Irish annual literary award event
The Irish Book Awards are Irish literary awards given annually to books and authors in various categories. It is the only literary award supported by all-Irish bookstores. The primary sponsor is An Post, the state owned postal service in Ireland.
History
First awarded in 2006, the Irish Book Awards grew out of the Hughes & Hughes bookstore's Irish Novel of the Year Prize, which was inaugurated in 2003. Since 2007 the Awards have been an independent not-for-profit company funded by sponsorship. Bord Gáis Energy sponsored the awards from 2012 until 2018, when An Post took over sponsorship.[1]
Description
There are currently[when?] nine categories, seven of which are judged by the Irish Literary Academy, and two by a public vote. There is also a lifetime achievement award.
Awards
Current awards
- Novel of the Year[2]
- Crime Fiction Book of the Year
- Best Irish Published Book of the Year
- Non-Fiction Book of the Year
- Cookbook of the Year
- Popular Fiction Book of the Year
- Children's Book of the Year, Junior
- Children's Book of the Year, Senior
- Teen & Young Adult Book of the Year
- Sports Book of the Year
- Newcomer of the Year
- Irish Language Book of the Year
- Lifestyle Book of the Year
- Biography of the Year
- Author of the Year
- Short Story of the Year
- Poem of the Year
- Bookshop of the Year
- The Last Word Listeners’ Choice Award
- New Voices: The An Post Writing Prize[3]
- Lifetime Achievement Award[4]
Previous awards
- International Recognition Award (last awarded 2020)
- RTÉ Audience/Listeners' Choice Award (last awarded 2021)
- Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year (last awarded 2020)
An Post Irish Book of the Year
Since 2011, one of the award-winning books has been selected as the overall Irish Book of the Year.[5]
Winners
Book of the Year winners are indicated with a blue ribbon (
).
2003–2005 (Hughes & Hughes Award / Irish Novel)
Inaugurated in 2000 by Hughes & Hughes, the Hughes & Hughes Award ran until 2005 when it merged with the Irish Book Awards and became the Irish Novel category.[1][2]
2006
In subsequent years the Children's Book category was split into two award categories; Junior and Senior.
2007
2008
| Award
|
Winner
|
| Novel of the Year
|
The Gathering by Anne Enright
|
| Best Irish Published Book of the Year
|
Judging Dev by Diarmaid Ferriter
|
| Non-Fiction Book of the Year
|
Judging Dev by Diarmaid Ferriter
|
| Popular Fiction Book of the Year
|
Take A Look at Me Now by Anita Notaro
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Junior
|
The Story of Ireland by Brendan O'Brien
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Senior
|
Wilderness by Roddy Doyle
|
| Sports Book of the Year
|
Trevor Brennan: Heart and Soul by Trevor Brennan with Gerry Thornley
|
| Newcomer of the Year
|
With My Lazy Eye by Julia Kelly
|
| RTÉ Audience Choice Award
|
Judging Dev by Diarmaid Ferriter
|
| Lifetime Achievement Award
|
William Trevor
|
2009
2010
2011
| Award
|
Winner
|
| Novel of the Year
|
Mistaken by Neil Jordan
|
| Crime Fiction Book of the Year
|
Bloodland by Alan Glynn
|
| Best Irish Published Book of the Year
|
Connemara: A Little Gaelic Kingdom by Tim Robinson
|
| Non-Fiction Book of the Year
|
Easy Meals by Rachel Allen
|
| Popular Fiction Book of the Year
|
All For You by Sheila O'Flanagan
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Junior
|
The Lonely Beast by Chris Judge
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Senior
|
The Real Rebecca by Anna Carey
|
| Sports Book of the Year
|
Inside the Peloton by Nicolas Roche
|
| Newcomer of the Year
|
Solace by Belinda McKeon ()
|
| RTÉ Audience Choice Award
|
How to be a Woman by Caitlin Moran
|
| Bookshop of the Year
|
Crannóg Bookshop, Cavan Town
|
| Lifetime Achievement Award
|
Seamus Heaney
|
2012
2013
2014
The 2014 awards were presented on 26 November at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Dublin.[8]
| Award
|
Winner
|
| Novel of the Year
|
Academy St by Mary Costello ()
|
| Crime Fiction Book of the Year
|
Unravelling Oliver by Liz Nugent
|
| Best Irish Published Book of the Year
|
Dubliners 100 by Thomas Morris
|
| Non-Fiction Book of the Year
|
The Life and Loves of a He Devil by Graham Norton
