WATCH THE AWARDS ON RTÉ ONE SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER
#BGEIBA
BOOKS OF THE YEAR
2014
Welcome to the
2 www.BGEirishbookawards.ie
#BGEIBA
In our brave new digital world, we are constantly being invited to ‘join the conversation’. It’s as if this is a new concept. But the conversation has been going on for a long time. And here in Ireland, the national conversation is sustained largely through the creative energies of the book industry. Irish people love to read about Irish issues, about their history, their heroes, and their passions. Irish publishers stimulate the conversation by bringing to the Irish reading public the books they long to read and discuss. people Booksellers and librarians love to complete the virtuous circle by read… making such books readily available in environments where service and expertise hold sway. Described in these pages are over sixty new Irish titles across a broad range of genres. Join the conversation, select the books to get you, your friends and family talking and don’t forget to vote for your favourites at www.BGEirishbookawards.ie. John Treacy, Chairman, Irish Book Awards Ltd.
BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2014 3
Caboodle /ke’buu:d(a)l / – n – infoormal – a pleasuraable selection of benefits made avvailable v to book lovers s To o Caboodle – v – to knowingly engage and delight in bookish diveersionss: ‘It seemed that between the waars, Augustus and I would while awaay every afternoon, caboodling amongg the antiquarian bookshops of Graaftfton Street.’ Collected Letters of Saoi, Fr Francis O'Malley s Caboodloir – n – 18th Century,, room specifically built fo or readings, annotation, diary writing and other aspects of literaary engagement s Caboodlelabrradoodle – n – a cross between ttwo species of dog and a member of the Trrollope family s Cabood dling – v – antiq to spend time reading e a new book in a leather--baacked armchair; (20thC) to read the t funny,, gory or saucy parts of a book out to one’ss (almost comattose) partner in bed. Will you give over wi’ yeer feeckin’ caboodling. I’m afteer being up at 5.30 to scrub Faather O’BBrien’ss apse. Mrs Brown’ss Boys, RTE s Caboodlated/caboodloodlate ed – n – v.. rare – the state of havvinng caboodled to excess s Cabood dlicide – n – the act of killing in order d to secure a cherished book – usuall u y associated with the Tw wiligght series s Caboodlepolitan – n – One given to displayying or discusssing purchased books to displayy their wealth of culture and sophisstication s Caboodlist – n – one who fantasises over future bookk purchases. Damian waas a confirm med caboodlist. Tuurning into the highh street, he grew aroused at the thoought: the latest Julian Barnes, maybbe a Houellebecq, Houellebecq the biogra graphy of BBenjamin Britten acclaimed by the TLS T and the 50 Shades of Grey sequeel he’d pretend waas foor his dear old mother. m . Whatevs, Martin Amis s Caaboodloglodyte – n – A tunnel-ddwelling tribe whose culture was bbased around a wo orship of the haardback – or at least trade-fo ormat paperback – book s Caboodlesssence – n – the unmistakeable arresting aroma of new books – fo ouund in bookshops, and occasionally libraries when not masked by damp clothes and soiled babies s Caboodle-la-di-da C – exc – exclamation uttered when someone is perceived to be caboodling above their station s Caboodler – n – one given to literary pre-occuupation: ‘Quite the caboodler,, is ourr young Mister Poddlequit.’ Bartlesby Fudgee, Charles Dickeens s Caboo odlum – n – a person behavving in an unruly fashion in the library s Caboodlista C – n – A Hondurann guer g rilla ggroupp, the central tennet of whose armed struggle gg is a demand fo or bookstores with decent coffeee blend, a selection of pastries (chocolate muffins, alm mond croissants and those swirly ones with raisins) and comfy chairs in every village s Caboodlism – n – a made-up wo ord that starts with Caboodl…
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visit: bgeirishbookawards.ie Vote for the book you would like to see win in each award category at www.BGEirishbookawards.ie The shortlists for all the awards are displayed in this magazine to help you choose.
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RTÉ RADIO 1’S JOHN MURRAY SHOW
LISTENERS’ CHOICE
It’s All In The Head Majella O’Donnell This is the compelling story of a woman made extraordinary by the courage with which she faced her greatest challenge. A woman who, with the love and support of her family and her husband Daniel, and the public by her side, has come through with a force of character and a deep-seated determination that will inspire us all. Simon & Schuster
The Life And Loves Of A He Devil: A Memoir Graham Norton Graham Norton shows that it's really the things you love that make you who you are. From his beloved dogs to his rediscovered love of Ireland, the men Graham has loved and lost to his love affair with New York, what makes a life interesting is less what happens to you and more what inspires and drives you. Hodder & Stoughton
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RTÉ Radio 1’s The John Murray Show has consistently demonstrated its credentials for highquality coverage of books on radio and the Listeners’ Choice category always produces great winners. Who will it be this year? BOD takes on Graham Norton in a class field that’s hard to call.
LAST YEAR’S WINNER: Staring At Lakes Michael Harding
AWARD
Paul Galvin: In My Own Words Paul Galvin
The Test: My Autobiography Brian O’Driscoll
One of the greatest GAA footballers of the modern era, Paul Galvin has enjoyed a brilliant and at times controversial career, marked by courage, physicality and an intense passion for the Green and Gold. In this fiercely honest autobiography, Paul offers – in his own words – a compelling, unflinching account of a career that has fascinated football fans for over a decade.
