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'Dad was such a hardened Born Again Christian — it took time for me to accept I didn’t believe in God'
S 'Dad was such a hardened Born Again Christian — it took time for me to accept I didn’t believe in God'
Clem Cairns, co-founder of West Cork Literary Festival, talks to Helen O’Callaghan about how he had a great childhood but his strict moral upbringing led him to be deeply suspicious of anything evangelical so he instead embraced commonsense over ideology

Fri, 10 Jul, 2026

My life in books: John Williams made me realise the power of the simple, unadorned sentence
My life in books: John Williams made me realise the power of the simple, unadorned sentence
Daniel Okrent is a former managing editor of 'Life' magazine and served as the first public editor of 'The New York Times'

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

David O'Mahony: Struggling to find a book as genius as Doireann Ní Ghríofa's genre-defying offering
David O'Mahony: Struggling to find a book as genius as Doireann Ní Ghríofa's genre-defying offering
I’ve taken breaks from reading before, but never because a book like Doireann Ní Ghríofa's 'Said The Dead' was so good it left the sort of dreamy sense that anything else would be a step down, or a mood killer

Sat, 04 Jul, 2026

10 new books for July: Sara Baume, Catherine Ryan Howard, and more...
10 new books for July: Sara Baume, Catherine Ryan Howard, and more...
Tales of Hannibal's battles and female friendships feature among this months new publications 

Wed, 01 Jul, 2026

My life in books: We need to amplify voices and make writing resources more accessible
My life in books: We need to amplify voices and make writing resources more accessible
Navan writer Edie May Hand says a lot of what needs to be written has already been written or is being written

Sat, 27 Jun, 2026

My life in books: When I am outside of my comfort zone, books eventually... get moved to a shelf
My life in books: When I am outside of my comfort zone, books eventually... get moved to a shelf
Novels by Toni Morrison and Alice Walker and the body of work by James Baldwin, all showed Rosaleen McDonagh that racism and great art is about people, not polemics

Sat, 20 Jun, 2026

Laurence Falconer: 'I balance taking the piss out of the Germans by taking the piss out of the Irish'
Laurence Falconer: 'I balance taking the piss out of the Germans by taking the piss out of the Irish'
When Dublin comedian Laurence Falconer followed love to rural Germany, he could never have imagined that his stories about German bureaucracy, blunt honesty, and Irish awkwardness would strike a chord, writes Colin Sheridan

Sat, 20 Jun, 2026

I read 2026's most exciting new books — here are the best ones for your summer reading list
I read 2026's most exciting new books — here are the best ones for your summer reading list
From BookTok sensations to indie gems, digital features editor and avid reader Denise O’Donoghue has read the year’s most talked-about titles — these are the ones worth making room for in your suitcase

Sun, 14 Jun, 2026

My life in books: I think I’ve learned something from nearly every book I’ve read
My life in books: I think I’ve learned something from nearly every book I’ve read
Author Dervla McTiernan says she doesn’t think there’s any one book that everyone should read: 'We bring our life experience to every book we read and so every book is different for every reader'

Sat, 13 Jun, 2026

Friday Night Lights
S Jennifer Horgan: Kyle Chandler reels? Fine. But such scrolling could destroy my interior life 
Although enjoying the ‘Friday Night Lights’ links, Jennifer Horgan headed back, in her own mind, to two recently-published books that pay better regard to our interior selves

Fri, 12 Jun, 2026

Trinity graduate Virginia Evans wins Women’s Prize for her debut novel
Trinity graduate Virginia Evans wins Women’s Prize for her debut novel
Evans attended Trinity on an MFA for creative writing when she was 32 and unpublished

Thu, 11 Jun, 2026

Author Lally has 'earned more from cleaning than writing’
Author Lally has 'earned more from cleaning than writing’
Witty and observant memoir illustrates challenges of balancing a writing career with a job and family life

Sat, 06 Jun, 2026

My life in books: Lecturer Katriona looking forward to bookshop week
My life in books: Lecturer Katriona looking forward to bookshop week
Katriona O’Sullivan: 'I love a good old Patricia Scanlan book for comfort; the 'City Girl' series was so good'

Sat, 06 Jun, 2026

10 new books for June: Maggie O'Farrell, Patrick Freyne, Ciara Mageean...
10 new books for June: Maggie O'Farrell, Patrick Freyne, Ciara Mageean...
Cork doctor Dr Alan Desmond also has a new book on the relationship between what you eat and how you feel 

Mon, 01 Jun, 2026

My life in books: ‘I’m confident that the books that need to be written will be written’
My life in books: ‘I’m confident that the books that need to be written will be written’
Dermot Bolger says his latest collection of short stores, 'Imperfect Beings', is dedicated to his young grandson to 'read when he is considerably older'

Sat, 30 May, 2026

My life in books: ‘An iced latte and a good read make for an unbeatable combo’
My life in books: ‘An iced latte and a good read make for an unbeatable combo’
Juliano Zaffino founded YourShelf, a bespoke book-subscription service and also hosts a related podcast, interviewing writers

Sat, 23 May, 2026

‘What a thrill’: Scottish writer wins €100k Dublin Literary Award
‘What a thrill’: Scottish writer wins €100k Dublin Literary Award
Gliff by Ali Smith is a dystopian novel about two young people and a horse who are on the run from history as it takes a turn for the worse

Thu, 21 May, 2026

Sally Rooney attends a photocall during the Edinburgh International Book Festival on August, 2017 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Sally Rooney’s latest novel Intermezzo to get Hebrew translation
November Books is the only Israeli publisher that meets conditions the BDS movement has set for exemption from the boycott.

