Irish Book Awards: Maggie O’Farrell, Vincent Browne, Sally Hayden and Louise Kennedy on shortlist
The 2026 An Post Irish Book Awards has expanded its shortlists to include a diverse range of established and debut authors. Notable nominees include Maggie O’Farrell and Vincent Browne, with categories spanning fiction, biography, and newcomer awards.
Why it matters
These awards are a significant cultural indicator of the health and diversity of the Irish literary scene.
A strong year for Irish writing is reflected in the expansion of the shortlists in several categories of the 2026 An Post Irish Book Awards from six to eight titles.
Debutant author Djamel White, longlisted for the Booker Prize for his literary crime thriller, All Them Dogs , has been shortlisted for Novel of the Year alongside some of the biggest names in Irish fiction: Maggie O’Farrell for Land ; Sebastian Barry for The Newer World ; Donal Ryan for Where Are the Kings ; John Boyne for The Weight of Angels ; Louise Kennedy for Stations ; Kathleen MacMahon for Other People’s Lives ; and Jan Carson for Few and Far Between .
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