Irish Examiner journalist Sean Murray was among the winners at the An Post Irish Book Awards, which were announced this evening at the Convention Centre in Dublin.
Murray and his co-authors Christine Bohan and Nicky Ryan took home the Listeners’ Choice Award for The Last Disco: The Story of the Stardust Tragedy.
The Novel of the Year Award was won by Donal Ryan, while Sally Rooney won the Author of the Year Award.
Author Paul Howard, best known for his Ross O’Carroll Kelly series, was given a Special Recognition Award to acknowledge his contribution to the Irish publishing industry over the past 25 years. His Ross books have sold over 1.5 million copies in Ireland and are critically acclaimed.
Howard is also a playwright and the author of several non-fiction works, as well as a range of children’s books. A four-time Irish Book Award winner, he has also ghost written a number of autobiographies and co-wrote Roddy Collin’s memoir The Rodfather.
Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire and Dorothy Cashman, Clair Wills, Seán Ronayne, Molly Nic Céile, Paddy Donnelly and Kathleen Macadam are among the other winning authors at the awards.
Children’s writer Martin Waddell was presented with the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award.
Waddell is the first children’s writer to receive the award, and is one of the most popular and beloved authors in children’s fiction. He is best known for Owl Babies, illustrated by Patrick Benson, (1992) and the Little Bear books, illustrated by Barbara Firth.
As the 2024 Lifetime Achievement honouree, Waddell joins a host of other distinguished recipients including Anne Enright, Sebastian Barry, Eavan Boland, Colm Tóibín and others.
All previous winners of The Lifetime Achievement Award can be found at https://www.irishbookawards.ie/history/hall-of-fame/
First awarded in 2006, the An Post Irish Book Awards celebrate and promote Irish writing to the widest range of readers possible.
Each year, the An Post Irish Book Awards bring together a vast community passionate about books – readers, authors, booksellers, publishers and librarians – to recognise the very best of new and established Irish writing talent.
Larry Mac Hale, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards, said: “The An Post Irish Book Awards has firmly become a cornerstone of the Irish literary landscape, and we’re incredibly proud of the collaboration and passion that has driven its success – from readers and writers to publishers, booksellers, librarians, and our dedicated sponsors.
“This past year has seen an exciting array of Irish books published, showcasing not only the voices of renowned authors, but also introducing fresh, exceptional talent who are enriching Ireland’s literary tradition.
“It is with great pleasure that we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the winners of this year’s An Post Irish Book Awards.”
The Irish Words You Should Know – Hector Ó hEochagáin (Gill Books)
Nature Boy: A Journey of Birdsong and Belonging – Seán Ronayne (Hachette Books Ireland)
Atlas of the Irish Civil War: New Perspectives – Hélène O’Keeffe, John Crowley, Donal Ó Drisceoil, John Borgonovo and Mike Murphy (Cork University Press)
Missing Persons, Or My Grandmother’s Secrets – Clair Wills (Allen Lane, Penguin Random House)
Heart, Be at Peace – Donal Ryan (Doubleday, Penguin Random House)
Irish Food History: A Companion – Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire & Dorothy Cashman (Royal Irish Academy)
Gaeilge i Mo Chroí – Irish In My Heart: Your Guide to Loving and Living the Irish Language – Molly Nic Céile (Hachette Books Ireland)
Sally Rooney
Obsessed: The Autobiography – Johnny Sexton with Peter O’Reilly (Sandycove, Penguin)
Geansaithe Móra – Gearóidín Nic Cárthaigh (LeabhairCOMHAR)
The Golden Hare – Paddy Donnelly (The O’Brien Press)
Fia and the Last Snow Deer – Eilish Fisher, illustrated by Dermot Flynn (Puffin, Penguin Random House Children’s)
Something’s About to Blow Up – Sam Blake (Gill Books)
A Stranger in the Family – Jane Casey (Hemlock Press)
The Coast Road – Alan Murrin (Bloomsbury Circus)
Frankie – Graham Norton (Coronet)
Paul Howard
The Last Disco: The Story of the Stardust Tragedy – Sean Murray, Christine Bohan and Nicky Ryan (Eriu)
Valentine’s Day – Kathleen Macadam
‘Onionskin’ – Eilín de Paor
Little Acorns Bookstore, Derry
