The Shortlist for the Irish Book Awards was announced yesterday evening and there are some great books and authors on this year’s lists.
The An Post Irish Book Awards are a set of industry-recognition awards set up by a coalition of Irish booksellers in 2007. Now in its 19th year, the An Post Irish Book Awards celebrate Irish writing across numerous literary genres, bringing together an extended community passionate about books – readers, authors, booksellers, publishers and librarians – to recognise the best of new and established Irish writing talent.
Here are a few of the categories that I am particularly interested in:
EASON NOVEL OF THE YEAR:
This is a very strong shortlist and just goes to show how consistent a year 2024 has been for Irish fiction. I would imagine that this is a fight to the death between Sally Rooney and Colm Toibin, and even though I am delighted to see Seabourne on the list, my choice would be The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry which I thought was just amazing.
IRELAND AM POPULAR FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR:
I haven’t read any of these, but it’s interesting to see three of Ireland’s biggest names in fiction go head-to-head. Norton, Keyes and Ahern would be unsurprising winners, but comic writer Ross O’Carroll Kelly is very popular in Ireland and could just pull it off.
LIBRARY ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND, AUTHOR OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST:
This is an interesting selection of writers, chosen – I imagine – with inclusion of different genres in mind. If I had to call it, I’d say that Colm Toibin would be named the winner, but this award is a very open race.
IRISH INDEPENDENT CRIME FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR:
I’ve got out of the way of reading new Irish crime so a few of the names here are new to me, but Steve Cavanagh and Jane Casey have been dominating this genre for a good few years now and I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them takes home this prize.
SUNDAY INDEPENDENT NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR:
It’s always great to see the new names that crop up in this category every year, testament to the flourishing Irish literary scene. I’ve heard great things about The Coast Road and The Amendments and have a copy of Glorious Exploits waiting to be read.
Winners will be announced at awards ceremony in the Convention Centre, Dublin on Wednesday 27th November. A TV special hosted by Oliver Callan announcing the overall An Post Irish Book of the Year’winner will be broadcast on RTÉ One on Thursday 19th December.
The public are now being asked to have their say and cast their votes for the best books of the year via the An Post Irish Book Awards website. Voters may cast their votes from 8 pm on 24th October until voting closes on the 14th November at 5 pm, with all voters will be entered into a prize draw to win one of five €100 National Book Tokens vouchers.
Have you read any of the shortlisted titles? Let me know what you think in the comments.