Barry makes the long-list for Man Booker prize

WRITERS may loathe cliches, but renowned Irish author Sebastian Barry will no doubt be hoping third time really does prove lucky after he was named on the long-list for this year’s Man Booker prize.

The 56-year-old Dublin-born playwright and novelist is this morning celebrating the latest achievement in a remarkable career after being named among 12 other contenders for a literary crown he has twice before failed to win.

The author of works such as A Long Long Way and The Secret Scripture — which narrowly lost out in 2005 and 2008 — has been among the leading literary lights in Ireland and abroad since the early 1990s.