An Post renews headline sponsorship agreement with the Irish Book Awards until 2025
“New Voices: The An Post Writing Prize’’ unveiled as new award category
with writers from the Irish based Ukrainian community
invited to submit their original entries this year
An Post has renewed their headline sponsorship agreement with the Irish Book Awards, one of Ireland’s most distinguished and popular literary events. The organisation first sponsored the initiative in 2018 and this new announcement extends the agreement until 2025.
Now in its 18th year, the An Post Irish Book Awards celebrate and promote Irish writing to the widest range of readers possible. Each year it brings together a vast community passionate about books – readers, authors, booksellers, publishers and librarians – to recognise the very best of Irish writing talent.
The awards feature a diverse mix of exceptional writing from new and established writers across 18 categories, including Novel of the Year, Children, Cookbook, Crime Fiction, Popular Fiction, Non-fiction, Sports, Lifestyle, Short Story, Irish language, Poem, Newcomer, Teen and Young Adult, Irish Published and Biography.
Hundreds of books are submitted for consideration annually and, over the past 18 years, an array of new and established domestic and international authors have graced the Irish Book Awards stage including Marian Keyes, Mike McCormack, Donal Ryan, Cecelia Ahern, Sinead Moriarty, Graham Norton, Judi Curtin, Oliver Jeffers, Joseph O’Connor, Sally Rooney, Roddy Doyle, Liz Nugent, Tana French, Sinead Gleeson, and Paul Howard.
In addition to category winners, a very special award is also announced at the event. The Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award recognises the contribution of distinguished Irish writers and poets, and winners have included Anne Enright, Sebastian Barry, Colm Toibín, Thomas Kinsella, Eavan Boland, John Montague, JP Donleavy, Paul Durcan, John Banville, Maeve Binchy, John McGahern, Edna O’Brien, William Trevor and Séamus Heaney.
As part of the extended sponsorship agreement, An Post is launching a new writing competition called ‘New Voices: The An Post Writing Prize’. This year, the focus is on the Irish based Ukrainian community, with writers from this community aged 16+ invited to compose a new and original short story, essay or poem describing their experiences of flight and exile in no more than 1,000 words. The winner will be announced at the An Post Irish Book Awards Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony in the Convention Centre Dublin on November 22nd.
David McRedmond, CEO at An Post, says:
‘“An Post loves the written word, and the transformational power of reading. Books are essential to good living, and we fulfil our purpose “ to act for the common good” by sponsoring these awards.
An Post has supported Ukrainian refugees with free postage and other services, in fraternity with our colleagues in UKRPoshta. Now we recognise the unique contribution they can make in Ireland with this new prize for new literary voices, which this year focuses on Ukrainian refugees.”
Maria Dickenson, member of Irish Book Awards Board says:
“We are delighted that An Post will be sponsoring the Irish Book Awards until 2025. Since 2018, An Post and The Irish Book Awards have worked closely together to promote reading and to celebrate and highlight the wealth of both new and established writers and illustrators in Ireland. The Irish Book Awards is a landmark event in the bookselling calendar and every year, brings together the vast Irish literary community. We are excited that An Post is continuing on our journey with us as the Irish Book Awards goes from strength to strength.”
The full shortlist for the An Post Irish Book Awards 2023 will be announced on 19th October, while the winners will be presented with their trophies at the An Post Irish Book Awards event in the CCD, Dublin, on 22nd November.. A television programme will be broadcast on RTÉ One television in December, culminating in one of the 2023 winning titles being announced as the ‘An Post Irish Book of the Year 2023’.
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For a range of reading recommendations, check out www.anpost.com/readerswanted
