A landmark publication in Irish history; this is a celebration of Black Irish identity. Published in collaboration with the organisation of the same name, Black & Irish, who were founded in June 2020 coinciding with the Black Lives Matter movement. Actors. Athletes. Activists. Style icons. Scientists. Influencers. Entrepreneurs. Black Irish people are blazing trails in every sphere of modern life. In the first ever book about Black Irish people, we take a look at the inspirational careers, dreams and achievements of legends, trailblazers and everyday heroes, including actor Ruth Negga, soccer player Gavin Bazunu, reality tv star Dami Hope, author Emma Dabiri, record-breaking sprinter Rhasidat Adeleke and musician Phil Lynott. Within these pages, you will find both famous and unsung Black Irish people. Black and Mixed-Race people have lived in Ireland for hundreds of years, but even now the concept of being Black and Irish is still being discovered and discussed. We hope the stories of the legends, trailblazers and everyday heroes in this book will inspire young Black Irish people, and provide insight into the Black Irish experience to people from all walks of life. With stunning colour illustrations by Jessica Louis. "An informative tribute to Black Irish heroes past and present with hopeful messages for those yet to come." –  Kirkus Reviews " These short, engaging biographies will enlighten and inspire."  –  Booklist "A well-researched and fascinating read, presented in an educational and approachable manner befitting of its target upper YA audience." –  YA Books Central "One I wish I had on my own bookshelf as a kid." –  The Irish Times " A powerful and important book." –   Irish Independent "I believe everyone could benefit from reading this."    –   Paper Lanterns "The reality  of being Black and Irish is portrayed in here as well as the brilliant celebratory stories of amazing people."     – Elaina Ryan,  Children's Books Ireland "... perfect for someone who's enjoyed the Rebel Girls but has grown out of them ...The art is a huge part of how effective the book is ... It's a great read." –  Read and Reviewed " I really enjoyed reading the life stories of those featured. The profiles reflect a changing Ireland and that the Black & Irish community have positively contributed to the sporting, artistic and cultural fabric of Irish life. The challenges facing any minority are evident and the aspiration of being part of, is well described."  – Goodreads Review " I ate this up ... This is perfect for young readers 12+ and teens as it highlights many different areas: activism, hair care, science, influencing, education, media and sports. Plus, the tiny colourful information /index areas are beneficial so you can stay connected to the text without having to google words that may be unknown."   – ***** NetGalley Reader Review Leon Diop  is a 28-year-old mixed-race man from Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland. Born to an Irish mother and a Senegalese father, he grew up in a mixed ethnic and religious household. He studied Psychology in Maynooth University where he served two years as Students' Union President. He is the founder of Black and Irish, an organisation striving to transform Ireland into a global leader in equality and inclusion. He is a host of the Black and Irish podcast with Irish national broadcaster, RTÉ. He currently serves on the boards of the Childhood Development Initiative, and Tallaght and South Dublin County Partnership.  Briana Fitzsimons  grew up in Yonkers, NY, USA, and has lived in Ireland since 2017. She has been a secondary school teacher for 12 years and also holds degrees in English and Creative Writing. Briana joined the Black and Irish team in 2021 and has been working to make schools across the country more inclusive for all students. One of her main goals is to empower teachers and young people with the tools they need to make sure that everyone is seen and heard and feels a sense of belonging in all educational spaces in Ireland. She lives in Co Kildare with her partner and two children and is proud to call Ireland home. Jessica Louis  is an independent Nigerian illustrator whose work features bright colorful characters, shapes and scenes that speak to the emotions at the edges and at the core of our lived experience. She has exhibited with DesignOpp in Dublin and Fresco in Paris and been published in Totally Dublin. She’s represented by Studio BLVCK and together they are paving a new path for independent black creatives across the world.