Wed, 20 May, 2026

The International Booker Prize 2026 public shortlist readings at Bristol Beacon, Bristol, UK - 15 May 2026
First Taiwanese writer and translator win the International Booker Prize
The book follows a Japanese novelist as she goes on a culinary tour through 1930s Japan-occupied Taiwan

Wed, 20 May, 2026

My life in books: Every amazing or even enjoyable book I’ve read made me want to be a writer
My life in books: Every amazing or even enjoyable book I’ve read made me want to be a writer
Author Derek Landy says a turn of phrase by Elmore Leonard, or a casual insight by Hunter S Thompson, or a throwaway description by Stephen King, can all make him happy

Sat, 16 May, 2026

First look: Young stars of Cork-set Boys of Tommen series confirmed
First look: Young stars of Cork-set Boys of Tommen series confirmed
They received over 3000 casting suggestions from across the UK and Ireland before finding their four lead stars

Fri, 15 May, 2026

Rachel Incident filming underway in Cork — here’s what we know
Rachel Incident filming underway in Cork — here’s what we know
The eight-part series has Máiréad Tyers, Sarah Green and Daniel Ing among the cast

Fri, 15 May, 2026

My life in books: ‘I loved reading books to my two children when they were younger’
My life in books: ‘I loved reading books to my two children when they were younger’
Gene Kerrigan and Pat Brennan's 'This Great Little Nation: The A-Z of Irish Scandals and Controversies' taught Barry Cummins that an Irish investigative journalist will never be out of work

Sat, 09 May, 2026

Lighten up: Cork World Book Fest brings city and country together   
Lighten up: Cork World Book Fest brings city and country together   
Like a sow hearing the rattle of a bucket in a faraway yard, when our Denis Lehane heard about Cork World Book Fest, he just knew he had to be there

Tue, 05 May, 2026

10 books for May: New titles from Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Douglas Stuart, Sarah A Parker...
10 books for May: New titles from Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Douglas Stuart, Sarah A Parker...
The Aisling authors also have a new book on the way 

Thu, 30 Apr, 2026

File Pics The journalist and writer, Maeve Binchy, has died following a short illness. She was 72.
Gordon Snell, children’s author and husband of Maeve Binchy, dies aged 93
Prolific writer of more than 70 children’s books also worked in broadcasting and shared a creative partnership with Maeve Binchy

Wed, 29 Apr, 2026

Rows of books in shelves
Barry Andrews: Big publishers are ripping off our public libraries
Libraries are for everyone. In a noisy and hectic world, they are one of the few quiet places we have left, but the public library model is in danger, writes Barry Andrews

Mon, 27 Apr, 2026

My Life in Books: I bring a book everywhere, in case there is a minute or two of downtime
My Life in Books: I bring a book everywhere, in case there is a minute or two of downtime
Boston born RP O’Donnell, who now lives in West Cork, has just published his debut novel 'All the Old Clocks'

Sat, 25 Apr, 2026

Trinity graduate among authors shortlisted for Women’s Prize for Fiction
Trinity graduate among authors shortlisted for Women’s Prize for Fiction
The 2026 winner will be revealed in June

Wed, 22 Apr, 2026

My life in books: ‘Ireland has so many wonderful bookshops’
My life in books: ‘Ireland has so many wonderful bookshops’
Longford-based farmer, and author of 'The Cow Book', John Connell is currently researching a book on the environment

Sat, 18 Apr, 2026

'I am just relieved for now': Iranian author on the war and her book at the Cork World Book Fest
'I am just relieved for now': Iranian author on the war and her book at the Cork World Book Fest
Ahead of a visit to Cork, author Roxana Manouchehri talks about the comfort of food inspiring her book, and shares her fears for her parents in Iran, writes Colette Sheridan

Mon, 13 Apr, 2026

The 85th Annual Peabody Awards - Arrivals / Cocktails
Patrick Radden Keefe on human stories, tracing Irish family, and Russian espionage
Say Nothing author Patrick Radden Keefe has penned another gripping non-fiction classic. He tells Richard Fitzpatrick what drew him to the story of Zac Brettler