Since 1999, when he made his international debut, Brian O'Driscoll has occupied a central place in world rugby. Now, at the end of his amazing career he tells his own story. Honest, gritty and thoughtful, this is not just an essential sports book. It is an essential book about family, friends, hard work, courage and imagination.
Transworld Ireland
Penguin Ireland
WATCH THE AWARDS ON RTÉ ONE SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER
Unravelling Oliver Liz Nugent
Us David Nicholls
Liz Nugent's gripping novel of psychological suspense is a complex and elegant study of the making of a sociopath. Handsome successful Oliver Ryan lives a life of privilege with his wife Alice – until, one evening after supper, Oliver beats Alice into a coma. What unfolds in the aftermath is a story of shame, envy, breath-taking deception and masterful manipulation.
Douglas understands his wife's need to 'rediscover herself' now that their son is leaving home. He just thought they'd be doing their rediscovering together. So he resolves to make their last family holiday into the trip of a lifetime: one that will draw the three of them closer. The hotels are booked, the tickets bought, the itinerary planned and printed. What could possibly go wrong? Hodder & Stoughton
Penguin Ireland
BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2014 7
THE BOOKS ARE MY BAG
POPULAR FICTION
The Heart Of Winter Emma Hannigan
It Started With Paris Cathy Kelly
Holly Craig's family have lived happily in Huntersbrook for generations but when times grow hard, even she must admit defeat and sell off their once successful stables. The three Craig children, Lainey, Joey and Pippa find themselves locked in a fight to keep their beloved Huntersbrook; dare they transform it into one of Ireland's most sought after countryside venues?
It all started with Paris. At the top of the Eiffel Tower, a young man proposes to his girlfriend. In that second, everything changes, not just for the happy couple, but for the family and friends awaiting their return in Ireland. A delightful tale spinning out from a once-in-alifetime moment, drawing together a terrific cast of characters. Orion
Hachette Books Ireland
The Last Days Of Rabbit Hayes Anna McPartlin
Keeping Up With The Kalashnikovs Ross O’Carroll-Kelly
Rabbit loves her life and the extraordinary people in it. She loves her spirited daughter; her colourful, unruly family; the only man in her heart, Johnny. But it turns out the world has other plans, and she’s OK with that. Because she has plans for the world too, and only a handful of days left to make them happen.
My friend, Fionn, was being held hostage in, I don't know, Unganga Nanga. My wife was up the spout again. My daughter had grown into a mix between Suri Cruise and a Chucky doll. And one or two other chickens – well, birds – were coming home to roost. The fourteenth bestselling instalment of the Ross O’Carroll-Kelly chronicles does not disappoint.
Transworld Ireland
Penguin Ireland
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WATCH THE AWARDS ON RTÉ ONE SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER
BOOK OF THE YEAR De-throning multiple winner Ross O'CarrollKelly might require a Kalashnikov but five women writers are ready to answer the call to wrest the popular fiction crown from Castlerock’s finest. Regime-change is in the air, sisters! Vote now.
LAST YEAR’S WINNER: Downturn Abbey Ross O’Carroll-Kelly
The Year I Met You Cecelia Ahern Jasmine loves two things: her sister and her work. And when her work is taken away she has no idea who she is. Matt loves two things: his family and the booze. Without them, he hits rock bottom. One New Year’s Eve, two people’s paths collide. Both are at a crossroads. But as the year unfolds, an unlikely friendship slowly starts to blossom. HarperCollins
The Secrets Sisters Keep Sinéad Moriarty Sinéad Moriarty's delicious tenth novel is the story of three sisters, three lifealtering problems and one eternal truth: nobody knows you quite like a sister! The Devlin sisters rely on each other – but some things are just too painful to share. All three women think that some battles are best fought alone. Maybe they need to think again... Penguin Ireland
BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2014 9
THE EASON
NOVEL OF THE YEAR
A History Of Loneliness John Boyne Strangely, this is John Boyne’s first novel about Ireland and it’s well worth the wait. It’s a story about blind dogma and moral courage, and about the dark places where the two can meet. At once courageous and intensely personal, the novel confirms Boyne as one of the most searching chroniclers of his generation.
Academy Street Mary Costello
The Bone Clocks David Mitchell
Growing up in the west of Ireland in the 1940s, Tess is a shy introverted child. But beneath her quiet exterior lies a heart of fire. Over four decades and a life lived with quiet intensity on Academy Street in upper Manhattan, Tess encounters ferocious love and calamitous loss. But what endures is her bravery and fortitude.
One drowsy summer's day in 1984, teenage runaway Holly Sykes encounters a strange woman who offers a small kindness in exchange for 'asylum'. Decades will pass before Holly understands exactly what sort of asylum the woman was seeking. The Bone Clocks is yet another dazzling tour de force from one of our greatest story-tellers.
Canongate
Doubleday
Sceptre
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From Out Of The City John Kelly Dublin in the future, and the US President has just been assassinated during a state dinner. The official account has already taken hold but a hawk-eyed octogenarian named Monk, believing there’s nothing that cannot be known, has a version of his own. This is a dark and twisted tale of the watcher and the watched. Dalkey Archive Press
WATCH THE AWARDS ON RTÉ ONE SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER
Nora Webster Colm Tóibín
The Thrill Of It All Joseph O’Connor
Nora Webster is living in a small town, trying to rebuild her life after the death of her husband. She is fiercely intelligent, at times difficult and impatient, but Nora is trapped by her circumstances. Slowly, through the gift of music and the power of friendship, she finds a glimmer of hope and a way of starting again.
