Irish Book Awards


The Irish Book Awards are Irish literary awards given annually to books and authors in various categories. It is the only literary award supported by all-Irish bookstores. The primary sponsor is An Post, the state owned postal service in Ireland.

History

First awarded in 2006, the Irish Book Awards grew out of the Hughes & Hughes bookstore's Irish Novel of the Year Prize, which was inaugurated in 2003. Since 2007 the Awards have been an independent not-for-profit company funded by sponsorship. Bord Gáis Energy sponsored the awards from 2012 until 2018, when An Post took over sponsorship.

Description

There are currently nine categories, seven of which are judged by the Irish Literary Academy, and two by a public vote. There is also a lifetime achievement award.

Awards

Current awards

  • Novel of the Year
  • Crime Fiction Book of the Year
  • Best Irish Published Book of the Year
  • Non-Fiction Book of the Year
  • Cookbook of the Year
  • Popular Fiction Book of the Year
  • Children's Book of the Year, Junior
  • Children's Book of the Year, Senior
  • Teen & Young Adult Book of the Year
  • Sports Book of the Year
  • Newcomer of the Year
  • Irish Language Book of the Year
  • Lifestyle Book of the Year
  • Biography of the Year
  • Author of the Year
  • Short Story of the Year
  • Poem of the Year
  • Bookshop of the Year
  • The Last Word Listeners' Choice Award
  • New Voices: The An Post Writing Prize
  • Lifetime Achievement Award

    Previous awards

  • International Recognition Award
  • RTÉ Audience/Listeners' Choice Award
  • Popular Non-Fiction Book of the Year

    An Post Irish Book of the Year

Since 2011, one of the award-winning books has been selected as the overall Irish Book of the Year.

Winners

Book of the Year winners are indicated with a blue ribbon.

2003–2005 (Hughes & Hughes Award / Irish Novel)

Inaugurated in 2000 by Hughes & Hughes, the Hughes & Hughes Award ran until 2005 when it merged with the Irish Book Awards and became the Irish Novel category.
In subsequent years the Children's Book category was split into two award categories; Junior and Senior.

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

The 2014 awards were presented on 26 November at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Dublin.
AwardWinner
Novel of the YearAcademy St by Mary Costello
Crime Fiction Book of the YearUnravelling Oliver by Liz Nugent
Best Irish Published Book of the YearDubliners 100 by Thomas Morris
Non-Fiction Book of the YearThe Life and Loves of a He Devil by Graham Norton
Cookbook of the YearThe Nation’s Favourite Food Fast by Neven Maguire
Popular Fiction Book of the YearThe Year I Met You by Cecelia Ahern
Children's Book of the Year, JuniorShh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton
Children's Book of the Year, SeniorMoone Boy by Chris O'Dowd and Nick Vincent Murphy
Sports Book of the YearThe Test by Brian O'Driscoll
Newcomer of the YearOnly Ever Yours by Louise O'Neill
RTÉ Audience Choice AwardIt’s All in the Head by Majella O'Donnell
Short Story of the YearRest Day by John Boyne
International Recognition AwardJeffery Archer
Lifetime Achievement AwardPaul Durcan

2015

The 2015 awards were presented on 25 November at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Dublin.
AwardWinner
Novel of the YearThe Green Road by Anne Enright
Crime Fiction Book of the YearAfter the Fire by Jane Casey
Best Irish Published Book of the YearThe Long Gaze Back: An Anthology of Irish Women Writers by Sinéad Gleeson
Non-Fiction Book of the YearChildren of the Rising by Joe Duffy
Cookbook of the YearThe Virtuous Tart by Susan Jane White
Popular Fiction Book of the YearThe Way We Were by Sinead Moriarty
Popular Non-Fiction Book of the YearMe and My Mate Jeffrey by Niall Breslin
Children's Book of the Year, JuniorImaginary Fred by Eoin Colfer and Oliver Jeffers
Children's Book of the Year, SeniorAsking For It by Louise O'Neill
Sports Book of the YearUntil Victory Always: A Memoir by Jim McGuinness
Newcomer of the YearSpill Simmer Falter Wither by Sara Baume
RTÉ Audience Choice AwardIrelandopedia by Fatti Burke and John Burke
Short Story of the YearA Slanting of the Sun by Donal Ryan
International Recognition AwardBill Bryson
Lifetime Achievement AwardJ. P. Donleavy

