The shortlists for the Irish-Language Book of the Year Publishing Awards were announced live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta, today, 22nd of August 2024, by An tOireachtas, in conjunction with Foras na Gaeilge. The awards consist of three categories – Gradam Uí Shúilleabháin (Book of the Year for Adults), Gradam Réics Carló (Book of the Year for Children) and Gradam de Bhaldraithe (Book of the Year for publications translated into Irish).
Twenty (20) books in total have been shortlisted this year – eight (8) in the category, ‘Irish-Language Book of the Year for Adults’; six (6) in the Children’s Book category and six (6) in the category for translated works.
The 11 Publishing Houses shortlisted include An tSnáthaid Mhór; Barzaz; Cló Iar-Chonnacht; Coiscéim; Dalen Éireann; Dingle Publishing; Éabhlóid; Futa Fata; Gliadar; Leabhar Breac and LeabhairCOMHAR. Full details of works are available below.
“I congratulate all the Publishing Houses that appear on the shortlist announced today”, said Máirín Nic Dhonnchadha, CEO of An tOireachtas. “Such achievements by publishers of Irish-medium books can only be viewed as a triumph in the face of adversity and are wholly unsustainable without substantial investment in the sector as recommended by the Oireachtas Committee on the Irish Language, Gaeltacht and the Irish-speaking Community in it’s Report on Irish Language Writing, Publishing and Readership, launched at the Oireachtas na Samhna Festival in November 2023. Essential supports must be made available to empower writers and publishers to deal with the challenges of the very competitive global publishing industry whilst also dealing with the additional vicissitudes of working within a minority language arena. It is not a sustainable long-term strategy to just commend those in the industry who continue to barely survive – the sector must encouraged to thrive.”
The winners of the awards will be announced at an awards ceremony the National Irish Language Theatre of Ireland, An Taibhdhearc on Monday, 23rd of September 2024/in late September. A collective prize fund of €17,000 will be awarded. Details of all publications are available at www.antoireachtas.ie.