A captivating novel filled with music, friendship and teenage dreams. Infused with blues, ska, New Wave and punk, the tale stretches from suburban England to Manhattan, from Thatcher’s London to the Hollywood Bowl, from the Glastonbury Festival to a wintry Long Island, culminating in a Dublin evening in July 2012, a night that changes everything.
Viking
The Eason Novel of the Year is the senior category of the awards and this year’s shortlist has a fresh look with four writers making their first appearance. John Kelly, John Boyne, Mary Costello and David Mitchell join awards veterans Colm Tóibín and Joseph O’Connor.
LAST YEAR’S WINNER: The Guts Roddy Doyle
Harvill Secker
BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2014 11
WINNER OF THE 2013
BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRISH
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his time last year, Michael Harding’s Staring at Lakes: A Memoir of Love, Melancholy and Magical Thinking had already established him as a bestselling author; this, mark you, in middle age, after decades of toiling in the literary vineyard with modest success. Harding had published three novels, had won a Hennessy Award for short stories, been writer-in-residence at Trinity College and had innumerable plays staged at the Abbey, The Peacock and the Project. His column in The Irish Times also attracted a devoted readership so in no sense was Harding a rookie. And yet by his own admission he was hardly prepared for the runaway success of the book which propelled him into a magical year of media attention, radio and television, public appearances and literary prizes. On November 26th 2013 Harding arrived suited and booted for the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards Gala Dinner, his book having been shortlisted in two categories, The John Murray Show Listeners’ Choice and the National Book Tokens Nonfiction Book of the Year. He won in both categories and weeks later plonked the cherry on the cake by also winning the
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Congratulations to The 2013 Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book of the Year Award winner, Michael Harding
BOOK OF THE YEAR overall Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book of the Year, a stunning hat-trick of victories in anyone’s book. Such success was richly-deserved because very few books capture the public mood as winningly as Staring At Lakes did. What was it about that book? Harding has said that it simply “connected” with a lot of people at a time when recession and hardship had made people fractious and fearful. The moment was right. With the consolations of religion and family diminished and the security of jobs, mortgages and pensions under threat, people naturally responded to a writer who “went inside to examine the darkness”. Harding’s remarkable frankness about his own struggles with depression and just as important, his coming to terms with the absolute necessity of living in “the now” seemed to have a tonic effect on thousands of readers. Harding’s charm is sui generis, one part Forrest Gump, two parts the Dalai Lama. “Be not afraid” is the message and of course it’s well known that Harding was ordained as a priest and later spent fifteen years studying Buddhism, experiences which seem to have allowed a shaman-like serenity to descend upon him. And yet, he never preaches, never pretends to have all the answers, only to urge us, along with Van Morrison, to “let go into the mystery”. One year on and Michael Harding is back topping the nonfiction bestseller lists with his follow-up to Staring At Lakes, entitled Hanging with The Elephant, which has also
been shortlisted for the 2014 National Book Tokens Nonfiction Book of the Year. Harding is back in Leitrim in the northwest of Ireland. His wife has left for a six-week trip to Poland and he is alone for the first time since his illness two years earlier. Faced with this time on his own, Harding resolves to examine the threat of depression that is a constant presence in his life, but, as he attempts to tame the ‘elephant’ – an Asian metaphor for the unruly mind – he finds himself drawn back to the death of his mother during the summer of 2012. Written with unflinching honesty, Hanging with the Elephant begins as one man’s quest to overcome his demons, but becomes a journey into the depths of the soul. Reviewing the book for The Irish Times, John Boyne concluded that “like many people who have achieved a great deal, he cannot recognise his triumphs. This book, like its predecessor, is one of them.” A warm welcome back to our Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards triple awardwinner, Michael Harding, and here’s to another year of Magical Thinking.
As voted for by the Irish public
BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2014 13
THE IRELAND AM
CRIME FICTION BOOK
Can Anybody Help Me? Sinéad Crowley Struggling with a new baby, Yvonne turns to an online forum for mothers. Drawn into a new world, she spends increasing amounts of time online. When the body of a young woman is found, she realises they’re all in danger. Can she persuade Sergeant Claire Boyle, herself about to go on maternity leave, to take her seriously?
The Kill Jane Casey A killer is terrorising London but this time the police are the targets. Urgently re-assigned to investigate a series of brutal attacks on fellow officers, Maeve Kerrigan and her boss have little idea what motivates the killer’s fury against the force. But they know it will only be a matter of time before the killer strikes again... Ebury Press
Quercus
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Irish crime writing came of age years ago and we no longer see so many articles on the “upsurge” in Emerald Noir. What’s encouraging now is the growth of the genre with new writers arriving on the scene every year. A warm welcome to newcomers Liz Nugent and Sinéad Crowley.
LAST YEAR’S WINNER: The Dolls House Louise Phillips
WATCH THE AWARDS ON RTÉ ONE SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER
OF THE YEAR
Last Kiss Louise Phillips
The Secret Place Tana French
Unravelling Oliver Liz Nugent
The Final Silence Stuart Neville
When criminal psychologist Dr Kate Pearson is brought in to help investigate a murder, she is plunged into a web of sexual power and evil which spreads from Dublin to Paris, and then to Rome. Will Kate discover the identity of the killer before it's too late to protect the innocent? Another cracking read from last year’s winner, Louise Phillips.
