Channel 4 has commissioned Close to Home, a new four-part drama series produced by Element Pictures (Normal People, Bugonia). Based on Michael Magee’s debut novel, which received the 2023 Rooney Prize for Irish Literature and the Nero Prize for Debut Fiction 2024, Close to Home revels in the reckless decadence of youth and celebrates a generation growing up in the wake of the Troubles.
Adapted for the screen by Magee, the series will be directed by Diarmuid Goggins (Code of Silence). Leading the cast will be Anthony Boyle (Say Nothing, House of Guinness) as Sean, Jessica Reynolds (A Woman of Substance, Kneecap) as Mairéad, Seamus O’Hara (House of Guinness, Say Nothing) as Anthony, and Oisín Thompson (Trespasses) as Ryan.
Close to Home tells the story of Sean, a young man who finds himself back in Belfast after university and back into old habits: mad all-nighters, borrowed tenners and missing rent, casual jobs that always fall through. Back with his brother, his ma and all the things they never talk about, with the promised prosperity of peacetime yet to arrive. One night, Sean assaults a stranger at a party and everything is tipped into chaos.
Magee said: “Developing Close to Home for television has been an intensely fulfilling creative experience, a dream come true, really, and I’m incredibly grateful to Michael Dawson and Clare Dwyer Hogg for all the work they’ve done with me on the scripts, and to Diarmuid Goggins and Gemma Boswell and the whole team at Element and Channel 4 for the passion and creative energy they’ve put into bringing this story to life.”
Filming will begin this month in Belfast.
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In The Irish Times tomorrow, Edel Coffey tells Niamh Donnelly about her third novel and there is a Q&A with author Ian McGuire. Reviews are Paschal Donohoe on Capitalism: A Global History; Carla Lane on Shlomo Sand’s Judeophobia: A History; Michael Sanfey on the Triangle of Power by Alexander Stubb; Claire Hennessy on the best new YA; Andrew Lynch on Worlds of Islam: A Global History by James McDougall; Paul D’Alton on The Power of Guilt by Prof Chris Moore; Val Nolan on Glyph by Ali Smith; John Quin on Sciascia by Caroline Moorehead; Tom Clonan on The Next World War by Peter Apps; Mei Chin on Good People by Patmeena Sabit; Neil Hegarty on Over the Water: Essays on Islands; and Sarah Gilmartin on An Asylum for My Affections: Sketches of Maeve Brennan, edited by Molly Hennigan.
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Liam Donnelly (retail manager) and Tony Hayes (bookstore manager) of Hodges Figgis Bookshop, Dawson St., Dublin, have been named this year’s joint winners of The O’Brien Press Bookseller of the Year Award. The announcement was made by Ivan O’Brien, managing director, The O’Brien Press at the annual Irish Book Trade conference, held by Bookselling Ireland & Publishing Ireland, at The Tower Hotel, Waterford.
They are the 32nd recipients of The O’Brien Press Bookseller of the Year Award, presented annually in recognition of outstanding achievement or an invaluable contribution to the book trade by an individual bookseller. Winners are presented with The Elements, a bronze perpetual trophy sculpted by Rowan Gillespie, and a framed commemorative certificate.
Donnelly and Hayes have decades of experience before managing Dublin’s oldest bookshop. Donnelly worked for Eason, and had his own specialist bookshop, The Alchemist’s Head, before returning to the historic bookshop. Hayes has been a staple of Irish bookselling since the 1970s, with Bookstop in Dún Laoghaire, and his own bookshop, Wordsworth. Together, the pair saw Hodges Figgis through its 250-years celebration, as well a significant refit, making sure that the shop continues to retain its individual charm under the Waterstones umbrella.
Ivan O’Brien, managing director, The O’Brien Press, said: “Liam Donnelly and Tony Hayes have a huge responsibility in managing an iconic bookshop. Hodges Figgis is over 250 years old and is mentioned in both Ulysses and Normal People, it’s part of the Waterstones group but maintains a unique identity, and carries a huge range across many categories. It’s hard to walk past without walking in, and very hard to walk in without buying a bag full of books.
“Liam and Tony have huge experience and knowledge: both ran their own bookshops and have worked in many roles in the book world, for companies big and small. They have a gut-level understanding of what makes a great bookshop, and constantly strive to be the best. They are always happy to engage with customers, staff and publishers, and are not scared of change and innovation: worthy winners indeed.”
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Dublin-based author Amelia Doyle has won in the Romance category of the Canadian Book Club Awards 2025 for her book, Two Weeks in Toronto.
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Irish author Chloe Walsh’s series, Boys of Tommen, is to be adapted by Poppy Cogan (A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder) for Amazon Prime, backed by the producers of The Summer I Turned Pretty, One Day and Twilight. The series, which follows teens in a private school in Cork, is a BookTok sensation.
