Library Association of Ireland Author of the Year

Winner 2025

Elaine Feeney credit Nathalie Marquez Courtney

Elaine Feeney

Elaine Feeney is an acclaimed novelist and poet from the west of Ireland. Her debut novel, As You Were, was shortlisted for the Rathbones Folio Prize and the Irish Novel of the Year Award, and won the Kate O’Brien Award, the McKitterick Prize and the Dalkey Festival Emerging Writer Award. How to Build a Boat was also shortlisted for Irish Novel of the Year, longlisted for the Booker Prize, and was a New Yorker Best Book of the Year. Feeney has published the poetry collections Where’s Katie?The Radio Was GospelRise and All the Good Things You Deserve, and lectures at the University of Galway.

Author photo credit: Nathalie Marquez Courtney

Explore the 2025 winners

Irish Book Week Non-Fiction Book of the Year
Eason Novel of the Year
Ireland AM Popular Fiction Book of the Year
TheJournal.ie Best Irish-Published Book of the Year
Dubray Biography of the Year
Specsavers Children's Book of the Year (Junior)
Specsavers Children's Book of the Year (Senior)
The Book Centre Crime Fiction Book of the Year
Gradam Love Leabhar Gaeilge Leabhar Ficsin Gaeilge na Bliana
Hodges Figgis History Book of the Year
Bookstation Lifestyle Book of the Year
The Last Word Listeners' Choice Award
Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year
Eason Sports Book of the Year
International Education Services Teen & Young Adult Book of the Year, in honour of John Treacy
New Irish Writing Best Short Story in association with the Irish Independent
New Irish Writing Best Poetry in association with the Irish Independent