The photo shows a murder victim. The caption says “I know who killed him.” Even in her exclusive boarding school, bad things happen. The previous year, Christopher Harper was found murdered on the grounds. And today, in the Secret Place - the school noticeboard where girls can pin up their secrets anonymously - Holly found the card.
Liz Nugent's gripping novel of psychological suspense is a complex and elegant study of the making of a sociopath. Handsome successful Oliver Ryan lives a life of privilege with his wife Alice – until, one evening after supper, Oliver beats Alice into a coma. What unfolds in the aftermath is a story of shame, envy, breath-taking deception and masterful manipulation.
Rea Carlisle inherits a house from a distant uncle. In a locked room she discovers a leatherbound book, with locks of hair and fingernails: a catalogue of victims. Rea turns to the only person she can think of: DI Jack Lennon. But Lennon is facing his own problems. Suspended from the force, Lennon must unlock the secrets of a dead man’s terrifying journal.
Hachette Books Ireland
Hachette Books Ireland
Harvill Secker
Penguin Ireland
BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2014 15
THE BORD GÁIS ENERGY
SPORTS BOOK OF TH
The Second Half Roy Keane with Roddy Doyle In an eighteen-year playing career, Roy Keane dominated every midfield he led to glory. Aggressive and highly competitive, Roy Keane has had a life like no other. Now, in a stunning collaboration with Roddy Doyle, he blends anecdote and reflection in his own inimitable voice. The result is an unforgettable personal odyssey which fearlessly challenges the meaning of success.
Fields Of Fire Damian Lawlor A fascinating indepth look at what’s been happening in the sport of hurling over the last few years and a mustread for all GAA fans. Drawing on exclusive interviews with dozens of current and former legends, awardwinning journalist Damian Lawlor offers a unique and compelling insight into hurling’s spectacular renaissance. Transworld Ireland
Weidenfeld & Nicolson
The Test: My Autobiography Brian O’Driscoll Since 1999, when he made his international debut, Brian O'Driscoll has occupied a central place in world rugby. Now, at the end of his amazing career he tells his own story. Honest, gritty and thoughtful, this is not just an essential sports book. It is an essential book about family, friends, hard work, courage and imagination. Penguin Ireland
Dalo: The Autobiography Of Anthony Daly Anthony Daly Anthony Daly is one of the most respected managers of his generation. In this characteristically honest and compelling autobiography, Dalo, takes us from the early days growing up in Clarecastle through his playing career, the extension into management, punctuated with intense and revealing stories from the dressingroom. A compelling insight into a unique personality in modern Irish sport. Transworld Ireland
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E YEAR
WATCH THE AWARDS ON RTÉ ONE SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER
Sport occupies a central place in Irish life. Our most heroic figures are often sportsmen and this year’s shortlist features biographies of two truly titanic heroes, Roy Keane and Brian O’Driscoll; books which will almost certainly vie for the No 1 Christmas bestseller slot.
LAST YEAR’S WINNER: Seven Deadly Sins David Walsh
A Different Shade Of Green: The Alan McLoughlin Story Alan McLoughlin with Bryce Evans In 1993, Alan McLoughlin scored the equalising goal against Northern Ireland at Windsor Park, a strike which sent Jack Charlton’s team to USA ’94. Two years ago, he was diagnosed with cancer of the kidney. McLoughlin offered himself as a human guinea-pig for a new drug in the hope of helping others beat the disease. A true hero’s tale.
The Race To Truth Emma O'Reilly When Emma O'Reilly joined the US Postal cycling team, she could have had no idea how she would become a central figure in the biggest doping scandal in sporting history. This is a stunning memoir by Emma O’Reilly, the first person to expose Lance Armstrong's doping, her betrayal by the sport of cycling and her ultimate redemption. Bantam Press
Ballpoint Press
BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2014 17
THEJOURNAL.IE
BEST IRISH-PUBLISHED
Judging W.T. Cosgrave Michael Laffan
The Glorious Madness Turtle Bunbury
W.T. Cosgrave has been neglected by scholars in comparison with other twentiethcentury Irish leaders. This biography uses sources not previously consulted to examine his career as local politician, rebel, minister, head of government for ten years and opposition leader. In particular, it assesses his role as a state-builder and a key figure in the Irish democratic tradition.
Who were the Irish men who went to war? On the eve of the Great War’s centenary, it's time to reconsider the remarkable human experiences that defined Ireland's experience of the war. Based on firsthand accounts of the conflict, this collection of character portraits and stirring anecdotes brings to life the hopes, fears and ambitions that defined Ireland's lost generation. Gill & Macmillan
Royal Irish Academy
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The Long Acre PJ Cunningham
Dancehall Days Michael O’Reilly
This extraordinarily engaging book shines a sometimes harsh, sometimes soft, light on family and community relationships as their legacies of friendships and feuds overlapped down the generations. The Long Acre focuses on neighbours and family as they lived and died in a changing Ireland yet to shake itself free of shackles imposed by religion and tradition.
As a photographer for Spotlight Magazine, Michael O'Reilly saw the very best of the sixties, from the hysteria inspired by the showbands to the emergence of the Irish folk and rock scenes, and visits from major overseas acts. Dancehall Days is a collection of over 300 stunning blackand-white photographs featuring a generation of Irish performers and now legendary international stars.
