'Spectacular library' one reason An Post Irish Book of the Year Awards filmed at Tullynally
The “spectacular library” at Tullynally Castle was one of the reasons the ‘An Post Irish Book of the Year Award’ 2021 are being filmed there, the organisers have said.
“Tullynally’s homely and spectacular library was a huge attraction to the venue,” said a spokesperson for the event.
“With the oldest book in the collection being almost 400 years old, the library itself has a very noble soul. This, alongside the beautiful location sparked our interest in the venue.”
Books by Maureen Gaffney, David King, Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen, Séamas O’Reilly, Fintan O’Toole and Sally Rooney have been nominated for the ‘An Post Irish Book of the Year 2021’.
The six titles were category winners from the recent An Post Irish Book Awards and, given the volume of votes each book has received from the public vote and the Academy, they are now finalists for the overall ‘An Post Irish Book of the Year 2021’.
The overall ‘An Post Irish Book of the Year 2021’ winner will be decided by an panel of judges, and the strength of the public vote will also be taken into consideration.
One of the six nominated titles will be revealed as the ‘An Post Irish Book of the Year 2021’ during a special one-hour television show, filmed in Tullynally Castle, and hosted by Oliver Callan on RTÉ One on Wednesday 8 December at 10.35pm.
The six nominated titles are:
• Your One Wild and Precious Life – Maureen Gaffney
• A Hug For You – David King
• Aisling and the City – Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen
• Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? – Séamas O’Reilly
• We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Ireland Since 1958 – Fintan O’Toole
• Beautiful World, Where Are You? – Sally Rooney
David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, said: “The variety of titles nominated for the overall 2021 An Post Irish Book of the Year Award demonstrates the great breadth and diversity of reading interests across Ireland in these monotone Covid times.”
Previous winners of the An Post Irish Book of the Year include Doireann Ni Ghriofa for A Ghost in the Throat, 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. The ‘An Post Irish Book of the Year’ public vote is sponsored by National Book Tokens.
Tune into RTÉ One at 10:35pm on Wednesday 8 December to find out who wins the An Post Irish Book of the Year 2021.
First awarded in 2006, the An Post Irish Book Awards are Ireland’s biggest literary celebration, showcasing a diverse mix of exceptional writing from new and established writers across 20 categories- championing everything from novels and non-fiction to poetry, short stories and the Irish language.
The 2021 winners:
Eason Novel of the Year
• Beautiful World, Where Are You – Sally Rooney
Irish Independent Crime Fiction Book of the Year
• 56 Days – Catherine Ryan Howard
Eason Sports Book of the Year in Association with Ireland AM
• Fight Or Flight: My Life, My Choices – Keith Earls, with Tommy Conlon
Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year
• Snowflake – Louise Nealon
Odgers Berndtson Non-Fiction Book of the Year
• We Don’t Know Ourselves: A Personal History of Ireland Since 1958 – Fintan O’Toole
Dubray Biography of the Year
• Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? – Séamas O’Reilly
Bookselling Ireland Cookbook of the Year
• Everyday Cook – Donal Skehan
National Book Tokens Popular Fiction Book of the Year
• Aisling and the City – Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen
Bookstation Lifestyle Book of the Year
• Décor Galore – Laura De Barra
TheJournal.ie Best Irish Published Book of the Year
• The Coastal Atlas of Ireland – Val Cummins, Robert Devoy, Barry Brunt, Darius Bartlett, Sarah Kandrot
Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year (Junior)
• A Hug for You – David King, illustrated by Rhiannon Archard
Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year (Senior)
• The Summer I Robbed a Bank – David O’Doherty, illustrated by Chris Judge
Teen and Young Adult Book of the Year
• The New Girl – Sinead Moriarty
RTÉ Audience Choice Award
• Your One Wild And Precious Life - Maureen Gaffney
Library Association of Ireland Author of the Year
• Marian Keyes
Writing.ie Short Story of the Year
• Little Lives – Deirdre Sullivan
Listowel Writers’ Week Irish Poem of the Year
• Longboat at Portaferry – Siobhan Campbell
The Love Leabhar Gaeilge Irish Language Book of the Year
• Madame Lazare – Tadgh Mac Dhonnagain
The An Post Bookshop of the Year
• Kenny's Bookshop and Art Gallery, Galway
For further information, please log on to the An Post Irish Book Awards website or social media channels:
Facebook: AnPostIBAS
Instagram: anpost_irishbookawards
Twitter: AnPostIBAS
For a range of reading recommendations, check out www.anpost.com/readerswanted