|
| Cookbook of the Year
|
The Nation’s Favourite Food Fast by Neven Maguire
|
| Popular Fiction Book of the Year
|
The Year I Met You by Cecelia Ahern
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Junior
|
Shh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Senior
|
Moone Boy by Chris O'Dowd and Nick Vincent Murphy
|
| Sports Book of the Year
|
The Test by Brian O'Driscoll
|
| Newcomer of the Year
|
Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neill
|
| RTÉ Audience Choice Award
|
It’s All in the Head by Majella O'Donnell
|
| Short Story of the Year
|
Rest Day by John Boyne
|
| International Recognition Award
|
Jeffery Archer
|
| Lifetime Achievement Award
|
Paul Durcan
|
2015
The 2015 awards were presented on 25 November at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Dublin.[9]
2016
The 2016 awards sponsored by Bord Gáis Energy were presented on 16 November at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Dublin. The awards ceremony was presented by Keelin Shanley.[10][11]
On 14 December, Solar Bones by Mike McCormack was named as Ireland's best book of 2016. It was chosen by a public vote from the list of category winners below.[12]
| Award
|
Winner
|
| Novel of the Year
|
Solar Bones by Mike McCormack ()
|
| Crime Fiction Book of the Year
|
The Trespasser by Tana French
|
| Best Irish Published Book of the Year
|
The Glass Shore by Sinéad Gleeson
|
| Non-Fiction Book of the Year
|
I Read The News Today, Oh Boy by Paul Howard
|
| Cookbook of the Year
|
The World of The Happy Pear by Stephen Flynn and David Flynn
|
| Popular Fiction Book of the Year
|
Holding by Graham Norton
|
| Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year
|
Making It Up As I Go Along by Marian Keyes
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Junior
|
Pigín of Howth by Kathleen Watkins
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Senior
|
Knights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden
|
| Sports Book of the Year
|
The Battle by Paul O'Connell
|
| Newcomer of the Year
|
Red Dirt by E. M. Reapy
|
| RTÉ Audience Choice Award
|
Lying In Wait by Liz Nugent
|
| Short Story of the Year
|
The Visit by Orla McAlinden
|
| Poem of the Year
|
In Glasnevin by Jane Clarke
|
| International Recognition Award
|
Jilly Cooper
|
| Lifetime Achievement Award
|
John Montague
|
2017
The 2017 awards sponsored by Bord Gáis Energy were presented on 28 November at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin. The awards ceremony was presented by RTÉ's Keelin Shanley and Evelyn O'Rourke.[13][14]
| Award
|
Winner
|
| Novel of the Year
|
Midwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty
|
| Crime Fiction Book of the Year
|
The Therapy House by Julie Parsons
|
| Best Irish Published Book of the Year
|
Atlas of the Irish Revolution by John Crowley, Donál Ó Drisceoil, Mike Murphy and John Borgonovo ()
|
| Non-Fiction Book of the Year
|
Wounds: A Memoir of War & Love by Fergal Keane
|
| Cookbook of the Year
|
Cook Well, Eat Well by Rory O’Connell
|
| Popular Fiction Book of the Year
|
The Break by Marian Keyes
|
| Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year
|
Motherfoclóir by Darach Ó Séaghdha
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Junior
|
A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea – Favourite Rhymes from an Irish Childhood by Sarah Webb, illustrated by Steve McCarthy
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Senior
|
Stand by Me by Judi Curtin
|
| Teen & Young Adult Book of the Year
|
Tangleweed and Brine by Deirdre Sullivan illustrated by Karen Vaughan
|
| Sports Book of the Year
|
The Choice by Philly McMahon with Niall Kelly
|
| Newcomer of the Year
|
I Found my Tribe by Ruth Fitzmaurice
|
| RTÉ Audience Choice Award
|
He: A Novel by John Connolly
|
| Short Story of the Year
|
Back to Bones by Christine Dwyer Hickey
|
| Poem of the Year
|
Seven Sugar Cubes by Clodagh Beresford Dunne
|
| International Recognition Award
|
David Walliams
|
| Lifetime Achievement Award
|
Eavan Boland
|
2018
The 2018 awards sponsored by An Post were presented on 27 November at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin. The awards ceremony was presented by RTÉ's Keelin Shanley while each winning author was interviewed Evelyn O'Rourke.[15][16][17]