Ballpoint Press
Gill & Macmillan
WATCH THE AWARDS ON RTÉ ONE SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER
BOOK OF THE YEAR
Dubliners 100 Edited by Thomas Morris
T.K. Whitaker: Portrait Of A Patriot Anne Chambers
Thomas Morris’s Dubliners 100 invites new and established Irish writers to create ‘cover versions’ of their favourite stories from James Joyce’s Dubliners one hundred years after its publication. Dubliners 100 is a celebration, an invitation, a tribute, and a wonderful collection in itself. Contributors include John Boyne, Eimear McBride, Patrick McCabe, and Donal Ryan.
Regarded nationally and internationally as the ‘architect of modern Ireland’, voted ‘Greatest Living Irish Person of the Century’, this is the first authoritative biography of T. K. Whitaker. Author Anne Chambers, introduces Whitaker, the public servant, the family man, revealing his motivation, humour and compassion; the personal losses endured and the many highlights enjoyed.
Tramp Press
In an age of global publishing, this category aims to reward smart publishing by indigenous publishing houses from small indies to major corporations. Congrats to Tramp Press for an auspicious first year and thanks to all for bringing us such wonderful titles.
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LAST YEAR’S WINNER: A History Of Ireland in 100 Objects Fintan O’Toole
Doubleday Ireland
BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2014 19
THE BOB HUGHES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
PAUL DURCAN he Board of the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards wish to confer upon Paul Durcan its Lifetime Achievement Award for 2014. The Award will be presented at the annual Awards Dinner in the Doubletree Hilton Hotel in Dublin on the night of November 26th. Few poets have managed to reconcile popular success with the careful cultivation of their art as successfully as Paul Durcan. Throughout a long career spanning five decades, Durcan has given us fierce satirical poems which challenge the
T
any actor, but once heard, the sotto voce incantatory style is never forgotten. His style owes much to what he has called “the essence of the common language” which is perhaps what has enabled him to bridge poetry’s infamous gulf of difficulty. What’s more, and particularly endearing to booksellers, his books sell, and a new Durcan collection is always gratefully received within the trade. Booksellers, like readers and critics, have favourite writers. Any book sold keeps Yeats’s “greasy till” chiming but there are certain writers whose work booksellers actively enjoy
orthodoxies of materialism, sexism, authoritiarianism, the Church, and the violence of nationalism. His poetry has been described as Whitmanesque for its heterogeneity, for the way in which the everyday lived life, current affairs, politics and love are made to seem congenial bedfellows. A Paul Durcan public reading is like no other. Audiences come away drained and cleansed as if from a secular mass. He can be funnier than any stand-up, dramatic as
recommending and selling to their customers. It is those good friends of the book trade that our Lifetime Achievement Award is designed to honour and few writers have been a greater friend to Irish booksellers than Paul Durcan. The Board of the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards warmly congratulate the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Winner for 2014, Paul Durcan.
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THE SUNDAY INDEPENDENT
NEWCOMER OF THE
All That Is Solid Melts Into Air Darragh McKeon
Flight Oona Frawley
In 1986, in a rural village in Belarus, a teenage boy wakes up to a sky of the deepest crimson. Outside, the ears of his neighbour's cattle are dripping blood. Ten miles away, at the Chernobyl Power Plant, something unimaginable has happened. This is an astonishing novel of terrifying beauty that captures the end of an era wonderfully.
Set in Ireland in 2004, as a referendum on citizenship approaches, Flight is a magically observed story of family and belonging, following the gestation of a friendship during a year of crisis. Flight is among a new breed of Irish novel – one that recognises the global nature of Irish experience in the aftermath of the failed Celtic Tiger.
Viking
Tramp Press
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A thriving literary culture will always produce new writers but by any standards, 2014 has been an exceptional year in Ireland. These six debutants have emerged from a quality field of new writers who look set to establish successful writing careers across the genres.
LAST YEAR’S WINNER: The Herbalist Niamh Boyce
YEAR
WATCH THE AWARDS ON RTÉ ONE SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER
Kingdom Of Scars Eoin C Macken
The Undertaking Audrey Magee
Only Ever Yours Louise O'Neill
Sam is a shy boy navigating two social worlds: the bullies at his all-boys private school and the small uncouth gang in his neighbourhood. But being a teenager is all about redemption and recrimination, and seemingly huge moments eventually meaning nothing. Through these events, Sam discovers the boundaries of sexuality, friendship, authority and the possibility of death.
A soldier on the Russian Front marries a woman from a photograph. In Berlin, the woman marries a photograph of the soldier. When they finally meet, they begin to imagine a life under the bright promise of Nazi Germany. But as the tide of war turns, the couple find themselves facing the terrible consequences of an extraordinary guilt.
Frieda and Isabel are in their final year at the School, where they have been taught one thing: how to please men. Each hopes to be chosen as a companion – a submissive, obedient wife. The girls must fight for their future, but in a world which treats females as disposable commodities, ‘winning’ is only the least desperate option.
