CAROLINE WALSHgives us a look at the Ewart-Biggs prize and other sundries
Sebastian Barry 's novel The Secret Scripture(Faber) which recently won the Costa Book of the Year prize is now up for the Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize, given in memory of the British ambassador who was murdered by the IRA in 1976. The other novel up for the award is David Park 's The Truth Commissioner(Bloomsbury). The remaining titles on the shortlist are non- fiction: Ireland – The Politics of Enmity 1789-2006by Paul Bew (Oxford University Press); Bear in Mind These Dead(Faber) by Susan McKay, and Great Hatred, Little Room – Making Peace in Northern Ireland(Bodley Head) by Jonathan Powell.
Speaking for the judges, historian Roy Foster said: “The function of this prize is to enhance understanding between people, and to this end we have shortlisted for the 2009 prize works that illuminate the processes of history and memory in Ireland.
“They include two superb novels, a magisterial history which takes the story up to the very recent past in Ireland North and South, a harrowing journalistic study of the ravages of grief and loss among survivors of tragedy in Northern Ireland, and a riveting account of the peace process from an insiders viewpoint.
“All these books will themselves be used by future historians when they try to understand the condition of Ireland, and indeed Anglo-Irish relations, in the early 21st century.”
The winner will be announced in London on February 26th when the £5,000 prize will be presented by Irish actress Fiona Shaw.
Poetry as Gaeilge
Love poems in Irish – what better way to kick off St Valentine’s Day?
Poetry Ireland, Imram and Cois Life today present special readings by Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, Liam Ó Muirthile and Colm Breathnach at 10.45am in Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church on Dublin's Aungier Street which houses St Valentine's relics .There'll also be traditional love songs in Irish sung by Lorcán Mac Mathúna. The poems and songs that will be performed come from the recently published anthology Filíocht Ghrá na Gaeilge/Love Poems in Irish, edited by Ciarán Mac Murchaidh and published by Cois Life. www.poetryireland.ie
Twinning by the book
Last March iBbY Ireland (International Board on Books for Young People) twinned with iBbY Zimbabwe to help spread their joint message in Zimbabwe; that of building international understanding through childrens books. A cultural evening to highlight awareness of the newly formed iBbY Zimbabwe will be held in Pearse Street library in Dublin on Thursday February 26th from 6.00-8.00pm, admission €10. Conor Kostick, PJ Lynch, Oisín McGann, Éilís Ní Dhuibhne and Sarah Webb are among the writers taking part. iBbY is represented in over 70 countries working to bring children and books together. The Irish branch has been liasing on a number of projects in Zimbabwe – supporting workshops for childrens authors and illustrators, and advising on reading promotion programmes.
Short story competition
The Peoples College for Continuing Education and Training on Dublin’s Parnell Square has set February 28th as the closing date for entries for its third short story competition. It will be judged by novelist and short story writer Jack Harte. First prize is €500, second prize €300 and third prize €200. Stories can be up to 2,500 words long. Details from www.peoplescollege.ie or 01-8735879