Louth author featured in An Post Irish Book Awards 20th anniversary list

The An Post Irish Book Awards, one of Ireland’s most distinguished and popular literary events, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with the release of a curated list featuring 60 of the best books from category winners over the past two decades.

Among the standout contributors to the An Post Irish Book Awards 20th anniversary celebrations is Louth author Erika McGann. Erika McGann grew up in Drogheda, County Louth, and now lives in Dublin. She is the author of many books including The Demon Notebook (winner of the Waverton Good Read Children’s Award), the ‘Cass and the Bubble Street Gang’ series and Tabitha Plimtock and the Edge of the World. 

Her picture books include the Where Are You, Puffling? stories (illustrated by Gerry Daly) and Standing On One Leg Is Hard and What is a Peachick? (illustrated by Clive McFarland), as well as the 2025 IBA winning Run Home Little Fox (co-authored with Tom McCaughren, illustrated by Shannon Bergin).

Selected through the votes from leading booksellers nationwide, the list comprises 20 Fiction, 20 Non-Fiction and 20 Children’s titles drawn from An Post Irish Book Awards winners since the ceremony first began in 2006.

Books by a wide range of celebrated authors including Seán Ronayne, Emilie Pine, Joseph O’Connor, Emma Donoghue, Peter Donnelly and Catherine Ryan Howard feature on the list, which has been carefully curated to reflect the breadth and impact of Irish writing over the past 20 years. The full list of 60 titles can be found at anpostirishbookawards.ie

The public is now invited to vote for their favourite titles from the Top 60 list. Voting will open on Monday, 23rd March and close at 6pm on Monday, 13th April. The final Top 20 Favourite Irish Books of the past 20 years will then be revealed on Sunday, 19th April.

Everyone who votes will be entered into a prize draw, with a range of prizes on offer, including €100 in National Book Tokens, a selection of books from the list, and tickets to the An Post Irish Book Awards 2026 ceremony.

Bookshops across Ireland will also support the campaign with special in-store displays celebrating the 60 selected titles.

Alastair Giles, CEO of the Irish Book Awards, says: “Over the past 20 years, the An Post Irish Book Awards has celebrated the depth and diversity of Irish writing. This curated list of 60 books offers a snapshot of some of the most memorable and influential titles recognised by the awards since 2006, reflecting the exceptional talent that has shaped Irish literature over the past two decades. We’re delighted to invite readers across the country to vote for the books that have meant the most to them, and we look forward to revealing the Top 20.”

David McRedmond, CEO at An Post, says: “An Post’s commitment to the Irish Book Awards is steadfast. To celebrate 20 years of the awards we want to showcase the extraordinary breadth of talent in Irish writing which is truly world-class. The top-60 books over the period of the awards have delighted and inspired readers, and this opportunity to revisit them is the best way to celebrate Irish writing.”

Since its launch in 2006, the An Post Irish Book Awards has promoted Irish writing to the widest possible readership. Each year it brings together a vibrant community of readers, authors, booksellers, publishers and librarians to recognise the very best of Irish writing.

The awards feature a diverse mix of exceptional writing from new and established writers across 18 categories, including Novel of the Year, Children’s, History, Crime Fiction, Popular Fiction, Non-fiction, Sports, Lifestyle, Short Story, Irish Language, Poetry, Newcomer, Teen and Young Adult, Irish Published and Biography.

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Hundreds of books are submitted for consideration each year and, over the past two decades, an array of new and established domestic and international authors have graced the Irish Book Awards stage.

In addition to category winners, a special honour is presented at the event. The Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award recognises the contribution of distinguished Irish writers and poets. Previous recipients include Martin Waddell, Anne Enright, Sebastian Barry, Colm Tóibín, Thomas Kinsella, Eavan Boland, John Montague, J.P. Donleavy, Paul Durcan, John Banville, Maeve Binchy, John McGahern, Edna O’Brien, William Trevor and Séamus Heaney.