2016

The 2016 awards sponsored by Bord Gáis Energy were presented on 16 November at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Dublin. The awards ceremony was presented by Keelin Shanley.
On 14 December, Solar Bones by Mike McCormack was named as Ireland's best book of 2016. It was chosen by a public vote from the list of category winners below.
AwardWinner
Novel of the YearSolar Bones by Mike McCormack
Crime Fiction Book of the YearThe Trespasser by Tana French
Best Irish Published Book of the YearThe Glass Shore by Sinéad Gleeson
Non-Fiction Book of the YearI Read The News Today, Oh Boy by Paul Howard
Cookbook of the YearThe World of The Happy Pear by Stephen Flynn and David Flynn
Popular Fiction Book of the YearHolding by Graham Norton
Popular Non-Fiction Book of the YearMaking It Up As I Go Along by Marian Keyes
Children's Book of the Year, JuniorPigín of Howth by Kathleen Watkins
Children's Book of the Year, SeniorKnights of the Borrowed Dark by Dave Rudden
Sports Book of the YearThe Battle by Paul O'Connell
Newcomer of the YearRed Dirt by E. M. Reapy
RTÉ Audience Choice AwardLying in Wait by Liz Nugent
Short Story of the YearThe Visit by Orla McAlinden
Poem of the YearIn Glasnevin by Jane Clarke
International Recognition AwardJilly Cooper
Lifetime Achievement AwardJohn Montague

2017

The 2017 awards sponsored by Bord Gáis Energy were presented on 28 November at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin. The awards ceremony was presented by RTÉ's Keelin Shanley and Evelyn O'Rourke.
AwardWinner
Novel of the YearMidwinter Break by Bernard MacLaverty
Crime Fiction Book of the YearThe Therapy House by Julie Parsons
Best Irish Published Book of the YearAtlas of the Irish Revolution by John Crowley, Donál Ó Drisceoil, Mike Murphy and John Borgonovo
Non-Fiction Book of the YearWounds: A Memoir of War & Love by Fergal Keane
Cookbook of the YearCook Well, Eat Well by Rory O’Connell
Popular Fiction Book of the YearThe Break by Marian Keyes
Popular Non-Fiction Book of the YearMotherfoclóir by Darach Ó Séaghdha
Children's Book of the Year, JuniorA Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea – Favourite Rhymes from an Irish Childhood by Sarah Webb, illustrated by Steve McCarthy
Children's Book of the Year, SeniorStand by Me by Judi Curtin
Teen & Young Adult Book of the YearTangleweed and Brine by Deirdre Sullivan illustrated by Karen Vaughan
Sports Book of the YearThe Choice by Philly McMahon with Niall Kelly
Newcomer of the YearI Found my Tribe by Ruth Fitzmaurice
RTÉ Audience Choice AwardHe: A Novel by John Connolly
Short Story of the YearBack to Bones by Christine Dwyer Hickey
Poem of the YearSeven Sugar Cubes by Clodagh Beresford Dunne
International Recognition AwardDavid Walliams
Lifetime Achievement AwardEavan Boland

2018

The 2018 awards sponsored by An Post were presented on 27 November at the Clayton Hotel in Dublin. The awards ceremony was presented by RTÉ's Keelin Shanley while each winning author was interviewed Evelyn O'Rourke.
Notes to Self by Emilie Pine was voted the An Post Irish Book of the Year for 2018.
AwardWinner
Novel of the YearNormal People by Sally Rooney
Crime Fiction Book of the YearSkin Deep by Liz Nugent
Best Irish Published Book of the YearLighthouses of Ireland by Roger O'Reilly
Non-Fiction Book of the YearPeople Like Me by Lynn Ruane
Cookbook of the YearCurrabinny Cookbook by James Kavanagh and William Murray
Popular Fiction Book of the YearThe Importance of Being Aisling by Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen
Popular Non-Fiction Book of the YearThe Cow Book by John Connell
Children's Book of the Year, JuniorThe President's Cat by Peter Donnelly
Children's Book of the Year, SeniorBlazing a Trail by Sarah Webb and Lauren O'Neill
Teen & Young Adult Book of the YearThe Weight of a Thousand Feathers by Brian Conaghan
Sports Book of the YearGame Changer by Cora Staunton with Mary White
Newcomer of the YearNotes to Self by Emilie Pine
Irish Language Book of the YearTuatha De Denann by Diarmuid Johnson
RTÉ Audience Choice AwardSkin Deep by Liz Nugent
Short Story of the YearHow to Build a Space Rocket by Roisin O'Donnell
Poem of the YearBirthday by Brian Kirk
Lifetime Achievement AwardThomas Kinsella