PS I LOVE YOU on the shortlist for the Irish Book of the Decade

Host of Irish authors turn out to recognise and celebrate the 50 strong shortlist which includes Bill Cullen, Sebastian Barry, Cathy Kelly, Colm Toibin, Edna O’Brien, Cecelia Ahern, Roddy Doyle and Eamon Dunphy April 14th 2010.

Vote for PS I LOVE YOU now at www.bookofthedecade.ie.

The ‘Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards’ have today (April 14th 2010) announced the official Irish Book of the Decade shortlist.

At a time when Irish writers have never enjoyed greater esteem both at home and abroad, the ‘Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards’ Irish Book of the Decade shortlist was devised in order to chronicle the story of Ireland over the last decade as told through the eyes of Irish authors.

Selected by a panel of independent literary experts, the shortlist comprises of 50 of the best and most popular books written by Irish authors over the last 10 years including internationally renowned Irish authors such as Edna O’Brien, William Trevor, Cathy Kelly, Anne Enright, Cecelia Ahern and Sebastian Barry as well as national treasures Bill Cullen, Roy Keane, Eamon Dunphy and Ross O’Carroll Kelly.

Over the coming six weeks, each of the shortlisted books will be profiled and promoted in Irish book retailers and libraries across the country. The public will be called upon to vote for their Irish Book of the Decade via the dedicated website, www.bookofthedecade.ie. The book which receives the most votes will be publicly announced in late May 2010 and the winning author will be presented with a special ‘Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards’ Irish Book of the Decade trophy.

Alastair Giles, Executive Director of the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards, has said;
“Ireland’s renowned literary heritage has reached phenomenal new heights in the last ten years and it is more evident than ever why the greatest playwright, novelist and poet of the last century – Beckett, Yeats and Joyce – are all Irish! In the last ten years specifically, this country has produced a host of new internationally renowned authors, from every possible genre. As with every other sector, the Irish literary community has endured a number of challenges within the last number of years but, as a community, it is so inspiring to see this level of vibrancy, passion and pride that exists for the Irish literary heritage.”

David Bunworth, Managing Director at Bord Gáis Energy, commented;
“This is the first promotion we are undertaking as title sponsors of the Irish Book Awards and we are delighted to support the search for the Irish Book of the Decade voted for by the public. It is a celebration of the talent and diversity of Irish writing with the shortlist including popular fiction, literary treasures and cross-generational reads. It will be hard to choose one but I would encourage people to cast their vote and pick a deserving winner.”

Madeleine Keane, chairperson of the judging panel who selected the shortlisted titles, commented; “As chairperson of the judging panel, I am delighted that Bord Gáis Energy and the Irish Book Awards have joined forces to undertake this nationwide promotion to mark the extraordinary quality and diversity of Irish writing that emerged from the Noughties. The purpose of this campaign is, very simply, to encourage a love of reading, to get people discussing the books they love and engaging in the passionate debate that so many of these books inspire.”

The ‘Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards’ are supported by all Irish book retailers, libraries, publishers and authors alike and this exciting development officially launches the 2010 campaign. This reading promotion is part of Bord Gáis Energy’s overall strategy to promote the importance and enjoyment of reading to people of all ages.

This year the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards will be moving from their traditional spring date to the later date of November 2010. The annual awards will now be made at the end of the year in which the books were published, providing a true reflection of the best Irish books, as chosen by the public, every year.

The new ‘Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards’, which began in their present multi-category format in 2007, have enjoyed an unprecedented level of support in the book industry with booksellers, libraries, publishers, authors as well as the voting public all engaged in the process of selecting and celebrating the best Irish books each year. Last year’s winners included Seamus Heaney, Sebastian Barry, Edna O’Brien, Marian Keyes and Ronan O’Gara.

Vote for PS I LOVE YOU now at www.bookofthedecade.ie.