Series one, based on Walsh’s Binding 13 and Keeping 13, is the love story of Johnny Kavanagh, a star rugby player, and Shannon Lynch, a talented but painfully shy new girl at the prestigious Tommen College in Ballylaggin.
Walsh said: “The response from readers around the world has been overwhelming, and knowing that everyone behind this production and book shares my passion for telling this story authentically means the world to me.”
The inauguration of the 2026 Oireachtas na Gaeilge President, Áine Ní Ghlinn, took place this week at a ceremony in the Hilton Hotel, Dublin. She officially commenced her term of office following the presentation of the Chain of Office, in the presence of fellow writers, family members, and friends.
Originally from Tipperary, Ní Ghlinn has lived in Dublin for many years, where she has become a prominent figure in literary circles, particularly through her work for young readers. A highly prolific writer, her contribution to literature for young people was recognised with her appointment as Youth Laureate for Ireland from 2020 to 2023, making her the first Irish-language author to hold this prestigious role.
“I wish Áine every joy and success in her role as the 2026 Oireachtas President,” said Máirín Nic Dhonnchadha, CEO of An tOireachtas. “Áine’s contribution to Irish literature across poetry, fiction, non-fiction, and drama is invaluable. A loyal and dedicated supporter of An tOireachtas over many years, her influence on young readers and emerging writers has been profound. We are honoured that Áine is commencing her term as President today, and we know that she will be an outstanding ambassador in the year ahead.”
Two Irish-language novels, Rúnaí an Aire by Brian Ó Tiomáin and Cairdeas & Cogadh by Áine Ní Ghlinn, will be launched at Halla Chonradh na Gaeilge, Grattan Crescent, Inchicore, on Thursday, March 5th, at 7.15pm, as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge.
The authors will speak with writer Anna Heussaff about their creative processes and the themes of their new works. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and purchase signed copies. Light refreshments will be provided.
Rúnaí an Aire is a contemporary novel exploring power, politics, and personal relationships. Cairdeas & Cogadh is a children’s novel for readers aged 9–12 and explores friendship, identity, and acceptance of difference. Both are published by Cló Iar-Chonnacht, An Spidéal, Conamara.
The event is organised with support from Conradh na Gaeilge, Craobh Inse Chór, and funding from Foras na Gaeilge and the Arts Council.
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This year’s Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction longlist – chosen by Thangam Debbonaire (chair), Roma Agrawal, Nicola Elliott, Nina Stibbe and Nicola Williams – features seven debuts and spans politics, memoir, science, history, biography and art.
The longlisted titles are: Daughtersof the Bamboo Grove: China’s Stolen Children and a Story of Separated Twins by Barbara Demick; The Finest Hotel in Kabul: A People’s History of Afghanistan by Lyse Doucet; Don’t Let It Break You, Honey: A Memoir About Saving Yourself by Jenny Evans; Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Transform Our Health by Daisy Fancourt; With the Law on Our Side: How the Law Works for Everyone and How We Can Make It Work Better by Lady Hale; To Be Young, Gifted and Black: Creativity and Race in the21st Century by Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason; Artists, Siblings, Visionaries: The lives and loves of Gwen and Augustus John by Judith Mackrell; Ask Me How It Works: Love in an Open Marriage by Deepa Paul; Death of an Ordinary Man by Sarah Perry; The Genius of Trees: How Trees Mastered the Elements and Shaped the World by Harriet Rix; Hotel Exile: Paris in the Shadow of War by Jane Rogoyska; Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy; Finding Albion: Myth, Folklore and the Quest for a Hidden Britain by Zakia Sewell; To Exist As I Am: A Doctor’s Notes on Recovery and Radical Acceptance by Grace Spence Green; Nation of Strangers: Rebuilding Home in the 21st Century by Ece Temelkuran; Indignity: A Life Reimagined by Lea Ypi
Thangam Debbonaire, Chair of Judges, said: “The books on this hopeful longlist are rigorous and researched, lyrical and flowing. They are drawn together by the originality and skill with which they have been written. This reading list carries relevance and truth for the future as well as holding significant value for the present day – the books spark curiosity and demand attention; they are for everyone navigating the complicated and unpredictable world we are living in. The voices of these 16 remarkable women need to be heard – loud and clear.”
The shortlist will be announced on March 25th. The 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction longlist will be announced on March 4th and the shortlist on April 22nd. Winners of both prizes will be revealed on June 11th.
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Four Irish creators have made this year’s longlist for The Carnegies, the UK’s longest running and best loved book awards for children and young people, unique in being judged by librarians.
Fia and the Last Snow Deer, a tale of prehistoric Ireland written by Eilish Fisher and illustrated by Dermot Flynn, is the only book in both the Writing & Illustration category. Flynn is also shortlisted for the illustrations on an Irish folklore anthology, The Faerie Isle written by Sine Quinn. Steve McCarthy and Clara Kumagai are also on the longlists, McCarthy for his bold illustrations in Eoin Colfer’s Beanie the Bansheenie, and Kumagai on the Writing longlist for her YA tale of longing and heartbreak inspired by Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, Songs for Ghosts.
