Submissions from publishers for this year’s An Post Irish Book Awards are now being sought. Entries can be made in 15 separate categories, including novel, crime fiction, popular fiction, non-fiction, sports, children’s, cookery, short story, poetry, teen and young adult and Irish language. Submissions will remain open until Tuesday, August 31.
The shortlist launch is scheduled for October 22 and the awards ceremony for November 25. Given the current Covid-19 situation, both dates are under review and the organisers say things may be a little different this year. Details of the 2020 campaign, sponsor support, promotional dates and TV coverage will be confirmed in the coming months.
The awards celebrate and promote Irish writing on a scale wider than any other literary project. Each year sees a gathering of ‘the literati’ – authors, booksellers, publishers and librarians – as they salute the very best of Irish writing. An Post is anxious to hear from readers about their views on the latest Irish book releases on social media platforms.
Pictured above at last year’s awards is award winner Andrea Corr
The full line-up of last year’s An Post Irish Book Awards winners:
RTÉ Radio 1 Listeners’ Choice Award
- Overcoming – Vicky Phelan with Naomi Linehan (Hachette Books) – Championed by Ray D’Arcy
Bord Gáis Energy Sports Book of the Year
- Recovering – Richie Sadlier with Dion Fanning (Gill Books)
Avoca Cookbook of the Year
- Cornucopia: The Green Cookbook – Tony Keogh, Aoife Carrigy, the Chefs of Cornucopia, Deirdre and Dairine McCafferty (Gill Books)
Irish Independent Crime Fiction Book of the Year
- Cruel Acts – Jane Casey (HarperFiction)
Bookselling Ireland Non-Fiction Book of the Year
- Constellations – Sinéad Gleeson (Picador)
TheJournal.ie Best Irish-Published Book of the Year
- Children of the Troubles – Joe Duffy and Freya McClements (Hachette Books Ireland)
Love Leabhar Gaeilge Irish Language Book of the Year
- Tairngreacht – Proinsias Mac a’Bhaird (LeabhairComhar)
Dept51@Eason Teen & Young Adult Book of the Year
- Other Words for Smoke – Sarah Maria Griffin (Titan Books)
Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year – Senior
- Shooting for the Stars – My Journey to Become Ireland’s First Astronaut – Norah Patten, illustrated by Jennifer Farley (The O’Brien Press)
Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year – Junior
- 123 Ireland! – Aoife Dooley (Little Island Books)
Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year
- When All is Said – Anne Griffin (Hodder & Stoughton)
National Book Tokens Popular Fiction Book of the Year
- Once, Twice, Three Times an Aisling – Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen (Gill Books)
Listowel Writers’ Week Irish Poem of the Year
- Salt Rain – Audrey Molloy (Mslexia, September 2019)
Writing.ie Short Story of the Year Award
- Parrot – Nicole Flattery (The Stinging Fly, Issue 39, Volume 2, Winter 2018-19)
Ireland AM Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year
- Barefoot Pilgrimage – Andrea Corr (Harper Non-Fiction)
Eason Novel of the Year
- Shadowplay – Joseph O’Connor (Harvill Secker)
