LIMERICK fared well at this years Irish Book Awards with success for the University of Limerick (UL) and Limerick lady Sarah Corbett Lynch.
The 2025 An Post Irish Book Awards took place last week at the Convention Centre in Dublin.
Professor Joseph O’Connor, Frank McCourt Chair of Creative Writing at UL was awarded The Last Word Listeners’ Choice Award for his best-selling novel, The Ghosts of Rome.
Reflecting on his most recent accolade, Professor O’Connor said: “It’s a tremendous honour to have readers, the most wonderful thing that can happen to any writer, and I’m deeply thankful to them, always. For a novel of mine to receive an award by public vote means so much. It’s really moving.”
- External Walls: Up to €8,000 Grant
- Attic: Up to €1,500 Grant
- Cavity Walls: Up to €1,700 Grant
- Internal Dry Lining: Up to €4,500 Grant
Gráinne O’Brien, a UL graduate and guest lecturer in UL’s School of English, Irish, and Communication, received the Teen and Young Adult Book of the Year award for her debut novel, Solo, the roots of which began while she was a student on the MA in Creative Writing at UL.
Speaking after the awards ceremony, she said: “The roots of Solo began in the MA in Creative Writing programme at UL. I was guided and encouraged to take chances with my writing, and I still feel the support from the entire UL Creative Writing team.
The An Post Irish Book Awards, which is now in its 20th year, recognises the very best of new and established Irish writing talent across 19 categories.
Professor O’Connor also paid tribute to his colleague on UL’s Creative Writing team, Donal Ryan, who was nominated for Author of the Year.
Limerick’s Sarah Corbett Lynch was also presented with the Dubray Biography of the Year for her book A Time for Truth.
Sarah, a young, talented Limerick writer and one of Ireland’s youngest published authors, received the national honour for her bestselling memoir, A Time for Truth.
The book, which has resonated widely with readers across Ireland and beyond, traces her personal journey through loss, resilience, and the pursuit of justice, offering a powerful reflection on survival and hope.
This achievement marks another milestone in what is already an extraordinary creative path. Sarah began writing at a young age and published her first illustrated book, Noodle Loses Dad, at just 13. The book has since been adopted by children’s rights groups, counselling services, and schools as a resource to support young people dealing with bereavement.
Her advocacy work has earned her a National Garda Síochána award and a Limerick Young Person Tribute, recognising her commitment to helping others through storytelling and empathy.
Now embarking on her studies, Sarah continues to grow as a writer, performer, and creative artist—bringing her talent, insight, and determination into her academic work at MIC.
Reflecting on winning the award, Sarah said: “Winning the An Post Biography of the Year award is an honour! It shows how important it is to share our stories and find our voices. Huge thanks to the judges, readers, and the incredible person behind this story – My Dad.”
Dr Deirdre Flynn, Lecturer in 21st Century Literature at MIC, praised Sarah’s accomplishment, saying: “We are all so proud of Sarah. What she has achieved is phenomenal. The memoir is compelling and allows Sarah to reclaim her voice after an unimaginable trauma. She is a remarkable person, an excellent student, and we are delighted to see her work recognised.”
The An Post Irish Book Awards ceremony will be televised on RTÉ 1 on Thursday December 11.