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Seán Ronayne, Máirtín Mac Con Iomaire and Dorothy Cashman, Clair Wills, Molly Nic Céile, Paddy Donnelly and Kathleen Macadam are among the winning authors at this year’s An Post Irish Book Awards which were held in the Convention Centre, Dublin this evening.
The Eason Novel of the Year Award was won by Donal Ryan, while Sally Rooney won The Library Association of Ireland 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 as satirical masterpieces. Paul 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.
The An Post Irish Book Awards also presented Martin Waddell with the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award. Martin 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, Martin Waddell joins a host of other distinguished recipients including Anne Enright, Sebastian Barry, Eavan Boland, Colm Tóibín, and many 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 and 2024 is no different.
TheJournal.ie Best Irish-Published Book of the Year
Dubray Biography of the Year
Hodges Figgis History Book of the Year
WHSmith Non-Fiction Book of the Year
Eason Novel of the Year
Bookselling Ireland Food & Drink Book of the Year
Bookstation Lifestyle Book of the Year
Library Association of Ireland Author of the Year
Eason Sports Book of the Year
Gradam Love Leabhar Gaeilge Leabhar Ficsin Gaeilge na Bliana
Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year – Junior
Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year – Senior
International Education Services Teen & Young Adult Book of the Year, in honour of John Treacy
Irish Independent Crime Fiction Book of the Year
Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year
Ireland AM Popular Fiction Book of the Year
Special Recognition Award
The Last Word Listeners’ Choice Award
New Irish Writing Best Short Story in association with the Irish Independent
New Irish Writing Best Poetry in association with the Irish Independent
An Post Bookshop of the Year
Larry Mac Hale, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards, says:
‘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.’
David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, says:
"In a challenging world, books offer solace and a chance to escape for those fortunate enough to have the skills, means, and time to enjoy them. We stand with all who support literacy, strive to improve their own skills, and contribute to the literary world - writers, publishers, and readers alike. Congratulations to this year’s outstanding winners and Special Award recipients."
The ‘An Post Irish Book Awards’ public vote was sponsored by National Book Tokens.
A one-hour television special, hosted by Oliver Callan, will be broadcast on RTÉ One on 19th December which will reveal this year’s ‘An Post Irish Book of the Year 2024’, selected by a distinguished panel of judges:
Previous winners of the An Post Irish Book of the Year include Paul Murray for The Bee Sting, Sally Hayden for My Fourth Time, We Drowned, Fintan O’Toole for We Don’t Know Ourselves, Doireann Ní Ghríofa for A Ghost in the Throat, the late Vicky Phelan for Overcoming, Emilie Pine for Notes to Self, John Crowley, Donal Ó Drisceoil, Mike Murphy and John Borgonovo for Atlas of the Irish Revolution, Mike McCormack for Solar Bones, Louise O’Neill for Asking For It, Mary Costello for Academy St, Donal Ryan for The Spinning Heart, Michael Harding for Staring at Lakes, and Belinda McKeon for Solace.