Who is popular today?

George Hamilton, Sarah Gilmartin, Fintan O’Toole, Sally Rooney, Catherine Ryan Howard, Séamas O’Reilly, Donal Skehan, Sinéad Moriarty, Rosaleen McDonagh, Paul Howard (twice!), Oliver Jeffers, Ann Ingle and Donal Ryan are just a few of the authors nominated today for this year’s An Post Irish Book Awards.
Almost as exciting is the news that the shortlisted authors will be able to attend the awards ceremony in person in Dublin’s Convention Centre on November 23rd. The event will also be live-streamed for those who are unable to attend.
The shortlists feature a diverse mix of exceptional writing from new and established writers across 20 categories, including Novel of the Year, Children’s (Junior and Senior), Cookery, Crime Fiction, Popular Fiction, Nonfiction, Sports, Short Story, Poetry, Teen and Young Adult and Irish Language.
Four new categories are included this year: An Post Bookshop of the Year, designed to acknowledge their significant role, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic; Dubray Biography of the Year; Library Association of Ireland Author of the Year; and Bookstation Lifestyle Book of the Year.
The public can cast their votes online for the best books of the year at anpostirishbookawards.ie by 5pm on November 15th. A one-hour special will be broadcast on RTÉ One on December 8th exploring the six books and authors shortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards Book of the Year 2021, culminating in the reveal of this year’s overall winner.
John Treacy, chairperson of the awards, said: “Like most other sectors, the book industry faced severe challenges this year: bookshops were closed; publication dates postponed; events and festivals moved online. The personal touch which we all value so much was sadly missed. But then something wonderful happened. We discovered that books were saving the sanity of thousands of readers during lockdown. Bookshops operated click-and-collect services to keep their customers supplied with the books they wanted. Our booksellers rose to the occasion, sometimes hand-delivering books to their customers. An Post also catered for everyone’s needs, while also supporting booksellers with special rates during the pandemic, which was very appreciated. Now, thank goodness, the bookshops are open once again and The An Post Irish Book Awards season is upon us.”
David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, said: “Books were our best companions through the pandemic, and as we emerge, they will be our close companions too.”

