
The crows of Strandhill inspire a new children's book
Outlining the background to the unusual humorous book called 'Strictly No Crows' John said it arose from his own affinity with crows.
'My wife Denise Lee is a Sligo native from Cleveragh Road, and who is a sister of the musician Eddie Lee.
'We were living in Kinlough, County Leitrim, for a few years and are back in England now.
.John added that Strandhill is one of his and Denise's favourite places.
'I have always been fascinated by the crows in Strandhill and they have displaced the sea gulls which is no harm.
'The crows are much more polite than the sea gulls and I think Strandhill is missing a trick here.
'You get this bird tourism where people go over to see the Puffins. They should go over and see the crows in Strandhill.'
John continued: 'The crows are the dominant species on the beach and they are a real mixed bunch.
'You will get the odd carrion crow, the hooded crow and a bunch of jackdaws who gang up together and they stroll along the sea front like they own the place.
'They are great birds. So, I told my six-year-old grandson Finn about the crows in Strandhill and how they can imitate a dog barking and also a beep- beep all while sitting on the fence.
'They are great characters and I took a photo of a crow a few years ago and he wanted some ice cream so I got him some from Mammy Johnstons and in return the crow did a bit of Kung Fu on the fence in front of the beach.'
John's picture was later published in the Guardian newspaper with a blurb about 'how the entertaining crows should be a tourist attraction in Strandhill.
'I wrote down a story about the crows wanting a day off from the seafront at Strandhill to go to the golf course and play there and maybe move the golf balls around. I have illustrations as well.'
John said the book was aimed at children between five and nine years of age, but there are some jokes in there for adults so that when they read them to their children they can have a laugh as well'
The book is available on Amazon with Finn listed as co-author.
The blurb fstates: 'Strictly No Crows' is not your typical picture book. It's a cheeky, charming tale of turf wars and unlikely friendships, where feathers fly and golf balls roll.'
'Young readers will be giggling over the crow-led chaos, while adults might just recognize a hint of gentle satire peeking through the putting green.
John added: 'Every illustration in this book is a miniature masterpiece—crafted with intention, rich with detail, and designed to be lingered over.
'Whether it's the glint in a golfer's eye or the sly swagger of a hungry bird, the art invites discovery, turning each page into a gallery visit. Perfect for bedtime, story time, or whenever laughter needs a tee-off.'

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The Irish Sun
a day ago
- The Irish Sun
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Irish Independent
2 days ago
- Irish Independent
The crows of Strandhill inspire a new children's book
Called 'Strictly No Crows' it is written by well- known illustrator and photographer John Carver, with some help from his grandson Finn Carve (6) from Strandhill. Outlining the background to the unusual humorous book called 'Strictly No Crows' John said it arose from his own affinity with crows. 'My wife Denise Lee is a Sligo native from Cleveragh Road, and who is a sister of the musician Eddie Lee. 'We were living in Kinlough, County Leitrim, for a few years and are back in England now. .John added that Strandhill is one of his and Denise's favourite places. 'I have always been fascinated by the crows in Strandhill and they have displaced the sea gulls which is no harm. 'The crows are much more polite than the sea gulls and I think Strandhill is missing a trick here. 'You get this bird tourism where people go over to see the Puffins. They should go over and see the crows in Strandhill.' John continued: 'The crows are the dominant species on the beach and they are a real mixed bunch. 'You will get the odd carrion crow, the hooded crow and a bunch of jackdaws who gang up together and they stroll along the sea front like they own the place. 'They are great birds. So, I told my six-year-old grandson Finn about the crows in Strandhill and how they can imitate a dog barking and also a beep- beep all while sitting on the fence. 'They are great characters and I took a photo of a crow a few years ago and he wanted some ice cream so I got him some from Mammy Johnstons and in return the crow did a bit of Kung Fu on the fence in front of the beach.' John's picture was later published in the Guardian newspaper with a blurb about 'how the entertaining crows should be a tourist attraction in Strandhill. 'I wrote down a story about the crows wanting a day off from the seafront at Strandhill to go to the golf course and play there and maybe move the golf balls around. I have illustrations as well.' John said the book was aimed at children between five and nine years of age, but there are some jokes in there for adults so that when they read them to their children they can have a laugh as well' The book is available on Amazon with Finn listed as co-author. The blurb fstates: 'Strictly No Crows' is not your typical picture book. It's a cheeky, charming tale of turf wars and unlikely friendships, where feathers fly and golf balls roll.' 'Young readers will be giggling over the crow-led chaos, while adults might just recognize a hint of gentle satire peeking through the putting green. John added: 'Every illustration in this book is a miniature masterpiece—crafted with intention, rich with detail, and designed to be lingered over. 'Whether it's the glint in a golfer's eye or the sly swagger of a hungry bird, the art invites discovery, turning each page into a gallery visit. Perfect for bedtime, story time, or whenever laughter needs a tee-off.'