THE announcement of the winner of the IMPAC literary prize on Wednesday was a rather ceremonious affair with liveried flag carriers set against the grand surroundings of St Patrick's Hall in Dublin Castle. Only two of the seven shortlisted writers turned up to hear the news - Irish writer John Banville and Dutch writer Connie Palmen.
Lord Mayor Sean D. Dublin Bay Rockall Loftus kept the 200 guests waiting to the outer limits of their already fraying patience before announcing that the lottery sized literary prize had gone to Australian writer David Malouf.
According to one of the judges, writer Christopher Hope, the whole judging process was very harmonious with the five member panel holed up in the Shelbourne Hotel for the duration. After a long weekend's deliberation they made their decision on Monday, and despite dogged inquiries from all and sundry managed to keep the name of the £100,000 winner secret right up until the formal announcement.
The real celebratory bash will be held in Dublin next month on the eve of Bloomsday, when presumably Malouf will turn up to collect his prize.