NLI celebrates some of the country’s greatest living writers

“....I remember sitting in this very reading room, here at the National Library, as I worked through my novel Red Sky in Morning....” – Paul Lynch, 2023 Booker Prize winner for his best-selling work, Prophet Song

We were thrilled to welcome current Booker Prize winner, Paul Lynch, alongside fellow writer Belinda McKeon to the inaugural event of our ‘Celebrating Ireland’s Booker Winners’ series at the National Library of Ireland on Tuesday 23 April. The audience was treated to a discussion of Paul’s 2023 bestselling novel ‘Prophet Song’ and Paul’s wider career. 

The event was opened by Catherine Martin T.D., Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Director of NLI Dr Audrey Whitty noted “Ireland has a very rich literary culture and history, and it is a great honour to bring together these contemporary literary greats through our doors.”

“Celebrating contemporary Irish writing is integral to telling the story of Ireland and we are delighted to play our part. ”

The series is curated by literary programmer Alan Hayes.

‘Celebrating Ireland’s Booker Winners’ will continue over May and June, with Booker Prize winners John Banville, Anne Enright, and Roddy Doyle joining us at the National Library (on Kildare Street, Dublin) in conversation with Claire Kilroy, Nuala O’Connor and Rob Doyle.

How to attend

Tickets for the events are free, but places are limited, anyone interested is encouraged to book early.

The full Celebrating Ireland’s Booker Winners series comprises:

1) 2023 Booker winner Paul Lynch, author of Prophet Song, in conversation with Belinda McKeon

2) 2005 Booker winner John Banville, author of The Sea, in conversation with Claire Kilroy

Tuesday, May 7th at 6.30pm

Tickets are available here. 

3) 2007 Booker winner Anne Enright, author of The Gathering, in conversation with Nuala O’Connor

Tuesday, May 14th at 6.30pm

Tickets to be released soon – keep an eye on our social media and website for updates.

4) 1993 Booker winner Roddy Doyle, author of Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha, in conversation with Rob Doyle

Tuesday, June 11th at 6.30pm

Tickets to be released soon – keep an eye on our social media and website for updates.

For further information, view the press release.