SALLY ROONEY, SÉAMUS O’Reilly and Maureen Gaffney are among the winning authors at this year’s An Post Irish Book Awards, which were held virtually this evening.
First awarded in 2006, the An Post Irish Book Awards are Ireland’s biggest literary celebration, showcasing a diverse mix of exceptional writing from new and established writers across 20 categories, championing everything from novels and non-fiction to poetry, short stories and the Irish language.
Irish writer Sebastian Barry was announced as the recipient of the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award, joining a host of other distinguished recipients including Colm Tóibín, Maeve Binchy and Seamus Heaney.
Commenting on this year’s winners, John Treacy, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards, said: “We really are so lucky to have such marvellous writers in this country. We have so many promising young writers, more women writers than ever, writers representing minority and marginalised Irish communities, and this will only grow in the years to come.
“I’d like to congratulate all of the winners and also the nominees in every category. It’s been another great year for Irish literature. See you in 2022.”
Below is the full list of winners for the An Post Irish Book Awards 2021:
The Coastal Atlas of Ireland – Val Cummins, Robert Devoy, Barry Brunt, Darius Bartlett, Sarah Kandrot
Beautiful World, Where Are You – Sally Rooney
56 Days – Catherine Ryan Howard
Fight Or Flight: My Life, My Choices – Keith Earls, with Tommy Conlon
Snowflake – Louise Nealon
We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Ireland Since 1958 – Fintan O’Toole
Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? – Séamas O’Reilly
Everyday Cook – Donal Skehan
Aisling and the City – Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen
Décor Galore – Laura De Barra
A Hug for You – David King, illustrated by Rhiannon Archard
The Summer I Robbed a Bank – David O’Doherty, illustrated by Chris Judge
The New Girl – Sinead Moriarty
Your One Wild And Precious Life – Maureen Gaffney
Marian Keyes
Little Lives – Deirdre Sullivan
Longboat at Portaferry – Siobhan Campbell
Madame Lazare – Tadgh Mac Dhonnagain
Kennys Bookshop and Art Gallery, Galway
An Post CEO David McRedmond said: “As we continue to face down the greatest global challenge of our lifetime, the power of books and reading is so much more evident, bringing escape, solace and satisfaction.
“Trusted and appreciated, local bookshops provide the essential human link between author, publisher and reader. We are very pleased to support the new category of Bookshop of the Year in 2021 and we congratulate all the Kenny family on their success this year.”
Readers are now being invited to vote for their overall An Post Irish Book of the Year on the official website. Voting opens tomorrow.
The winner will be announced as part of a one-hour special on RTÉ One on Wednesday 8 December.
All voters are also in with a chance of winning €100 worth of National Book Tokens.
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