When Laura Pakenham began sharing Irish language videos on TikTok, she did not expect that her passion would lead to a US book deal before an Irish one.
Now, after being published in the US and Canada by Simon & Schuster, her debut book "Irish History & Culture Through Language" is set to be officially released in Ireland - as well as the UK, parts of Europe, Australia, and New Zealand - on February 26.
The book is a part of Simon & Schuster's 'Speak the World' series.
@laurajpakenham I’M AN AUTHOR - IS ÚDAR MÉ 🤩 More details to come hit for now, Nollaig Shona 🫶 #gaeilge #irishtiktok #booktok ♬ An cailín ciúin x eternal sunshine - Aoife
Originally from Co Longford, Pakenham is a presenter on TG4 and has built a massive online following by creating accessible, often humorous Irish language content on TikTok under the handle @laurajpakenham.
Her videos have attracted millions of views and a loyal international audience, particularly among Irish Americans curious about reconnecting with the cúpla focal.
@laurajpakenham friday thoughts .. 💭 #gaeilge #gaeilgetiktok #irishtiktok #irishlanguage ♬ original sound - laura pakenham 🦋
Not only did her Irish language videos draw big numbers on social media, but they also caught the attention of publishers Simon & Schuster.
"The content I already made aligned with the design and the audience they [Simon & Schuster] wanted to curate for the book," Pakenham recently told the Longford Leader.
"Essentially, the book is all about integrating Irish into your everyday conversations," she said. "It's that first way to dip your toe into the land of Gaeilge."
A description of Pakenham's book says: "You don’t need to be fluent to appreciate the beauty of the Irish language. Maybe you’re interested in learning Irish for an upcoming trip or to connect with your heritage. Or perhaps you need a few phases to throw out over a pint for St. Patrick’s Day."
It adds: "Each entry features pronunciation, the English translation, and part of speech, along with what this word or phrase teaches us about the unique and vibrant culture and history of the Emerald Isle and ways to use Irishism for yourself."
While Pakenham anxiously awaits her book to hit Irish shops, she has asked her international audience to send her snaps of it from around the world:
@laurajpakenham I can’t wait to see it in real life on the shelves !! 😭😭😭 #gaeilge #irishtiktok #gaeltok #irishincanada #irishinamerica #irishlanguage #author #booktok ♬ Everybody Wants To Rule The World X Electric Love - darcy stokes
You can learn more about Laura Pakenham's "Irish History & Culture Through Language" here.
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