Twenty dynamic and exciting Irish novelists are part of a new initiative by An Post Irish Book Awards called ‘New Voices 20 Best New Irish Writers’.
The list focuses on showcasing a new generation of exceptional Irish writers who are reshaping the literary landscape with their fresh perspectives and compelling storytelling. It has been compiled based on nominations from publishers, booksellers and librarians across the country.
This new wave of Irish writers is enriching the literary landscape with vibrant voices that combine tradition and modernity. Their sharp, insightful prose has won wide acclaim and resonates with both Irish and global audiences. These new literary talents are not only preserving Ireland’s rich storytelling heritage, but also expanding its boundaries, making contemporary Irish literature even more dynamic and globally relevant than ever before.
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The shortlisted authors could work in any genre of fiction, had no more than two books published in the last ten years and were Irish by birth, held Irish citizenship or were permanent residents of Ireland. A panel of literary experts then selected the 20 authors, highlighting some of the most exciting new talent in contemporary literature.
The list, which has no overall winner, will also be promoted in bookshops and libraries nationwide in September to celebrate the 20 authors in the run-up to the An Post Irish Book Awards 2024 campaign.
The two Waterford authors featured in this collection are:
Aingeala Flannery:
Aingeala Flannery is a Waterford-based writer and broadcaster. Her critically acclaimed debut novel, The Amusements, was published by Penguin Sandycove in 2022. She is also currently Writer-in-Residence at Dublin City University.
Megan Nolan:
Megan Nolan was born in Waterford, Ireland, and currently lives in New York. For her debut novel, Acts of Desperation, Nolan received a Betty Trask Award, was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award, and was longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize. Ordinary Human Failings was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction.
The jury consisted of:
- Maria Dickenson, Chair of the Jury and Board Member of the Irish Book Awards
- Angus Laverty, public affairs manager at An Post
- Breda Brown, Chair of the Irish Writers Centre
- Dawn Behan, President of the Irish Booksellers Association
- Eileen Morrissey, President of the Library Association of Ireland
- Madeleine Keane, literary editor of the Sunday Independent
- Sinéad Mac Aodha, Executive Director of Literature Ireland
Maria Dickenson, Chair of the Jury and Board Member of the Irish Book Awards, said: “We are delighted to continue to support Irish authors and this year we are showcasing 20 of the most promising names in Irish literature as part of the New Voices initiative. As a nation of storytellers, Ireland has an incredible level of writing talent, which was demonstrated by the wide range of amazing authors who applied for this initiative.
Irish literature is in good hands with this new generation of writers selected for New Voices. We look forward to celebrating them in the coming weeks and at our awards ceremony in November.”
David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, says: “I have always loved the connection between the authors we support and the community of publishers, booksellers and readers that has been built around the An Post Irish Book Awards. Now we are taking it a step further and saying: ‘Just look at what’s next. Here’s to the next wave of authors meeting readers, the magic continues.'”
Now in its 19th year, the An Post Irish Book Awards celebrate Irish literature and make it accessible to the widest possible audience. The initiative brings together a huge community of people who love books – readers, authors, booksellers, publishers and librarians – to recognise the best new and established Irish writing talent, and 2024 will be no different.
The An Post Irish Book Awards categories include Novel of the Year, Children’s Book (Junior and Senior), Cookery Book, Crime, Popular Fiction, Non-Fiction, Sport, Short Story, Poetry, Teen and Young Adult, and Irish Language.
The shortlist for this year’s An Post Irish Book Awards will be announced at the end of October, with the awards ceremony taking place on November 27. A television programme will be broadcast on RTÉ One in December, during which one of the 2024 winning titles will be named “An Post Irish Book of the Year 2024”.
