Winners of the An Post Irish Book Awards 2025 announced

Manchán Magan and illustrator Megan Luddy, Roisín O’Donnell, Joseph O’Connor, Elaine Feeney, Andrew Porter, Sarah Corbett Lynch, Darach Ó Scolaí, Andrea Mara, Kathi and John Burke, Sophie Morris and Cecelia Ahern among the winners. 
 

Chapters Bookstore in Dublin claims ‘An Post Bookshop of the Year’ title.
 

Former President Michael D. Higgins presented with the ‘Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award’. 
 

Celebrating its 20th year, the An Post Irish Book Awards continue to champion and promote Irish writing to the widest range of readers possible. Each year, the An Post Irish Book Awards bring together a vast community passionate about books – readers, authors, booksellers, publishers and librarians – to recognise the very best of new and established Irish writing talent and 2025 is no different.


Below is the full list of winners for the ‘An Post Irish Book Awards 2025’:


TheJournal.ie Best Irish-Published Book of the Year

Ninety-Nine Words for Rain (and One for Sun) – Manchán Magan, illustrated by Megan Luddy (Gill Books)
 

Irish Book Week Non-Fiction Book of the Year

Deadly Silence: A Sister’s Battle to Uncover the Truth Behind the Murder of Clodagh and Her Sons by Alan Hawe – Jacqueline Connolly with Kathryn Rogers (Hachette Books Ireland)
 

Bookstation Lifestyle Book of the Year

Sophie’s Swaps – Sophie Morris (Gill Books)
 

Eason Sports Book of the Year

Heart on My Sleeve – Andrew Porter (Eriu)
 

Hodges Figgis History Book of the Year

Great Irish Wives – Nicola Pierce (The O’Brien Press)
 

Dubray Biography of the Year

A Time for Truth: My Father Jason and My Search for Justice and Healing – Sarah Corbett Lynch (Hachette Books Ireland)
 

The Last Word Listeners’ Choice Award

The Ghosts of Rome – Joseph O’Connor (Harvill, Penguin)
 

Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year - Junior

Run Home, Little Fox – Tom McCaughren and Erika McGann, illustrated by Shannon Bergin
(The O’Brien Press)


Specsavers Children’s Book of the Year – Senior

Animalopedia – Kathi and John Burke (Gill Books)
 

International Education Services Teen and Young Adult Book of the Year, in honour of John Treacy

Solo – Gráinne O’Brien (Little Island Books)
 

Gradam Love Leabhar Gaeilge Leabhar Ficsin Gaeilge na Bliana

Bódléar – Darach Ó Scolaí (Leabhar Breac)
 

New Irish Writing Best Short Story in association with the Irish Independent

All the Birch Trees Were Waving – Pádhraic Quinn
 

New Irish Writing Best Poetry in association with the Irish Independent

‘There’s never a crowd at the poetry section’ – Vincent Barton
 

Sunday Independent Newcomer of the Year

Show Me Where It Hurts – Claire Gleeson (Sceptre, Hachette)
 

WHSmith Popular Fiction Book of the Year in association with Ireland AM

Paper Heart – Cecelia Ahern (Harper Fiction, HaperCollins)


The Book Centre Crime Fiction Book of the Year in association with The Irish Independent

It Should Have Been You – Andrea Mara (Bantam, Transworld)
 

Library Association of Ireland Author of the Year

Elaine Feeney
 

Eason Novel of the Year

Nesting – Roisín O’Donnell (Scribner Books from Simon & Schuster)
 

An Post Bookshop of the Year

Chapters Bookstore, Dublin 1