Literati out in force at book awards as Roddy Doyle scoops novel of the year

The literary stars came out last night for the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards in Dublin.

A record 500 people turned out to see Roddy Doyle win the Eason Novel of the Year Award.

The Guts features Jimmy Rabbitte, who appeared in The Commitments back in 1991. What was it like revisiting him?

“I enjoyed it very much. Once there was that gap in time and I could approach the character from a different angle it gave me some scope,” Doyle said.

A fellow Man Booker Prize winner, John Banville, was delighted to be honoured with the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award.

“It’s lovely to be part of a great tradition,” he said.

Michael Harding won two categories with his memoir Staring at Lakes.

Beating such luminaries as Donna Tartt and Maggie O’Farrell in the John Murray Show Listeners choice, was, he said, a particular thrill.

“Everyone on the short list is a winner. Being here at all is a lovely feeling. I’m delighted to be in a category with Donna Tartt. I loved her book. It’s lovely talking to the Irish Examiner. It all augurs well.”

Niamh Boyce did well to beat Rachael English, Michele Forbes, Ciaran Collins, Paul Lynch, and Colin Barrett to win The Sunday Independent Newcomer of the year. It’s been a good week for the Carlow native, whose The Herbalist is being broadcast on RTÉ Radio One.

“It was a real thrill just to be nominated. It was good for the town too,” she said.

Ross O’Carroll Kelly, aka Paul Howard, is the only man who ever appears on the International Education Services popular Fiction of the Year. He’s been nominated seven times, and tonight was his third win, with Downturn Abbey.

“This was especially welcome,” he said. “It’s such a strong list, and I didn’t expect it. It’s really gratifying. Popular wisdom has always been that men don’t buy popular fiction. I had to publish the first few myself. This is number 14 of an original trilogy.”

John Treacy, chairman of the awards, said: “Irish writers enjoy an international reputation that is second to none, and these winners demonstrate why that is.”