Atlantic Books
Quercus
Here Are The Young Men Rob Doyle Meet Matthew, Rez, Cocker and Kearney. Facing the void of their post-school lives, the boys spend their first summer of freedom in a savage apprenticeship on the streets of Dublin. Roaming aimlessly through the city, fuelled by drugs and dark fantasies, the teenagers spiral into self-destruction. Here Are the Young Men has been called the Irish Trainspotting. Lilliput/Bloomsbury
Poolbeg Press
BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2014 23
THE AVONMORE
COOKBOOK OF THE
All Things Sweet Rachel Allen We all need to treat ourselves from time to time, and Rachel Allen’s Sweet Things will satisfy even the sweetest sweet tooth. Featuring 100 mouth-watering recipes, lavish photography, tips for perfect finishing touches and tricks to help you save time, this is a decadent journey through homemade delights – a tempting collection of treats to make your days just a little bit sweeter!. HarperCollins
The Extra Virgin Kitchen Susan Jane White When food writer Susan Jane White was told to stay away from wheat, dairy and refined sugar due to intolerances, her food future seemed bleak, bland and boring. So, drawing on her gastronomic background, she created seriously tasty recipes that didn’t compromise her health. The result? Recipes so full of flavour that you would never believe they are ‘free from’ anything. Gill & Macmillan
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From Lynda’s Table Lynda Booth Lynda has gathered together the best recipes from her travels as a chef and from the Dublin Cookery School which she founded in 2007. Reviewer John McKenna said ‘Like the best sort of teacher, her enthusiasm is utterly infectious, and enthusiasm defines her métier. People who use From Lynda's Table will find they cook everything in it. It's a marvelous work.’ DCS Publishing
The Happy Pear David & Stephen Flynn Welcome to the Happy Pear way of eating – healthy and packed with mindblowing flavour, texture and colour. The Happy Pear opened ten years ago when twins David and Stephen Flynn, passionate about starting a food revolution in their home town, took over their local fruit and veg shop and succeeded in building a food business based on flavour, health and community. Penguin Ireland
YEAR
WATCH THE AWARDS ON RTÉ ONE SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER
Now in its third year, The Avonmore Cookbook of the Year has become immensely popular very quickly; perhaps because everyone loves good food. This year’s shortlist features three established culinary stars, a cookery school proprietor, a food writer and a happy pair.
LAST YEAR’S WINNER: 30 Years At Ballymaloe Darina Allen
Back To Basics Kevin Dundon By explaining and demonstrating core cooking techniques, Kevin opens up a vast repertoire of dishes to every cook. From poaching eggs and making perfect pastry to pan-frying steak and creating the ultimate chocolate mousse, Kevin shows that, once you understand the basic technique, you can master any dish. It’s just like having Kevin beside you in the kitchen! Mitchell Beazley
The Nation’s Favourite Food Fast! Neven Maguire The demands of the modern world mean we're all under time pressure, but we still need to eat. Ireland's favourite chef has devised 100 new family recipes you can rely on. From speedy suppers to clever lunchbox ideas, economical meals from leftovers and fast, healthy alternatives to takeaway, this is food that your family will love on the table in minutes. Gill & Macmillan
BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2014 25
SPECSAVERS CHILDREN’S
STORY COMPETITION Specsavers, together with the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2014, invites you to write a short story inspired by this picture. You could win all the shortlisted books entered in the Specsavers Irish Children’s Book of the Year Award 2014 and €2,500 for your school.
HOW TO ENTER All you have to do is write a short story based on the themes suggested by this cartoon. Please follow these instructions: • Make sure your story is no longer than 500 words; 250 words are enough if you are under 12 years old • Give your story a title • Write your story (preferably type it) on a sheet of A4 paper and include your name, age, telephone number and address
• Send your entry to the competition address or submit your entry online Entries should be posted to: Specsavers Short Story Competition, c/o WHPR, 6 Ely Place, Dublin 2 or submitted online at specsavers.ie/irish-bookawards Groups of entries from schools are also very welcome. The closing date for the competition is Sunday 9th November 2014.
PRIZES The two winning entrants will receive all of the books shortlisted for the Specsavers Irish Children’s Book of the Year Award 2014 and their school libraries will receive a donation of some of the best Irish books from the last year plus €2,500 for their school. For full COMPETITION RULES see www.BGEirishbookawards.ie Good luck!
HarperColllins congratulattes:
Rachel Allen
Ceccelia Ahern
Landy Derek L
Shortlisted for the Bord Gรกis Energy Irish Book Aw wards 2014 Books available now from all bookselling outlets
THE SPECSAVERS
CHILDREN’S BOOK OF There is a Dying of the Light feel to The Specsavers Children’s category this year with the final book in Derek Landy’s all-conquering Skulduggery Pleasant series. Will he go out on a high or can former winner Roddy Doyle, Sarah Crossan or the Moone Boys stop him?
LAST YEAR’S WINNER: Skulduggery Pleasant: Last Stand of Dead Men Derek Landy
Apple And Rain Sarah Crossan
Brilliant Roddy Doyle
When Apple’s mother returns after eleven years of absence, Apple feels whole again. She will have an answer to her burning question – why did you go? But just like the stormy Christmas Eve when she left, her mother’s homecoming is bitter sweet, and Apple wonders who is really looking after whom.
When Uncle Ben’s business fails, Gloria and Raymond conclude that something is wrong. So when the children overhear their granny saying that the Black Dog has settled on Ben’s back and he won’t be OK until it’s gone, they decide to get rid of it. The children set out on a quest to hunt down the Black Dog.
