Books by Donal Ryan, Eilish Fisher and illustrator Dermot Flynn, Graham Norton, Jane Casey, Johnny Sexton and Seán Ronayne are in the running for the accolade of ‘An Post Irish Book of the Year 2024’.
The six titles competing for the overall An Post Irish Book of the Year Award were drawn from the category winners at the An Post Irish Book Awards, and were chosen on the principle of the highest number of votes secured during the shortlist voting process across all categories.
The six nominated titles are category winners of the Eason Novel of the Year, the Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year (Senior), the Ireland AM Popular Fiction Book of the Year, the Irish Independent Crime Fiction Book of the Year, the Eason Sports Book of the Year and the Dubray Biography of the Year:
Heart, Be at Peace – Donal Ryan (Doubleday, Penguin Random House)
- In Heart, Be at Peace, which can be read independently, Donal picks up the twenty-one voices from The Spinning Heart ten years on, in 2019. Small-town Ireland has rebounded from the economic crash, with work restored and past struggles seemingly behind. However, beneath the surface, old and new grudges are simmering, and a new threat is quietly emerging. As young people are lured by the allure of quick money, the older generation battles an intangible enemy, setting the stage for a community on the brink of turmoil.
Fia and the Last Snow Deer – Eilish Fisher, illustrated by Dermot Flynn (Puffin, Penguin Random House Children’s
- Fia and the Last Snow Deer is described as a powerful and beautiful debut verse novel set in snowy pre-historic Ireland, brought to life with stunning illustrations from Dermot Flynn. Fia and her snow deer, Solas, share a deep bond, but their village, trapped in an eternal winter, believes Solas is key to fulfilling a prophecy that demands a devastating sacrifice to restore sunlight. Refusing to allow the worst to happen, Fia and her cousin Mish, alongside Solas, flee into the wilderness to seek the mythical Deer Mother, who holds the power to awaken the sun. Facing harsh landscapes and lurking dangers, the pair must navigate risky choices that will determine the fate of their village and their beloved companion.
Frankie – Graham Norton (Coronet)
- Frankie is described as a dazzling, richly woven story by Graham Norton, spanning decades and continents. It follows Frankie Powell, a woman who has spent her life on the edges, observing but never leading. From conservative 1940s Ireland to the vibrant art scene of 1960s New York and back to her modest London flat, Frankie’s life unfolds in fragments shared with her young Irish carer, Damian. Through her memories of ambitious artists, aspiring writers, and captivating personalities, we see how her quiet presence shaped events in ways she never anticipated. A poignant exploration of identity, missed opportunities, and the unexpected paths life takes, the novel reveals that even lives lived on the periphery can hold deep meaning and unexpected influence.
A Stranger in the Family – Jane Casey (Hemlock Press)
- A Stranger in the Family is the eleventh book in the bestselling detective series featuring DS Maeve Kerrigan. Sixteen years after nine-year-old Rosalie Marshall disappeared, her mother, Helena, is found dead alongside her husband. However, DS Maeve Kerrigan and DI Josh Derwent quickly uncover layers of secrets within the Marshall family. As they delve deeper, they realize someone is willing to kill to keep the truth buried. Maeve must unravel the mystery of Rosalie’s disappearance to prevent further danger and finally uncover the chilling truth.
Obsessed: The Autobiography – Johnny Sexton with Peter O’Reilly (Penguin Sandycove)
- Johnny Sexton’s autobiography recounts his journey from being an overlooked rugby player at 24 to becoming Ireland’s most accomplished and inspiring sportsperson. Chronicling his career highs – four European Cups, four Six Nations titles (including two Grand Slams), historic wins in the Southern Hemisphere, and the World Player of the Year award – Sexton reflects on how he helped transform Leinster and Ireland to rugby powerhouses. With honesty and insight, he shares stories of his childhood, pivotal relationships with teammates and coaches, and his thoughts on the game that defined his extraordinary career.
Nature Boy: A Journey of Birdsong and Belonging – Seán Ronayne (Hachette Books Ireland)
- Nature Boy is Seán Ronayne’s inspiring memoir of self-discovery, passion, and the healing power of nature. Growing up in Cork, Seán found solace in the woods, learning to identify birds and plants with his father and grandfather. Despite being labelled “Nature Boy” by peers, his love for ornithology blossomed into a career. At 32, Seán discovered he was autistic, a revelation that brought clarity to his life and underscored his unique connection to the natural world. In 2021, he embarked on an ambitious journey to sound-record all of Ireland’s regularly occurring bird species, showcasing both the beauty of birds and the urgent need to protect their habitats. Nature Boy celebrates individuality, belonging, and the wonder of the natural world.
Larry Mac Hale, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards says:
“Six incredible titles are in the running for the prestigious An Post Irish Book of the Year 2024. Celebrating the very best of Irish writing, these books highlight the diversity and talent that define Ireland’s incredible literary landscape. From captivating fiction and compelling memories, to crime and a beautifully illustrated children’s book, this year’s top six books reflect the remarkable range of voices and stories that have captured the heart and imagination of Irish readers this year. I would like to congratulate all the nominees on their success and wish them the very best of luck.”
The overall ‘An Post Irish Book of the Year 2024’ winner will now be decided by a distinguished panel of judges, chaired by an Irish Book Awards board member.
The judging panel consists of:
- Maria Dickenson, Judging Chair – General Manager of Dubray and Board Member of the An Post Irish Book Awards
- Madeleine Keane – Literary Editor of the Sunday Independent, lecturer at University College Dublin, and Chair of Children’s Books Ireland
- Cyril McGrane – A certified public accountant by profession, Cyril has worked with An Post for the last 27 years, holding a succession of senior roles in retail, operational and logistics management. Cyril is An Post’s key liaison lead with IPC and UPU and he is leading An Post’s Customs 2020 and Brexit programmes
- Elaina Ryan – CEO of Children’s Books Ireland and Co-Artistic Director of Tower and Tales Children’s Books Festival in Co. Wexford
- Alex Clark – A critic, journalist and broadcaster, Alex is patron of the Cambridge Literary Festival and has judged many literary awards, including the Booker Prize
One of the six titles will be revealed as the ‘An Post Irish Book of the Year 2024’ during a one-hour television special on RTÉ One hosted by Oliver Callan on Thursday, 19th December at 10:15pm.
Since its inception, the An Post Irish Book of the Year Award has been won by a series of landmark titles which have gone on to become Christmas bestsellers and firm favourites with readers.
Previous winners of the An Post Irish Book of the Year Award include Paul Murray for The Bee Sting, Sally Hayden for My Fourth Time, We Drowned, Fintan O’Toole for We Don’t Know Ourselves, Doireann Ní Ghríofa for A Ghost in the Throat, the late Vicky Phelan for Overcoming, Emilie Pine for Notes to Self, John Crowley, Donal Ó Drisceoil, Mike Murphy and John Borgonovo for Atlas of the Irish Revolution, Mike McCormack for Solar Bones, Louise O’Neill for Asking For It, Mary Costello for Academy St, Donal Ryan for The Spinning Heart, Michael Harding for Staring at Lakes, and Belinda McKeon for Solace.