Notes to Self by Emilie Pine was voted the An Post Irish Book of the Year for 2018.[18]
| Award
|
Winner
|
| Novel of the Year
|
Normal People by Sally Rooney
|
| Crime Fiction Book of the Year
|
Skin Deep by Liz Nugent
|
| Best Irish Published Book of the Year
|
Lighthouses of Ireland by Roger O'Reilly
|
| Non-Fiction Book of the Year
|
People Like Me by Lynn Ruane
|
| Cookbook of the Year
|
Currabinny Cookbook by James Kavanagh and William Murray
|
| Popular Fiction Book of the Year
|
The Importance of Being Aisling by Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen
|
| Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year
|
The Cow Book by John Connell
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Junior
|
The President's Cat by Peter Donnelly
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Senior
|
Blazing a Trail by Sarah Webb and Lauren O'Neill
|
| Teen & Young Adult Book of the Year
|
The Weight of a Thousand Feathers by Brian Conaghan
|
| Sports Book of the Year
|
Game Changer by Cora Staunton with Mary White
|
| Newcomer of the Year
|
Notes to Self by Emilie Pine ()
|
| Irish Language Book of the Year
|
Tuatha De Denann by Diarmuid Johnson
|
| RTÉ Audience Choice Award
|
Skin Deep by Liz Nugent
|
| Short Story of the Year
|
How to Build a Space Rocket by Roisin O'Donnell
|
| Poem of the Year
|
Birthday by Brian Kirk
|
| Lifetime Achievement Award
|
Thomas Kinsella
|
2019
The 2019 awards ceremony was held in Dublin on 20 November 2019. The event was hosted by Miriam O'Callaghan and Evelyn O'Rourke. Over 115,000 votes were cast by readers to select the winners in each category.[19]
The winner of the An Post Irish Book of the Year was Overcoming by Vicky Phelan and Naomi Linehan.[5]
| Award
|
Winner
|
| Novel of the Year
|
Shadowplay by Joseph O'Connor
|
| Crime Fiction Book of the Year
|
Cruel Acts by Jane Casey
|
| Best Irish Published Book of the Year
|
Children of the Troubles by Joe Duffy & Freya McClements
|
| Non-Fiction Book of the Year
|
Constellations by Sinéad Gleeson
|
| Cookbook of the Year
|
Cornucopia: The Green Cookbook by Tony Keogh, Aoife Carrigy, the Chefs of Cornucopia, Deirdre and Dairine McCafferty
|
| Popular Fiction Book of the Year
|
Once, Twice, Three Times an Aisling by Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen
|
| Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year
|
Barefoot Pilgrimage by Andrea Corr
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Junior
|
123 Ireland! by Aoife Dooley
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Senior
|
Shooting for the Stars – My Journey to Become Ireland's First Astronaut by Norah Patten, illustrated by Jennifer Farley
|
| Teen & Young Adult Book of the Year
|
Other Words for Smoke by Sarah Maria Griffin
|
| Sports Book of the Year
|
Recovering by Richie Sadlier with Dion Fanning
|
| Newcomer of the Year
|
When All is Said by Anne Griffin
|
| Irish Language Book of the Year
|
Tairngreacht by Prionsias Mac a'Bhaird
|
| RTÉ Audience Choice Award
|
Overcoming by Vicky Phelan with Naomi Linehan ()
|
| Short Story of the Year
|
Parrot by Nicole Flattery
|
| Poem of the Year
|
Salt Rain by Audrey Molloy
|
| International Recognition Award
|
George R. R. Martin
|
| Lifetime Achievement Award
|
Colm Tóibín
|
2020
The 2020 awards ceremony was held virtually on 25 November 2020. A record number of votes were cast by the Irish public to select the winners in each category.[20]
A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa was announced as Irish Book of the Year in December 2020.[21]
| Award
|
Winner
|
| Novel of the Year
|
Strange Flowers by Donal Ryan
|
| Crime Fiction Book of the Year
|
After the Silence by Louise O'Neill
|
| Best Irish Published Book of the Year
|
Old Ireland in Colour by John Breslin and Dr Sarah-Anne Buckley
|
| Non-Fiction Book of the Year
|
A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa ()
|
| Cookbook of the Year
|
Neven Maguire's Midweek Meals in Minutes by Neven Maguire
|
| Popular Fiction Book of the Year
|
Home Stretch by Graham Norton
|
| Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year
|
Never Mind the B#ll*cks, Here's the Science by Luke O'Neill
