Three times lucky for triumphant children’s writer

Fionnuala Quinlan, Books Editor

Annan Water, Ms Thompson's tale of two teenagers whose lives have been marred by tragedy but whose love of horses binds them together, was chosen for its economy of language, plotting and characterisation, which the judges said give it "a powerful emotional force that lingers like the echo of the tragic ballad."

The writer, who won in 2002 for The Beguilers and was a joint winner in 2003 for The Alchemist's Apprentice, was presented with a cheque for 3,000 and the Bisto perpetual

trophy by Minister of State Síle de Valera and fellow writer Cathy Kelly at the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre in Dublin.

Ms Thompson, who moved from Yorkshire to Ireland more than 20 years ago, beat off competition for the overall award from eight other shortlisted writers.

This year's Eilís Dillon Award went to Siobhán Ní Shíthigh and Seán Seosamh Mac an tSíthigh, author and illustrator of An Bhó Riabhach. They were presented with a glass sculpture and a cheque for 1,000, while three merit awards of 1,000 were also handed out to Oisín McGann for The Gods and their Machines, Oliver Jeffers for How to Catch a Star and Alan Clarke, Corinna Askin and Emma Byrne for their illustrations in Something beginning with P.

Also attending the ceremony yesterday were pupils from St. Colman's Boys National School in Kanturk, Cork and Sandford Parish National School in Ranelagh, Dublin, who were among 14 schools to participate in a newly-introduced shadowing scheme, where they chose their own overall winner.

Speaking at yesterday's ceremony the 15th time the awards have been presented Mark Dorman, sales and marketing director of sponsors, RHM Ireland Limited, congratulated the winners. "I am heartened to see the continuing level of interest in children's books and support from both the publishers and the media."