Culture
2024 Kate O’Brien Award shortlist announced
2024 Kate O’Brien Award will mark the 40th annual Limerick Literary Festival in Honour of Kate O’Brien
The shortlist for the 2024 Kate O Brien Award for a debut novel from an Irish female author has been announced
The shortlist has been announced for the annual Kate O’Brien Award for a debut novel from an Irish female author and the award will be presented as part of the 40th annual Limerick Literary Festival in Honour of Kate O’Brien in February 2024.
It is one of Ireland’s most vibrant and successful festivals which has been running since 1984 and it showcases in a diverse and eclectic programme the best in Irish and international contemporary literature.
The Festival takes place from February 23 to 25 in Limerick City and continues to honour the life and works of the Limerick author Kate O’Brien while attracting prominent participants from all over the world.
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Building on this significant history, the Limerick Literary Festival seeks to promote Limerick nationally as a place of literary excellence and to provide a platform where readers can meet their favourite authors and other readers.
Shortlist judge Vivienne McKechnie commented on the high standard of all the submissions saying it was “wonderful to read” this year’s debut books.
They said, “This year, once again, it was wonderful to read the debut books by Irish female writers and we are delighted with our shortlist which is made up of three well-written, interesting and very engaging novels.
“We look forward to a lively discussion with the shortlisted authors at the Festival in a special event on Sunday 25th February. This is an opportunity to meet these writers at the beginning of their careers and to listen to their stories.”
The winner of the Award will be chosen from a shortlist of Slant by Katherine O’Donnell published by New Island Books; The Red Bird Sings by Aoife Fitzpatrick published by Virago; and The Last Days of Joy by Anne Tiernan published by Hachette.
The judges for this year’s Award are committee member Marie Hackett, writer and critic Niall MacMonagle, poet and committee member Vivienne McKechnie, writer and Children’s book buyer for Kenny’s Bookshop Grainne O’Brien and novelist Donal Ryan.
The Kate O’Brien Award comes with a €2000 cash Prize sponsored by Bill and Denise Whelan. The festival programme for 2024 includes talks, interviews, panel discussions, poetry, and more to be announced.
Find out more about the Kate O’Brien Award.
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