Joseph O'Connor, Nicole Flattery and Andrea Corr among the winners at the An Post Book Awards

Culture
21 Nov 19

2019's An Post Book Awards confirmed once again that we're going through a golden age of Irish writing at the moment...

Joseph O'Connor, Galway short story writer Nicole Flattery, and Andrea Corr, lead singer of The Corrs, where among the winners at last night's An Post Book Awards.

The award ceremony was held in Dublin's Convention Centre and was hosted by Miriam O'Callaghan and Evelyn O'Rourke.

O'Connor, who achieved international fame for his novel Star of the Sea in 2004, received the Eason Novel of the Year award historical novel Shadowplay, a re-imagining of the real-life relationship between Bram Stoker and stars of the Victorian theatre. A few weeks ago, our own Pat Carty caught up with O'Connor to talk about the writing of the novel.

Once, Twice, Three Times an Aisling by Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen was named National Book Tokens Popular Fiction Book of the Year. We were delighted to hear of the book's success, having spoken to the duo about the success of the Aisling series last month.

Andrea Corr won the Ireland AM Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year for Barefoot Pilgrimage, a memoir which brilliantly recounts Andrea's childhood, as well as her journey to finding success with her siblings as an internationally successful act.

Nicole Flattery, whose debut short story collection Show Them A Good Time we raved about at the start of this year, won short story of the year for her story https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/parrot-by-nicole-flattery-writing-ie-short-story-of-the-year-winner-1.4075759.

Elsewhere, Colm Tóibín received the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award, in recognition of the central position he has occupied in the cultural life of Ireland for over three decades, and this year's International Recognition Award was presented earlier in the year to Game Of Thrones creator George R.R. Martin, who was also honoured on the night.

Commenting on this year's winners, Maria Dickinson, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards, said: "Many of our winning authors reflect on contemporary or historical issues within Irish society, while others amuse, inspire and enthrall through fantastic story-telling.

"Both the winning authors and all our shortlisted titles are a terrific testament to the strength and vitality of Irish writing – and long may this continue."

An Post Irish Book Awards - The Winners In Full

RTÉ Radio 1 Listeners’ Choice Award

Overcoming – Vicky Phelan with Naomi Linehan (Hachette Books)

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