'To know Dee was to know the energy that comes from creativity'

The late Deirdre McDermott's Funeral Mass will take place in Dublin on Saturday.

Deirdre, late of Rathcoole, Co Dublin, and then of London, will be sadly missed and forever loved by her heartbroken family, her husband Tony, her father Liam, who is originally from Edeninfagh, Glenties, and still has close ties with Donegal and the Donegal Association in Dublin. Her late mother, Carmel, was born in Elphin, Co Roscommon.

Deidre will be remembered by her brothers Rónán and Sean, sister Orla, her mother-in-law, Lorna Ali, in-laws Deborah, Colin and Gwen, her nephews and nieces Ciarán, Cormac, Dervla, Conn, Anna, Emmet and Tara, cousins, aunts, relatives and her large circle of friends, especially her Walker Books family. Also dearly missed by her lifelong dear friend, Honora Gyo from Portnoo, and her family.

Honora was at her bedside when she passed away in the Harley Clinic, London, on Sunday, September 13.

Deirdre loved visiting Donegal. Her Grandfather, the late Con McDermott, was a great storyteller and perhaps some of his talents were handed down to Deirdre. She was very much loved by her Grandfather Con and Grandmother Frances.

Deirdre attended Loreto College, St. Stephen’s Green and National College of Art and Design (NCAD), where she graduated in 1988. She emigrated to London in 1989 and began working at Children’s Book Publishers, Walker Books Ltd.

She spent 37 years at Walker Books and played a pivotal role in shaping its picture book list. She worked with some very famous and celebrated authors and illustrators from around the world.

In 2002, Deirdre rose to become picture book publisher and Associate Director of Walker Books. In a special tribute to Deirdre, Walker Books praised her “art director’s eye, deep understanding of storytelling and exceptional instinct for illustration and design. Her taste, judgement and attention to detail helped shape the Walker book list for more than three decades.”

Under Deirdre’s leadership, Walker Books won many awards. They won the Carnegie Medal for illustration six times, the Klaus Flugge Prize three times (most recently with Forest Xiaos Seven Babies), as well as winning the Oscar’s Book Prize twice, Waterstones’ Book Prize for Best Illustrated Book and the 2026 British Book Awards’ Children's Non-Fiction and Illustrated Book of the Year, titled ‘Oh dear, Look what I Got'.

Paying tribute to Deirdre, the CEO of Walker Books said: “A force of nature, a bundle of joy, an unstoppable energy, an enthusiasm that touched us all, and the source of some of the very best laughs we ever shared.

Publishing Director of Walker Books added that “to know Dee was to know the energy that comes from creativity. She changed the way we work, even the phrases we use.”

All her co-workers always said that Deirdre never forgot her Irishness and always let people know her roots. She followed the Irish Rugby team and celebrated their many wins. She was also a great fan of Irish music and attended many concerts.

In addition to her work at Walker, Deirdre joined the board of the Association of Illustrators (AOI) in 2018 and was one of their longest-serving trustees. A statement issued by them said, ‘She combined a dynamic combination of uncompromising rigour with unrivalled experience of picture book publishing.

Following cremation at Golders Green Crematorium, London, on Wednesday, September 23, Deirdre’s Funeral Mass will take place on Saturday, September 26, at 11am in the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saggart, followed by burial in Saggart Cemetery.