Paul Muldoon has gathered a motley crew of writers and musicians for a tour of Ireland, writes Alan O’Riordan.

While it’s widely accepted that kids and writing don’t mix, Andrea Mara and other juggling authors discover their offspring can offer inspiration.

Cork was a big winner at last night’s Bord Gáis Energy Book Awards, as the critically acclaimed history tome Atlas of the Irish Revolution picked up the Best Irish Published Book of the Year.

Marian Keyes, Roddy Doyle, and Cecelia Ahern have all been shortlisted for the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards.

“Sure there’s a catch, Doc Daneeka replied. “Catch-22. Anyone who wants to get out of combat duty isn’t really crazy.” — Joseph Heller, Catch-22

Eithne has always wanted to achieve things young. She was first published aged 11, receiving £20 for a poem. At 21, she joined The Sunday Times, but took a break after a year to live in Paris and write.

Despite subject matter that includes cancer and alcoholism, this stage adaptation will leave you smiling, writes Colette Sheridan

In 1998, leaving university, Neil worked as an editor for a dot com travel company.

William Wall is the only European winner of the Drue Heinz Literature Prize in America, which he garnered for his latest book ‘The Islands’. Sue Leonard catches up with him

Kerrie O’Brien, reading at the Winter Warmers event in Cork this weekend, has also put together a book in aid of the homeless, writes Eoghan O’Sullivan

Works by a number of Irish writers have been longlisted for the world’s most valuable annual literary prize for a single work of fiction published in English.

Diverse and exciting writing talent has been shortlisted across 14 categories for the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards.

Artemis Fowl author Eoin Colfer has written a play based on his oldest friend’s diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, writes Colette Sheridan

Richard Fitzpatrick selects an eclectic mix of summer reading options

A programme of readings, a feature of the West Cork Literary Festival since it began in the mid-90s, is to be dedicated to the memory of former Irish Examiner columnist Denise Hall.

Des O’Sullivan looks at sales of fine art and of modern Irish first editions.

The infamous spies who infiltrated Britain in the 1950s and ‘60s came from the wealthy upper classes and went unchallenged in their roles, writes Neil Robinson.

Consider yourself a bit of a movie buff? Ed Power has been poring through the latest book from the film critic that John Banville called “the greatest living writer on the movies”. In it, David Thomson shows the regular punter how to really watch a movie

The acclaimed Jim McGuinness memoir, Until Victory Always, has been shortlisted for the Irish Sports Book of the Year award at the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards which will be held in the Double Tree Hilton Hotel in Dublin on Wednesday, November 25. 

John Banville’s first novel in three years references many of his own characters in a quasi paean to metafiction and artistic thievery, writes Val Nolan.

JOHN BOYNE has already proved that he’s a versatile writer. 

SEBASTIAN BARRY’S latest novel, his eighth (just published in paperback), opens with a bang: the World War II torpedoing of a ship carrying British officers to Africa.

CORK-BASED artist Suzy O’Mullane has a performance/video/sound event at The Guesthouse, Cork, with Harry Moore on Saturday at 3pm. She will also have a solo exhibition entitled ‘There Was Nothing Good About Good Friday’ at the Origin Gallery in Dublin from March 12.

Peter Murray wonders why, in an eclectic collection of writers’ responses to works on show at the National Gallery the majority of contributors chose pieces that allowed them avoid eye-to-eye contact with the subject.

Still got a pressie to buy or are you expecting some vouchers on Christmas Day? Richard Fitzpatrick picks the best book of the year in 10 different genres

Artemis Fowl creator Eoin Colfer was happy to switch to drama for a play in his hometown, writes Marjorie Brennan

The Arts Council has published the full list of nominees for the inaugural Laureate for Irish Fiction.

Ghost Moth

Booker Prize-winning novelist John Banville has criticised the raft of violent crime dramas on TV.

IT STRUCK a sensitive nerve when the poet WJ Mc Cormack, aka Hugh Maxton, this week defended Aosdána’s annual funding of €2.7 million by mentioning that Fair City cost €11 million. This fact was met, according to an RTÉ report, with laughter from the floor of Aosdána’s general assembly meeting at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham.

The Amazing Spider-man 2 ***

Liz Nugent

Benjamin Black

I WORRY about the fate of cinema. Last year, a study released by the European Audiovisual Observatory showed Ireland has tumbled down the league table of cinema-goers.

Quirke with Gabriel Byrne debuts on RTÉ One, while Moone Boy makes a welcome return to Sky 1.

Modern American politics and 1950s’ Ireland might not be the most obvious of bedfellows, but TV viewers will discover over the next few days that these seemingly diverse settings have much in common.

Best European Fiction 2014

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

Wexford author Andrew Hughes’ debut novel is set in 19th century Dublin but has themes in common with today’s society, finds Declan Burke