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Junior
|
The Great Irish Farm Book by Darragh McCullough, illustrated by Sally Caulwell
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Senior
|
Break the Mould by Sinéad Burke, illustrated by Natalie Byrne
|
| Teen & Young Adult Book of the Year
|
Savage Her Reply by Deirdre Sullivan, illustrated by Karen Vaughan
|
| Sports Book of the Year
|
Champagne Football by Mark Tighe & Paul Rowan
|
| Newcomer of the Year
|
Diary of a Young Naturalist by Dara McAnulty
|
| Irish Language Book of the Year
|
Cnámh by Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde
|
| RTÉ Audience Choice Award
|
A Light That Never Goes Out by Keelin Shanley
|
| Short Story of the Year
|
I Ate It All And I Really Thought I Wouldn't by Caoilinn Hughes
|
| Poem of the Year
|
In the Museum of Misremembered Things by Linda McKenna
|
| International Recognition Award
|
Lee Child
|
2021
The awards ceremony was broadcast online on 23 November 2021.[22]
On 8 December, We Don't Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Ireland Since 1958 was announced as Irish Book of the Year during a one-hour television special on RTÉ One.[23]
| Award
|
Winner
|
| Novel of the Year
|
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
|
| Crime Fiction Book of the Year
|
56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard
|
| Best Irish Published Book of the Year
|
The Coastal Atlas of Ireland by Val Cummins, Robert Devoy, Barry Brunt, Darius Bartlett and Sarah Kandrot
|
| Non-Fiction Book of the Year
|
We Don't Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Ireland Since 1958 by Fintan O'Toole ()
|
| Cookbook of the Year
|
Everyday Cook by Donal Skehan
|
| Popular Fiction Book of the Year
|
Aisling and the City by Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Junior
|
A Hug for You by David King, illustrated by Rhiannon Archard
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Senior
|
The Summer I Robbed a Bank by David O'Doherty, illustrated by Chris Judge
|
| Teen & Young Adult Book of the Year
|
The New Girl by Sinead Moriarty
|
| Sports Book of the Year
|
Fight or Flight: My Life, My Choices by Keith Earls, with Tommy Conlon
|
| Newcomer of the Year
|
Snowflake by Louise Nealon
|
| Irish Language Book of the Year
|
Madame Lazare by Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin
|
| RTÉ Audience Choice Award
|
Your One Wild and Precious Life by Maureen Gaffney
|
| Lifestyle Book of the Year
|
Décor Galore by Laura De Barra
|
| Biography of the Year
|
Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? by Séamas O'Reilly
|
| Author of the Year
|
Marian Keyes
|
| Short Story of the Year
|
Little Lives by Deirdre Sullivan
|
| Poem of the Year
|
Longboat at Portaferry by Siobhan Campbell
|
| Bookshop of the Year[24]
|
Kennys Bookshop and Art Gallery, Galway
|
| Lifetime Achievement Award
|
Sebastian Barry
|
2022
The awards ceremony was broadcast online on 25 November 2021.[25][26]
On 7 December, My Fourth Time, We Drowned was announced as Irish Book of the Year during a one-hour television special on RTÉ One.[27]
| Award
|
Winner
|
| Novel of the Year
|
Trespasses by Louise Kennedy
|
| Crime Fiction Book of the Year
|
Breaking Point by Edel Coffey
|
| Best Irish Published Book of the Year
|
An Irish Folklore Treasury by John Creedon
|
| Non-Fiction Book of the Year
|
My Fourth Time, We Drowned by Sally Hayden ()
|
| Cookbook of the Year
|
The Daly Dish: Bold Food Made Good by Gina and Karol Daly
|
| Popular Fiction Book of the Year
|
Again, Rachel by Marian Keyes
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Junior
|
Our Big Day by Bob Johnston, illustrated by Michael Emberley
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Senior
|
Girls Who Slay Monsters by Ellen Ryan, illustrated by Shona Shirley Macdonald
|
| Teen & Young Adult Book of the Year
|
Let's Talk by Richie Sadlier
|
| Sports Book of the Year
|
Kellie by Kellie Harrington, with Roddy Doyle
|
| Newcomer of the Year
|
There's Been a Little Incident by Alice Ryan
|
| Irish Language Book of the Year
|
EL by Thaddeus Ó Buachalla
|
| Lifestyle Book of the Year
|
An Irish Atlantic Rainforest: A Personal Journey into the Magic of Rewilding by Eoghan Daltun
