Irish writer scoops world’s most valuable literary prize

Limerick-born author Kevin Barry, whose novel City of Bohane scooped the world’s most valuable literary prize, said the importance of the Impac award was that it kept books at the centre of life in Ireland.

“It’s a big prize money-wise,” said Barry, who collected a cheque for €100,000 as winner of the 2013 International Impac Dublin Literary Award.

“But as a writer you don’t have wages as such and you’re always going to have lean years and good ones, so this makes it a good year, obviously.”