'It really wasn’t my fault that our first ever sports day turned out to be our last ever sports day…'

When Múinteoir Emer has to have a bunion removed, Milly’s class gets a substitute teacher for the five weeks she’ll be gone.

But Mr Wright is not like any other teacher Milly has ever had. He’s convinced he’s always right (of course!), is super strict and obsessed with PE. So much so, he convinces their principal, Mr Manley, to allow their class to organise a Lá Spóirt for the whole school. Mr Wright’s competitive spirit rubs off on Milly and soon she’s taking part in the egg and spoon race, the three-legged race and even a bit of archery …

Sure, what could possibly go wrong?

Leona Forde is a teacher from Bandon, County Cork, and the author of the Milly McCarthy series. She wrote Milly McCarthy for her daughter, who wanted a Wimpy Kid style story set in Ireland.

Karen Harte is an illustrator, comic creator and visual designer from Dublin. Clients include Positive Period Ireland and Girls Rock Dublin.