Mon, 13 Apr, 2026

My Life in books:  ‘I read exactly 345 pages, stopped... slammed it shut’
My Life in books:  ‘I read exactly 345 pages, stopped... slammed it shut’
Award-winning writer Mary O’Donnell says a book everyone should read is the European realist novel, 'Buddenbrooks', by Thomas Mann

Sat, 11 Apr, 2026

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands # 2 XXXL
Karl Whitney: Looking for the right ending? Try taking two steps back
Finding the right ending is not always obvious but the best part of being a writer is not to get distracted by conclusions, rather to get lost in the joy of the work

Fri, 10 Apr, 2026

Revealed: Six novels shortlisted for €100k Dublin Literary Award
Revealed: Six novels shortlisted for €100k Dublin Literary Award
It is the world's most valuable annual prize for a single work of fiction published in English

Tue, 07 Apr, 2026

My life in books: ‘You can learn a lot outside your usual reading lane’
My life in books: ‘You can learn a lot outside your usual reading lane’
Cork City Libraries senior executive librarian Patricia Looney says, when it comes to books, pick what makes you happy, not what you feel you should read

Sat, 04 Apr, 2026

10 books for April: Katriona O'Sullivan, Patrick Radden Keefe, Louise O'Neill
10 books for April: Katriona O'Sullivan, Patrick Radden Keefe, Louise O'Neill
Ardal O'Hanlon is also publishing the first of his new series of mystery thrillers 

Wed, 01 Apr, 2026

My life in books: 'One simple line by Maeve Binchy was enough'
My life in books: 'One simple line by Maeve Binchy was enough'
'I think Maeve and people like Patricia Scanlan have sent the very essence of Irishness out into the world'

Sat, 28 Mar, 2026

Award-winning West Cork bookshop with links to Maeve Binchy goes on the market
Award-winning West Cork bookshop with links to Maeve Binchy goes on the market
Kerr's Book Shop, in business for 34 years, is being sold as a going concern

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

My Life in Books: 'Book on 1920s America still resonates now'
My Life in Books: 'Book on 1920s America still resonates now'
Dave Hannigan's latest book, 'We Need to Talk About Roy: The Keanification of Modern Ireland', has just been published

Sat, 21 Mar, 2026

My Life in Books: 'I read most books hoping that they will change me'
My Life in Books: 'I read most books hoping that they will change me'
Garry Bannister has written several books including the reference book 'Teasáras Gaeilge-Béarla', which was nominated for an Irish Book Award in 2023

Sat, 14 Mar, 2026

My Life in Books: 'Nothing nicer than a wander in a bookshop'
My Life in Books: 'Nothing nicer than a wander in a bookshop'
Retired garda Dearbhla Mescal, mother of famous actor Paul, has just released her new collection of poems and reflections

Sat, 07 Mar, 2026

Leo Callanan: Reading can be fun, I promise
Leo Callanan: Reading can be fun, I promise
Reading for pleasure is something young men tend to lose as they move into adulthood

Thu, 05 Mar, 2026

Two Irish authors among those longlisted for Women's Prize Fiction award
Two Irish authors among those longlisted for Women's Prize Fiction award
The Women’s Prize Trust, the charity building a better future by championing women’s writing, announced the longlist ahead of International Women’s Day, which includes Irish authors Wendy Erskine and Kit de Waal

Wed, 04 Mar, 2026

10 new books for March: Liz Nugent, Asako Yuzuki, and an Irish romantasy
10 new books for March: Liz Nugent, Asako Yuzuki, and an Irish romantasy
Plus a deeply candid memoir from Liza Minnelli

Tue, 03 Mar, 2026

using a laptop in a cafe
Karl Whitney: ‘With writing, just begin: You don’t always have to know where it’s going’
Where to begin can be difficult for a writing project. Like a song, the opening line of a work can make a real impact

Fri, 27 Feb, 2026

Book cart full of childrens' books in public school library
Colm O'Regan: Libraries are a tonic in these mad times
Yes, the book you want is there, but you’ll have to wait until the other person brings it back. When is that? When they’ve finished with it. It’s good to be told you have to share, as a grown-up

Fri, 27 Feb, 2026

HD Comics: New shop opens in Market Parade for Cork's comic book lovers 
HD Comics: New shop opens in Market Parade for Cork's comic book lovers 
Alan Hurley has opened the first dedicated comic shop in the city since Comic Vault shut in 2023

Tue, 24 Feb, 2026

My Life in Books: I need to finish my next book so I can keep on writing
My Life in Books: I need to finish my next book so I can keep on writing
Author Rob Doyle was inspired to become a writer after reading Geoff Dyer's 'Yoga For People Who Can’t Be Bothered to Do It'

Sat, 21 Feb, 2026

Sally Rooney attends a photocall during the Edinburgh International Book Festival on August, 2017 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Sally Rooney among authors longlisted for €100k Dublin Literary Award
It is the world's most valuable annual prize for a single work of fiction published in English

Tue, 17 Feb, 2026

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