More of this year’s shortlisted authors


The An Post Irish Book Awards 2021 shortlists
Eason Novel of the Year Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney Panenka by Rónán Hession Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan The Echo Camber by John Boyne The Magician by Colm Tóibín White City by Kevin Power
Newcomer of the Year A Crooked Tree by Una Mannion Boys Don’t Cry by Fíona Scarlett Dinner Party: A Tragedy by Sarah Gilmartin Diving for Pearls by Jamie O’Connell Holding Her Breath by Eimear Ryan Snowflake by Louise Nealon
Popular Fiction Book of the Year About Us by Sinéad Moriarty Aisling and the City by Emer McLysaght & Sarah Breen Freckles by Cecelia Ahern Normal Sheeple by Ross O’Carroll Kelly The Guinness Girls: A Hint of Scandal by Emily Hourican Three Weddings and a Proposal by Sheila O’Flanagan
Crime Fiction Book of the Year 56 Days by Catherine Ryan Howard All Her Fault by Andrea Mara April in Spain by John Banville The Dark Room by Sam Blake The Devil’s Advocate by Steve Cavanagh The Killing Kind by Jane Casey
Sports Book of the Year Crossing The Line by Willie Anderson with Brendan Fanning Dark Blue by Shane Carthy Devotion by Mickey Harte with Brendan Coffey Fight or Flight: My Life, My Choices by Keith Earls with Tommy Conlon The Nation Holds Its Breath by George Hamilton Unbroken by Aidan O’Mahony
Ireland Non-Fiction Book of the Year A State of Emergency by Richard Chambers Between Two Hells by Diarmaid Ferriter Four Years in the Cauldron by Brian O’Donovan Northern Protestants: On Shifting Ground by Susan McKay The Best Catholics in the World by Derek Scally We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Ireland Since 1958 by Fintan O’Toole
Biography of the Year Belonging by Catherine Corless with Naomi Linehan Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? by Séamas O’Reilly Gas Man by Colin Black Boy 11963 by John Cameron with Kathryn Rogers Openhearted by Ann Ingle Rememberings by Sinéad O’Connor
Cookbook of the Year Everyday Cook by Dónal Skehan How To Cook by Darina Allen Learn to Cook with Neven by Neven Maguire Soup Broth Bread by Rachel Allen The Daly Dish Rides Again by Gina Daly & Karol Daly Trisha’s 21 Day Reset by Trisha Lewis
Lifestyle Book of the Year Awaken Your Power Within by Gerry Hussey Decor Galore by Laura de Barra High Hopes by Steve Garrigan A Cloud Where the Birds Rise by Michael Harding and Jacob Stack Mind Full by Dermot Whelan Ranger 22 bhy Ray Goggins
Best Irish Published Book of the Year Corpsing: My Body and Other Horror Shows by Sophie White Look! It’s a Woman Writer! by Éilís Ní Dhuibhne Tea for One by Alice Taylor. With photographs by Emma Byrne The Coastal Atlas of Ireland by Robert Devoy, Val Cummins, Barry Brunt, Darius Bartlett & Sarah Kandrot The Presidents’ Letters: An Unexpected History of Ireland by Flor Mac Carthy Tree Dogs, Banshee Fingers and Other Irish Words for Nature by Manchán Magan, illustrated by Steve Doogan Unsettled by Rosaleen McDonagh
Children’s Book of the Year (Senior) Aldrin Adams and the Cheese Nightmares by Paul Howard, illustrated by Lee Cosgrove Lily’s Dream: A Lissadell Story by Judi Curtin, illustrated by Rachel Corcoran Mr Spicebag by Freddie Alexander, illustrated by Helen O’Higgins The Summer I Robbed A Bank by David O’Doherty, illustrated by Chris Judge The Little Bee Charmer of Henrietta Street by Sarah Webb, illustrated by Rachel Corcoran The Shadows of Rookhaven by Pádraig Kenny, illustrated by Edward Bettison
Children’s Book of the Year (Junior) A Hug For You by David King, illustrated by Rhiannon Archard Evie’s Christmas Wishes by Siobhán Parkinson, illustrated by Shannon Bergin Maybe... by Chris Haughton Puffling and the Egg by Erika McGann & Gerry Daly There’s a Ghost in this House by Oliver Jeffers Up on the Mountain by Peter Donnelly
Teen / Young Adult Book of the Year Baby Teeth by Meg Grehan Not My Problem by Ciara Smyth Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating by Adiba Jaigirdar The Legend of Valentine Sorrow by Caroline Busher The New Girl by Sinéad Moriarty What Love Looks Like by Jarlath Gregory
RTÉ Audience Choice Award As the Smoke Clears (championed by Joe Duffy) by Zoe Holohan Nanny, Ma, and Me (championed by Zainab Boladale) by Jade, Dominique and Kathleen Jordan Nora (championed by Seán Rocks) by Nuala O’Connor Openhearted (championed by Ray D’Arcy) by Ann Ingle Your One Wild And Precious Life (championed by Doireann Garrihy) by Maureen Gaffney
Library Association of Ireland Author of the Year Donal Ryan John Boyne Liz Nugent Marian Keyes Maggie O’Farrell Rónán Hession
Short Story of the Year Blackthorns by Bernard MacLaverty from Blank Pages & Other Stories Coming In On Time by Stuart Neville from The Traveller and Other Stories Little Lives by Deirdre Sullivan from I Want to Know That I Will Be OK The Leaving Place by Jan Carson from The Black Dreams The Wake by Allen Murrin from Waves of Change Worms by Roddy Doyle from Life Without Children
Irish Poem of the Year Driftwood by Karen J McDonell Glissando by Noel King Longboat at Portaferry by Siobhán Campbell Sestina for the Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze by Michael Naghten Shanks
Irish Language Book of the Year An Cheathrú Rua agus na hOileáin sa Naoú hAois Déag by Áine Ní Chonghaile Inní by Réaltán Ní Leannáin Madame Lazare by Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin Mé Suibhne by Feargal Ó Béarra Ré na bhFathach by Colm Ó Ceallacháin
Bookshop of the Year Bridge Books - Dromore Bridge Street Books - Wicklow Carrigaline Bookshop - Carrigaline Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop - Galway Halfway Up the Stairs - Greystones Hodges Figgis - Dublin 2 Kenny’s Bookshop & Art Gallery - Galway Kerr’s Bookshop - Clonakilty Little Acorns Bookstore - Derry Maynooth Bookshop - Maynooth No Alibis Bookstore - Belfast Tertulia Bookshop - Westport The Company of Books - Dublin 6 Woodbine Books - Kilcullen Woulfe’s Bookshop - Listowel