|
| Biography of the Year
|
Time and Tide by Charlie Bird, with Ray Burke
|
| Author of the Year
|
John Boyne
|
| Short Story of the Year
|
"This Small Giddy Life" by Nuala Ní Chonchúir
|
| Poem of the Year
|
Wedding Dress by Martina Dalton
|
| Bookshop of the Year[24]
|
Bridge Street Books, Wicklow
|
| Lifetime Achievement Award
|
Anne Enright
|
2023
The awards were announced at a ceremony at Dublin's Convention Centre on 22 November 2023.[28][29]
The Book of the Year winner was The Bee Sting by Paul Murray which was announced on 6 December 2023.[30][31]
| Award
|
Winner
|
| Novel of the Year
|
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
|
| Crime Fiction Book of the Year
|
Strange Sally Diamong by Liz Nugent
|
| Best Irish Published Book of the Year
|
Sunday Miscellany: A Selection 2018–2023 edited by Sarah Binchy
|
| Non-Fiction Book of the Year
|
A Thread of Violence by Mark O'Connell
|
| Cookbook of the Year
|
Flavour by Mark Moriarty, with photography by Cliodhna Prendergast
|
| Popular Fiction Book of the Year
|
My Hot Friend by Sophie White
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Junior
|
The President's Dog by Peter Donnelly
|
| Children's Book of the Year, Senior
|
I Am The Wind: Irish Poems for Children Everywhere edited by Lucina Jacob and Sarah Webb, illustrated by Ashwin Chacko
|
| Teen & Young Adult Book of the Yea
|
Black and Irish: Legends, Trailblazers and Everyday Heroes by Leon Diop and Briana Fitzsimons, illustrated by Jessica Louis
|
| Sports Book of the Year
|
The Grass Ceiling by Eimear Ryan (Irish author)
|
| Newcomer of the Year
|
Kala by Colin Walsh
|
| Irish Language Book of the Year
|
Imram agus Scéalta Eile by Róise Ní Bhaoill
|
| Lifestyle Book of the Year
|
The Hike Life by Roz Purcell
|
| Biography of the Year
|
Poor by Katriona O'Sullivan
|
| Author of the Year
|
Claire Keegan
|
| Short Story of the Year
|
"Such A Pretty Face " by Moïra Fowley
|
| Poem of the Year
|
Vectors in Kabul by Mary O'Donnell
|
| Bookshop of the Year
|
Halfway up the Stairs in Greystones, County Wicklow
|
| Listeners' Choice Award
|
Poor by Katriona O'Sullivan
|
| New Voices: The An Post Writing Prize
|
The Border / Кордон - Valeriia Shmyrova
|
| Lifetime Achievement Award
|
Roy Foster[32]
|
2024
The 2024 winners were announced on 27 November, again in the Convention Centre.[33]
- Best Irish-Published Book of the Year: The Irish Words You Should Know – Hector Ó hEochagáin
- Biography of the Year: Nature Boy: A Journey of Birdsong and Belonging – Seán Ronayne
- History Book of the Year: Atlas of the Irish Civil War: New Perspectives - Hélène O'Keeffe, John Crowley, Donal Ó Drisceoil, John Borgonovo and Mike Murphy
- Non-Fiction Book of the Year: Missing Persons, Or My Grandmother's Secrets – Clair Wills
- Novel of the Year: Heart, Be at Peace – Donal Ryan
- Food & Drink Book of the Year: Irish Food History: A Companion - Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire & Dorothy Cashman
- Lifestyle Book of the Year: Gaeilge i Mo Chroí - Irish In My Heart: Your Guide to Loving and Living the Irish Language – Molly Nic Céile
- Author of the Year: Sally Rooney
- Sports Book of the Year: Obsessed: The Autobiography – Johnny Sexton with Peter O'Reilly
- Gradam Love Leabhar Gaeilge Leabhar Ficsin Gaeilge na Bliana: Geansaithe Móra – Gearóidín Nic Cárthaigh
- Children's Book of the Year – Junior: The Golden Hare – Paddy Donnelly
- Children's Book of the Year – Senior: Fia and the Last Snow Deer – Eilish Fisher, illustrated by Dermot Flynn
- Teen & Young Adult Book of the Year, in honour of John Treacy: Something's About to Blow Up – Sam Blake
- Crime Fiction Book of the Year: A Stranger in the Family – Jane Casey
- Newcomer of the Year: The Coast Road – Alan Murrin
- Popular Fiction Book of the Year: Frankie – Graham Norton
- Special Recognition Award: Paul Howard
- Listeners' Choice Award: The Last Disco: The Story of the Stardust Tragedy – Sean Murray, Christine Bohan and Nicky Ryan
- New Irish Writing Best Short Story: Valentine’s Day – Kathleen Macadam
- New Irish Writing Best Poetry: 'Onionskin' – Eilín de Paor
- Bookshop of the Year: Little A
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Martin Waddell
References
External links
