St John’s author nominated for Irish Book of the Year award

"This year’s shortlist is a testament to the breadth and depth of Irish writing talent"

From murder to beekeeping, discover how the Irish ate, drank, loved and lied in a book co-authored by a John's academic. 

A history of Ireland in 100 words has been nominated for ‘best Irish-published book of the year’ in the An Post Irish Book Awards 2019 – Ireland’s major literary event.

The book tells the history of Ireland by looking at the development and changing meaning of 100 medieval Irish words drawn from the Royal Irish Academy’s Dictionary of the Irish Language

Written by Professor Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, a Fellow of St John's, Dr Sharon Arbuthnot and Professor Gregory Toner, of Queen's University Belfast, the book is divided into themes, including writing and literature; food and feasting; technology and science; mind and body.

It is aimed at a general readership and no prior knowledge of the Irish language is required to delve in – readers can dip in and out where they please.

shortlist-awards
Dr Sharon Arbuthnot, Professor Gregory Toner and Professor Ní Mhaonaigh

The An Post Irish Book Awards celebrate and promote Irish writing to the widest range of readers possible. They bring together a community passionate about books – readers, authors, booksellers, publishers and librarians – to recognise the very best of Irish writing talent.

Professor Ní Mhaonaigh, St John’s College Lecturer in Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic and Professor of Celtic and Medieval Studies at the University of Cambridge, has been shortlisted alongside her co-authors and the book’s illustrator Joe McLaren.

The winners of the award will be decided by an online poll divided into two constituencies – a public vote and a specialist vote, weighted equally and combined to produce the winners.

Maria Dickenson, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards, said: “This year’s shortlist is a testament to the breadth and depth of Irish writing talent. The Irish Book Awards are proud to celebrate the diversity of Ireland’s rich literary culture, and the achievements of all that contribute to this success. 

 history of ireland book cover

“The growth of the Irish Book Awards reflects the deep love Irish people have for reading and literature, and it’s one of the major highlights of the literary calendar.”

Everyone who casts their vote by 6pm on Wednesday, November 13 will be entered into a draw to win one of four €100 National Book Tokens vouchers.

The book prize winners will be announced at the gala ceremony in the Convention Centre Dublin, Spencer Dock, on Wednesday, November 20.

A History of Ireland in 100 words, published by The Royal Irish Academy, is available to buy now. 

Published: 31/10/2019

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