British talent features strongly on the Medal for Writing longlist, with identity a standout theme explored through class, family, and relationships, and history emerging as a popular tool to reflect on the present. A notable collection of funny books also makes a joyous addition to both longlists.
International illustrators dominate the Medal for Illustration longlist, featuring stories of wild journeys and human connections told through innovative illustration techniques, emotive colour palettes, and a beautiful variety of styles.
The Medal for Writing includes five previous winners: Anne Fine, Patrick Ness, Jason Reynolds, Katya Balen – and Tia Fisher who won the Shadowers’ Choice award in 2024.
Contrastingly, the Medal for Illustration features a fresh line up of 17 artists longlisted for the very first time, with only Steve McCarthy and Kate Rolfe achieving prior shortlistings.
The shortlist will be announced on March 10th at London Book Fair; the winners at the Cambridge Theatre on June 23rd.
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Rosa Mulholland (1841-1921) was one of Ireland’s foremost woman writers of fiction and her work was once widely taught in Irish schools. She was a passionate advocate for women’s roles as reforming landlords, entrepreneurs, and cultural leaders of an Irish revival, one of Ireland’s first town councillors, and influential on younger writers, including WB Yeats and Katharine Tynan.
Not that you would know any of this from her tombstone, which states that she was ‘wife of the above’, the ‘above’ being the historian John T Gilbert, to whom she was married for the last seven years of his life. Her work was largely forgotten until the republication by Swan River Press of her story collection Not To Be Taken At Bed-Time, and on Sunday, February 15th at 6pm on RTÉ lyric fm Sara Lodge of the University of St Andrews tells the story of Rosa Mulholland in Wanted, an Irish Novelist.
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Getting to read your work in front of literary agents and receive feedback is invaluable so it’s no surprise First Page Pitch has become an integral part of Cork World Book Fest’s Get Published Day. Every year, just 10 writers are selected from dozens of entries to pitch their work, moderated by Get Published co-ordinator Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin, in Cork City Library.
Patricia Looney, senior executive librarian in Cork City Libraries, said, “Writers are hungry for any insights that will help them to improve their work and get their book to readers. That’s why this event is so important for us to include in our festival. We’re also proud that several pitchers have gone on to become published authors because of it. In recent years, we heard from Lynda Marron who got her publishing deal after meeting literary agent Polly Nolan, and Olivia Hope who is now published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books. Who knows if one of this year’s pitchers will return to future fests with their published book.”
Entries are now open. Potential pitchers should submit a 50-word synopsis of their book along with the first 500 words for consideration. Deadline is 5pm on Monday, March 9th.
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Playwright, screenwriter and columnist Colin Murphy has been announced as the 2026 Rooney Writer Fellow by Trinity Long Room Hub, Trinity’s flagship Arts and Humanities Institute.
Best known for his series of plays about Irish political history, Colin will join the Trinity Long Room Hub’s distinguished fellowship programme supported by Dr Peter Rooney.
A collected volume of his plays, Colin Murphy’s Political Plays: 100 Years of Irish History, was released in early 2026 by Bloomsbury Methuen. It features an introduction from the former President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, who describes the collection as “a timely contribution to all who seek to understand the complexity of our past and to engage with the ongoing work of building a more just and inclusive Ireland”. Murphy’s work, he added, continues in the “long tradition of Irish theatre as a space for political reflection and social change.”
Speaking about his upcoming fellowship, the author commented: “The Long Room Hub is a hub of great ideas, fascinating research and good conversation. I’m thrilled to be joining the Hub and looking forward to being provoked and inspired by conversations and encounters there. I also look forward to burrowing away in the library and in my office and doing some good new writing.
“The roll-call of former Rooney Writer Fellows sets an intimidatingly high bar, and it’s an honour to follow in their wake. Writing is a precarious trade; we need supporters like Peter Rooney and the Long Room Hub, whose investment gives us the stability and the institutional support that helps us do our best work.”
The Rooney Writer Fellowship was established by the Trinity Long Room Hub in 2021. Previous fellows have included Mark O’Connell, Paul Murray, Caitríona Lally and Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe.
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Irish indie Little Island Books has agreed to act as international sales agents for Bad Book Press, a new Belfast-based picture book publisher founded by author-illustrators Ashwin Chacko and Clive McFarland. Little Island will sell Bad Book Press titles throughout Ireland, the UK, and export markets.
The move sees the exciting new press gain access to valuable global markets via the international sales channels developed by Little Island, including representation by Bounce Sales & Marketing in Great Britain.
With their slogan “Crafting misfit ideas into playful children’s books”, Bad Book Press specialise in creative and fun illustrated picture books championing Northern Irish talent and aiming to spark the imaginations of the next generation of curious readers. They will publish their debut, Moon Moon Can’t Sleep by Belfast based author and illustrator Johnathan Sung, in March 2026.
