Leona Forde
A Cork teacher who writes the Milly McCarthy books.
Leona Forde is an author and teacher. A Cork teacher who writes the Milly McCarthy books. This page is a short guide for parents, teachers and young readers: who they are, which of their books are in the current top 20 and where to start.
About Leona Forde
Leona Forde was born in 1979 in Ballyphehane, Cork, and lives in Bandon, West Cork. She is a teacher and writer who, at the time of a newspaper interview, had been teaching for about 20 years.
She began writing during lockdown while taking writing courses. Her daughter had noticed that most of her books were set in America or Britain, so Leona began making up stories set closer to home. Her debut, Milly McCarthy Is a Complete Catastrophe, was illustrated by Karen Harte and sends Milly’s class on a tour of Fota Wildlife Park.
The second book, Milly McCarthy and the Irish Dancing Disaster (2023), was shortlisted for the An Post Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year awards.
Leona Forde’s books in the top 20
- Milly McCarthy and the Doggy Daycare Drama: number 9 in the list we checked on 7 November 2026. Milly wants her own dog, and a dog-walking business grows into chaotic doggy daycare.
Other well-known books and work
- Milly McCarthy Is a Complete Catastrophe
- Milly McCarthy and the Irish Dancing Disaster (2023)
- Milly McCarthy and the Sports Day Shambles
Awards and recognition
- Milly McCarthy and the Irish Dancing Disaster was shortlisted for the An Post Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year awards
Where to start
Start with the first Milly McCarthy book, then follow Milly through her scrapes.
Frequently asked questions about Leona Forde
Who is Leona Forde?
Leona Forde was born in 1979 in Ballyphehane, Cork, and lives in Bandon, West Cork. She is a teacher and writer who, at the time of a newspaper interview, had been teaching for about 20 years.
Which books by Leona Forde are in the top 20?
Milly McCarthy and the Doggy Daycare Drama (number 9). See our Top 20 children’s books for the full list.
Where should I start with Leona Forde?
Start with the first Milly McCarthy book, then follow Milly through her scrapes.
Biographical details are drawn from publisher biographies, reference works and the author’s own site, and may have changed. The illustration is our own and is not a likeness of the author. See all the authors.
Sources: Irish Examiner interview.