Revealed: Manchán Magan and Michael D Higgins among winners of Irish Book Awards 2025
Manchán Magan's 'Ninety-Nine Words for Rain (and One for Sun)' was named Best Irish-Published Book of the Year. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie
The late Manchán Magan has been honoured at the An Post Irish Book Awards for his book on the Irish language.
which was illustrated by Megan Luddy, was named Best Irish-Published Book of the Year at the ceremony in the Convention Centre, Dublin, on Thursday evening.
Roisín O’Donnell won Novel of the Year for her book while Elaine Feeney was named Author of the Year. Chapters Bookstore in Dublin 1 received the Bookshop of the Year award.
Former President Michael D. Higgins was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his literary works, which include five poetry collections and several collections of speeches and essays on arts and politics, as well as his impact on Irish art and culture, both as a public figure and as an artist.
Previous recipients of the Lifetime Achievement honour include Martin Waddell, Professor Roy Foster, Anne Enright, Sebastian Barry, Eavan Boland, and Colm Tóibín.
The Non-Fiction Book of the Year is by Jacqueline Connolly with Kathryn Rogers, where the author wrote about the murder of her sister, Clodagh Hawe, and nephews by Alan Hawe.
The Lifestyle Book of the Year is by Sophie Morris while by Andrew Porter won Sports Book of the Year.
Sarah Corbett Lynch received the Biography of the Year award for about the death of her father Jason Corbett, while Nicola Pierce won History Book of the Year for
Claire Gleeson was named Newcomer for the Year for her debut, and The Listener’s Choice Award went to Joseph O’Connor for
Cecelia Ahern’s was named Popular Fiction book of the Year and Andrea Mara won Crime Fiction Book of the Year for .
“This year brought an impressive range of Irish books to the shelves, celebrating the work of established authors while also shining a light on remarkable new voices who are adding fresh depth to our literary heritage,” said awards chairperson Larry Mac Hale.
A one-hour television special, hosted by Oliver Callan, will be broadcast on RTÉ One on December 11, which will reveal this year’s Irish Book of the Year 2025, selected by a panel of judges.
Ninety-Nine Words for Rain (and One for Sun) – Manchán Magan, illustrated by Megan Luddy (Gill Books)
Deadly Silence: A Sister’s Battle to Uncover the Truth Behind the Murder of Clodagh and Her Sons by Alan Hawe – Jacqueline Connolly with Kathryn Rogers (Hachette Books Ireland)
Sophie’s Swaps – Sophie Morris (Gill Books)
Heart on My Sleeve – Andrew Porter (Eriu)
Great Irish Wives – Nicola Pierce (The O’Brien Press)
A Time for Truth: My Father Jason and My Search for Justice and Healing – Sarah Corbett Lynch (Hachette Books Ireland)
The Ghosts of Rome – Joseph O’Connor (Harvill, Penguin)
Run Home, Little Fox – Tom McCaughren and Erika McGann, illustrated by Shannon Bergin (The O’Brien Press)
Animalopedia – Kathi and John Burke (Gill Books)
Solo – Gráinne O’Brien (Little Island Books)
Bódléar – Darach Ó Scolaí (Leabhar Breac)
All the Birch Trees Were Waving – Pádhraic Quinn
‘There’s never a crowd at the poetry section’ – Vincent Barton
Show Me Where It Hurts – Claire Gleeson (Sceptre, Hachette)
Paper Heart – Cecelia Ahern (Harper Fiction, HaperCollins)
It Should Have Been You – Andrea Mara (Bantam, Transworld)
Elaine Feeney
Nesting – Roisín O’Donnell (Scribner Bools from Simon & Schuster)
Chapters Bookstore, Dublin 1
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