Bloomsbury Children’s
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Macmillan Children's Books
THE YEAR SENIOR
Skulduggery Pleasant: The Dying Of The Light Derek Landy Following the loss of Valkyrie Cain, Skulduggery Pleasant must use any means to track down and stop Darquesse before she turns the world into a charred, lifeless cinder. And so he draws together a team of soldiers, monster hunters, criminals… and Valkyrie’s own murderous reflection. The final battle is about to begin. And not everyone gets out of here alive…
Moone Boy Chris O’Dowd & Nick V. Murphy Martin Moone is eleven and completely fed up with being the only boy in a family of girls. He's desperate for a decent wingman to help him navigate his idiotic life. So when best mate Padraic suggests Martin gets an imaginary friend – or 'IF' for short – he decides to give it a go. Macmillan Children's Books
HarperCollins Children's Books
BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2014 29
THE SPECSAVERS
CHILDREN’S BOOK OF
Brian And The Vikings Chris Judge & Mark Wickham Brian is the smallest boy in the village. But he’s also the cleverest. So when some scary Vikings arrive, it’s up to Brian to save the day with the help of his friends – and his best invention yet... The adventures of Brian Boru, the little boy who would grow up to become High King of Ireland. The O'Brien Press
Shh! We Have A Plan Chris Haughton Four friends are out for a walk. Suddenly, they spot it – a beautiful bird perched high in a tree! They simply must have it and – shh! – they have a plan. So they tiptoe, nets poised. But, at the turn of the page, we find a ridiculous bunch of very tangled characters and a blissfully oblivious bird, flying away. Walker Books
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Specs For Rex Yasmeen Ismail
TiN Chris Judge
Rex has new glasses and he hates them! He does not want to wear them to school, and he tries to hide them. It's funny how things turn out, though, because Rex's specs end up winning him a gold star. A beautifully illustrated and charming story about the positive effects of being just a little different.
A vibrant new adventure from the award-winning creator of The Lonely Beast. Tin is looking after his little sister Nickel when she grabs hold of a balloon and floats away! Tin and his dog Zinc set off in hot pursuit as she floats towards the big city... Can they rescue Nickel before she goes too far?
Bloomsbury Children’s
Andersen Press
THE YEAR JUNIOR Developing the reading habit is one of the greatest gifts we can give to our children. Picture books represent not just a great opportunity for quality time but a gateway into a wonderland that will engage them for the rest of their lives. Try them with these four terrific titles.
LAST YEAR’S WINNER: When You Were Born Benji Bennett
BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2014 31
IN MEMORIAM
DERMOT HEALY 1947-2014
D
ermot Healy was born in Finea, County Westmeath. His father was a garda who was posted to Cavan when Healy was a child. The family upheaval that followed is chronicled in his acclaimed memoir, The Bend for Home (1996) which friend and fellow writer Pat McCabe described as "probably the finest memoir written in Ireland in the last 50 years." He was a tremendously versatile writer who wrote five novels, several volumes of plays and poetry so fine that Seamus Heaney was moved to describe Healy as "the heir to Patrick Kavanagh". His best and most popular novel is A Goat’s Song which ranks among the best Irish novels of recent years. Healy won many prizes including the Hennessy Award (1974 and 1976), the Tom Gallon Award (1983), and the Encore Award (1995). In 2011, he was shortlisted for the Poetry Now Award for his 2010 poetry collection, A Fool's Errand. Long Time, No See was nominated for the International IMPAC Literary Award in 2011, but the major prizes eluded him and he was generally an under-appreciated writer outside of his native Ireland. Much of his fiction captures a sense of dislocation and rootlessness ostensibly reflecting the long years he spent in
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London where he worked in casual jobs living the life of the Irish emigrant beset by uncertainty and the need to survive. Sudden Times (1999) captures this world brilliantly with protagonist Ollie returning to England to confront his demons on the building sites of London. For the last quarter-century of his life Healy settled in Ballyconnell, Co Sligo, in a house on the very edge of the Atlantic, where he lived with his wife, Helen, and a vibrant community of artists. This world was portrayed in the wonderful RTÉ documentary, The Writing in the Sky and after the years of turmoil, the sense of a man in his element is unmistakable.
Healy was a private man but he gave of his time generously, organising the Cootehill Arts Festival in the 1980s, which included productions of Shakespeare plays. He was also a fine reader of his own work. Few who heard him read alongside Kevin Barry at Mountains to Sea a few years ago will forget his performance that day. Last word must go to his publisher, Peter Fallon of Gallery Press who said "Like the home he lives in, Dermot is out there on his own. It's hard to put him up against other Irish writers, so singular is his voice and his way of seeing". RIP Dermot.
