THE DOYENNE of Irish romantic fiction, Maeve Binchy, is to be honoured at this year’s Irish Book Awards with a lifetime achievement accolade for her contribution to Irish literature.
The Dublin author has published 16 novels and several short story collections, selling more than 40 million books in the 28 years since her debut novel Light a Penny Candlehit the shelves. She is probably best known for her 1990 novel Circle of Friends, later made into a successful Hollywood movie.
The writer, who lives in Dalkey, will receive the award at a ceremony to mark this year’s Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards in Dublin’s Mansion House next month. Former recipients of the award, established in 2006, include Edna O’Brien, William Trevor and the late John McGahern.
Yesterday’s announcement at Dublin’s Royal College of Physicians coincided with the release of the shortlists this year.
Novelists Colum McCann and Emma Donoghue, actor Amy Huberman and former GAA star Donal Óg Cusack are among those shortlisted. The winner in each of 10 categories will be chosen by a public vote via the Irish Book Awards website, irishbookawards.ie.
Donoghue's much-acclaimed novel Room, shortlisted for this year's Man Booker prize, will vie with McCann's Let the Great World Spin, winner of last year's US National Book Award, for the Irish novel of the year award. Also shortlisted are Colm Tóibín's Brooklyn, winner of last year's Costa Fiction Award; Skippy Diesby Paul Murray; Ghost Lightby Joseph O'Connor; and Roddy Doyle's latest offering, The Dead Republic.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the non-fiction category is dominated by titles exploring the country's economic woes, including Wastersby journalists Shane Ross and Nick Webb, Who Really Runs Ireland? by broadcaster Matt Cooper, and Ship of Foolsby Irish Timesjournalist Fintan O'Toole.
The non-fiction list also includes JFK in Ireland: Four Days that Changed a Presidentby RTÉ broadcaster Ryan Tubridy which charts the 1963 visit.
Actor Amy Huberman's debut novel, Hello, Heartbreak, is included in the popular fiction shortlist, along with Paul Howard aka Ross O'Carroll Kelly's The Oh My God Delusion, and Sinéad Moriarty's Pieces of My Heart.
Cork’s triple All-Ireland medal winner Donal Óg Cusack’s autobiography about life in the hurling world will be a popular choice for best sports book, as will champion jockey Ruby Walsh’s account of life at the racetrack.
In the best children's book junior category, Dublin author Benji Bennett's Adam's Pirate Treasuregoes up against Niamh Sharkey's On the Road with Mavis and Marge. In the senior category, John Boyne's Noah Barleywater Runs Awaycompetes against Derek Landy's comic fantasy yarn, Skulduggery Pleasant: Mortal Coil.
Chairman of the awards committee Tom Owens said the shortlists reflected the rich and diverse selection of Irish writing. The winners will be announced at a ceremony on November 25th, hosted by RTÉ’s John Murray and TV3’s Sinéad Desmond.
