Author Sally Hayden has won the An Post Irish Book of the Year 2022

Author and journalist Sally Hayden's book, My Fourth Time, We Drowned, has been selected as An Post Irish Book of the Year 2022's overall winner.

The news was revealed at an event held last night which was televised on RTÉ One in a one-hour special. The event was hosted by Oliver Callan and can be watched it here, on the RTÉ Player.

Hayden is currently the Africa Correspondent for the Irish Times, as well as an award winning author. Sally wrote My Fourth Time, We Drowned after receiving a message from an Eritrean refugee held in a Libyan detention centre asking for help.

Hayden's novel carefully documents the migrant crisis across North Africa. She uses dozens of first-hand accounts from individuals currently living in Libyan detention centres, revealing that all were incarcerated as a direct result of European policy.

My Fourth Time, We Drowned was up against six other books for the award, all of which were winners of other categories at this year's An Post Irish Book Awards.

"I'm honestly astounded that My Fourth Time, We Drowned was awarded An Post Irish Book of the Year 2022," Hayden remarked. "It's a huge recognition of the importance of journalism, non-fiction writing, and mostly the topic of the book: how the rich world is cementing its borders to shut out people who need help."

"Crimes against humanity and war crimes are ongoing on the edges of Europe, and they're being done in our names with the aim of keeping us comfortable.

"This award was possible because of the bravery of my sources in north Africa and elsewhere, who risked their lives to send evidence about what they were going through. I hope it will encourage more people to read the book, and that reading it makes them begin to question the world we're living in."

The author went on to thank the judges and the public who voted for her novel.