Julian Gough of Toasted Heretic to receive NUIG award

He will receive the AIB Award for Literature, Communication & the Arts at the college's ninth annual Gala Banquet next month.

As a teenager growing up in Tipperary, Gough first came to notice when he won a Hot Press student writing competition. He formed Toasted Heretic while studying English and Philosophy at NUIG.

The band released four original albums between 1988 and 1993, including their debut Songs For Swinging Celibates and Charm and Arrogance, both on cassette only. A retrospective double CD was released in 2005, entitled Now In New Nostalgia Flavour, featuring the material from those first two records.

Gough has since moved on to writing and published his first novel Juno & Juliet in 2001. His second book, Jude, the first of a planned trilogy, was published last year.

Others set to be awarded on the night include TV presenter Grainne Seoige, Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Seamus Brennan as well as leading lights in the fields of business, science, sport and medicine.