‘A thrilling mystery story from a unique voice’ Brian McGilloway
THE BLOOD DIMMED TIDE
Anthony Quinn
From Ireland’s latest crime-writing star comes a brilliantly imaginative novel, The Blood Dimmed Tide. Set in Sligo in 1918, this masterful tale weaves the life of
noexit.co.uk/blooddimmedtide
@noexitpress
THE NATIONAL BOOK TOKENS
NONFICTION BOOK
Get Sh*t Done! Niall Harbison Many of us dream big but never truly believe we can achieve our life's ambitions. But it is possible to make dreams come true – aged just 33, and within 1000 days of starting a business in his bedroom, Niall Harbison sold it for millions. Let Niall be your inspiration. Stop dreaming and instead start getting sh*t done! Penguin Ireland
The Life And Loves Of A He Devil: A Memoir Graham Norton Graham Norton shows that it's really the things you love that make you who you are. From his beloved dogs to his rediscovered love of Ireland, the men Graham has loved and lost to his love affair with New York, what makes a life interesting is less what happens to you and more what inspires and drives you. Hodder & Stoughton
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Hanging With The Elephant Michael Harding His wife has left for a trip to Poland and he is alone for the first time since his illness two years earlier. He resolves to examine the threat of depression and his dependency on his wife, the beloved. But, as he tries to tame the 'elephant' he finds himself drawn back to the death of his mother. Hachette Books Ireland
It’s Not Yet Dark Simon Fitzmaurice In 2008, he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease and given four years to live. Here, the young filmmaker, a husband and father of five small children, draws us deeply into his inner world. Told in beautifully stark prose, this is an astonishing journey into a life lived more fully than most, revealing at its core the power of love. Hachette Books Ireland
WATCH THE AWARDS ON RTÉ ONE SATURDAY 29TH NOVEMBER
OF THE YEAR The bestselling Christmas titles invariably emerge from the nonfiction genre which in itself covers a multitude, from history to biography and current affairs all of which are represented in this year’s excellent and varied nonfiction shortlist.
LAST YEAR’S WINNER: Staring At Lakes Michael Harding
The Last Armada Des Ekin
Tom Gilmartin Frank Connolly
Kinsale, Ireland: Christmas Eve, 1601. As thunder crashes and lightning rakes the sky, three very different commanders line up for a battle that will decide the fate of a nation. Each comes alive in this story of courage and endurance, of bitterness and betrayal, and of intrigue at the highest levels in the courts of England and Spain.
Tom Gilmartin had ambitious plans for retail development in Dublin. Little did he know that in order to do business in the city, senior politicians and public officials would want a slice of the action. This compelling narrative exposes the roots of the financial disaster that has wreaked havoc in the lives of so many Irish people.
The O'Brien Press
Gill & Macmillan
BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2014 35
THE WRITING.IE
SHORT STORY OF THE Now in it's second year, the Writing.ie Short Story of the Year provides an invaluable opportunity for new and established voices to shine. Many outstanding novelists have launched their careers with short stories, a form that has a special place in Irish literary tradition.
LAST YEAR’S WINNER: The Things We Lose The Things We Leave Behind Billy O’Callaghan
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Paprika Frank McGuinness
Priesteen Ciarán Folan
Frank McGuinness lives in Dublin and lectures in English at UCD. His internationallyacclaimed work includes The Factory Girls, Baglady, and the award winning Observe The Sons Of Ulster Marching Towards The Somme.
Ciarán Folan has had stories published in New Irish Writing, The Dublin Review & The London Magazine and has won RTÉ's Francis MacManus Competition twice. He is the author of the story collection Freak Nights (New Island).
Published in Surge (The O'Brien Press)
Published in The London Magazine
YEAR AWARD
Five Days to Polling Day Danielle McLaughlin Danielle McLaughlin’s first collection of short stories will be published in Ireland in 2015 by The Stinging Fly Press, and in the UK and US by John Murray and Random House.
Eveline Donal Ryan Donal Ryan is the author of two novels, The Spinning Heart and The Thing About December. His first collection of short stories will be released in March 2015. Published in The Irish Times
Absence Christine Dwyer Hickey Christine Dwyer Hickey is a novelist and short-story writer. She has won many prestigious prizes, including the Irish Novel of the Year Award. She is a member of Aosdána. Published in The House on Parkgate Street (New Island)
Published in The South Circular
Rest Day John Boyne John Boyne’s novels for adults and young readers include The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas and A History of Loneliness, which is shortlisted for this year’s Irish Novel of the Year Award. Published in The Irish Times
“At the heart of Irish writing online, Writing.ie is a global platform, promoting established authors while drawing on their wisdom and experience to provide unparralelled resources for new and aspiring writers. We are thrilled that the Short Story of the Year shortlist reflects this, featuring both stellar names in the world of Irish Fiction as well as new and exciting emerging voices. Just like last year, this is a shortlist to watch.” Vanessa O’Loughlin, Founder of Writing.ie
BORD GÁIS ENERGY IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2014 37
INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION AWARD 2014
T
his new award has been introduced to honour international writers who, in the view of the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards board, have contributed substantially to the health and wealth of the Irish book-trade. Recipients will have a large corpus of popular work behind them; will have sales figures counted in millions; will have demonstrated staying power and longevity; and will have endeared themselves to Irish booksellers throughout their long careers. Our first recipient satisfies all of these criteria in spades and he is Jeffrey Archer. For nigh on four decades, Jeffrey Archer has been a one-man publishing industry combining his unique storytelling ability with an indefatigable energy that has seen him top bestseller lists around the world with sales of over 270 million copies for his many novels and short story collections. These are phenomenal numbers by any standards and the pace shows no sign of slowing. It’s difficult to imagine that Not a Penny More, Not a Penny less was published as long ago as 1976 but thirtyeight years on, he is still producing bestselling fiction with impressive regularity; volume 5 of, the Clifton Chronicles, an ambitious project that tells the extraordinary story of Harry Clifton, will be published in February of next year. Our warmest congratulations to Jeffrey Archer who will be presented with his award at the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards Gala Dinner in November.
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Photo: Broosk Saib
WINNER: JEFFREY ARCHER
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