionn mi-adh ar a dteaghlach fein, fagtar Eibhlin, Micheal agus Peig le deanamh as doibh fein. Le healu on ocras agus o theach na mbocht, cuireann siad sa siul. Is e a n-aon dochas dul chomh fada leis na seanaintinu a mbiodh a mathair ag scealaiocht orthu.

Tugann siad aghaidh go misniuil ar an aistear fada anroiteach, agus gno acu ar feadh an achair da bhfuil de shracadh agus de ghra agus de dhilseacht ina gcroi.

This book has been graded for interest at 10+ years.

There are 176 pages in this book. This book was published 2012 by O'Brien Press Ltd .

Marita Conlon-McKenna is one of Ireland's bestselling novelists, writing both for children and adults. Her children's book UNDER THE HAWTHORN TREE has sold more than 500, 000 copies. Marita lives in the Stilorgan area of Dublin with her husband and four children.