UCD academics make Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2015 shortlists

• ‌Professor Diarmaid Ferriter and Professor Ronan Fanning shortlisted in non-fiction category of top Irish literary awards
• Anthology of writings jointly edited by former UCD academic Professor Declan Kiberd and Professor P.J. Mathews shortlisted in best Irish-published book category
• Novel by Anne Enright, who is teaching at UCD during her three-year term as Laureate for Irish Fiction, also shortlisted for novel of the year
• Winners decided by a combination of public vote and a panel of experts

Posted 11 November, 2015

A Nation and Not a Rabble – The Irish Revolution  1913 – 1923, by Professor Diarmaid Ferriter, has been shortlisted in the (opens in a new window)National Book Tokens Non-Fiction Book of the Year category of the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2015.

Éamon De Valera – A Will to Power, written by Professor Ronan Fanning is also shortlisted in the (opens in a new window)National Book Tokens Non-Fiction Book of the Year category of the awards.

In addition, Handbook of the Irish Revival – An Anthology of Irish Cultural and Political Writings 1891 – 1922, edited by Professor Declan Kiberd and Professor P.J. Mathews has been shortlisted in the (opens in a new window)TheJournal.ie Best Irish-Published Book Award category.

Diarmaid Ferriter is Professor of Modern Irish History at the UCD School of History and is also one of Ireland’s best-known historians. In A Nation and Not a Rabble, Professor Ferriter has drawn from a wealth of archival material and testimony from ordinary Irish people who lived through and were involved in this troubled period – 1913 to 1923 – of Irish history.

The work underlines the divide at the time between rhetoric and reality in politics and violence, the role of women, the battle for everyday material survival and the impact of central Irish unionist and republican leaders. It also explores conflicts over health, land, religion and law and order.

Pictured above are the four books, A Nation and Not a Rabble, Handbook of the Irish Revival, The Green Road and Éamon De Valera, that have been shortlisted for the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2015

Ronan Fanning is Professor Emeritus of Modern History at University College Dublin. In his book on Éamon de Valera, Professor Fanning explains why the former Irish President and revolutionary was such a divisive figure and why he has never – until now – received the recognition he deserves.

Declan Kiberd is Keough Professor of Irish Studies at the (opens in a new window)University of Notre Dame. He was previously Chair of Anglo-Irish Literature and Drama at University College Dublin. His co-editor, Professor P.J. Mathews, is currently a Senior Lecturer in the UCD School of English, Drama and Film.

Their book, Handbook of the Irish Revival – An Anthology of Irish Cultural and Political Writings 1891 – 1922, highlights many of the achievements and critical works of the most celebrated writers and prominent republicans of the period. 

The diverse compilation of writings also provides fresh insight into the Revival and gives voice to some of the intellectual movement's lesser known contributors.

The Green Road, written by Booker-Prize winning author Anne Enright has also been shortlisted for the (opens in a new window)Eason Book Club Novel of the Year category. The novel is also shortlisted in the (opens in a new window)RTÉ Radio 1’s The Ryan Tubridy Show Listeners’ Choice Award category.

Enright was named the inaugural Laureate for Irish Fiction in early 2015.

Over her three-year term as Laureate, she will teach creative writing to students at University College Dublin.

The Green Road is a story of fracture and family, selfishness and compassion. The novel traces the story of West of Ireland native Rosaleen Madigan and her children, who are forced to leave home and migrate after their mother announces that she’s decided to sell the house and divide the proceeds.

Eileen Gray: Her Work and Her World, written by Dr Jennifer Goff, who graduated from UCD in 2014 as a Doctor of Philosophy (Arts & Celtic Studies), has also been shortlisted in TheJournal.ie Best Irish-Published Book of the Year category.

The book blends art history and biography and provides an insight into the life and work of the renowned and influential Irish furniture designer, architect, interior designer and photographer.

The Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards celebrate the extraordinary quality of Irish writing and help to bring the best books to a wider readership annually.

The awards include 15 categories spanning the literary genres. Thousands of ordinary readers vote to select the winners every year. 

Members of the public can (opens in a new window)vote for the books shortlisted for the awards. Voting closes at midnight, November 19. The award ceremony for the Irish Book Awards will take place on Wednesday, November 25. 

By: Jamie Deasy, digital journalist, UCD University Relations