Books Ireland Trade News—a catch up on what’s happening in the industry
This month’s Trade News is supported by Westchester Education UK & International
Bookselling Ireland submit proposals ahead of Budget 2024
Ahead of the 2024 budget, Bookselling Ireland have proposed measures to the government which would allow them to thrive, following the challenging years of the pandemic.
A culture voucher scheme is one proposal, an initiative which would give 18 year olds the chance to experience in-person cultural events—increasing footfall to bookshops and other cultural spaces.
Raising awareness among teachers with regards to social value clauses in procurement legislation is another key proposal, something which would allow bookshops to continue serving their local communities, and help mitigate the impact of school book purchasing changes.
Other proposals include: an extension of the the Night Time Economy Support Scheme; ring-fencing of discretionary funding for libraries to allow them to purchase local interest books from local bookshops; the implementation of relief from commercial rates for bookshops until the end of 2024, and the introduction of impactful short-term policy solutions to the housing crisis whilst it works on a substantial housebuilding.
Chair of Bookselling Ireland, Dawn Behan said that the book industry makes an important and positive social, economic and cultural contribution to Ireland:
“Bookshops are where the rich talents of Irish writers meet the minds of Ireland’s readers and are an integral part of our cultural landscape while also employing over 3,000 people and generating €189 million to the economy. This presence and contribution should not be taken for granted—therefore ongoing and responsive support by policy makers at local and national levels is of vital importance to ensure the sector can continue to grow, adapt and thrive.”
Listowel Writers’ Week announces appointment of new Chair and Director
Listowel Writers’ Week Board of Directors have announced the unanimous election of Tom Donovan to the position of Chair, as well as the appointment of Robert Vance as a new Director.
Donavan and Vance expressed their appreciation to Catherine Moylan, retiring Chair, for her hard work and contribution to Listowel Writers’ Week over many years.
Tom Donovan has had a long and distinguished record in the public sector as well as extensive experience in literary, historical, voluntary, and charitable areas.
He is the editor of the Old Limerick Journal, the Ballybrown Journal, and the Glencorbry Chronicle as well as Treasurer of the Limerick Historical Society. He has edited publications such as The Knights of Glin, Seven Centuries of Change (2009), and Limerick, Snapshots of 1840 to 1960 (with the well known Listowel historian Vincent Carmody) in 2021.
Robert Vance will bring fresh insight and valuable skillsets to the board, having had extensive media experience with both RTÉ and the private sector, developing over 50 film productions, with additional experience in the tourism sector. Vance’s published books include Secret Sights and The Magic of Ireland.
Donovan said he was honoured and delighted to accept the role of Chair of the Board of Listowel Writers’ Week.
“On my own behalf and on behalf of the board, I would like to thank Catherine Moylan and other directors I have served with, for all their good work. I look forward to a good year where everyone in Listowel can become part of the festival and maintain it as one of Ireland’s premier literary events.”
Polari longlists announced
Kevin Brazil, Rosamund Taylor, Padraig Regan, Gavin McCrea and Seán Hewitt are the five Irish authors who have made this year’s Polari Prize longlists.
The only dedicated award for LGBTQ+ literature, the quality of submissions was exceptionally high this year, said Polari Prize founder, Paul Burston.
The judges this year are authors Rachel Holmes and Karen McLeod, poet Sophia Blackwell, and 2022 prize winner Adam Zmith.
The judging panel includes author VG Lee, literary critic Suzi Feay, Chris Gribble of the National Centre for Writing, and 2022 prize winner Joelle Taylor. Both prize panels are chaired by founder, journalist and author Paul Burston.
This year’s shortlists will be announced on September 27, 2023 at Polari on Sea in Hastings, with the winners’ prize ceremony returning to the British Library on November 24, 2023, where the winner will receive the prize of £2,000.
THE POLARI LONGLISTS
The Polari First Book Prize Longlist
Love from the Pink Palace by Jill Nalder (Wildfire)
A Visible Man by Edward Enninful (Bloomsbury)
The Whale Tattoo by Jon Ransom (Muswell Press)
Whatever Happened to Queer Happiness? by Kevin Brazil (Influx Press)
Rising of the Black Sheep by Livia Kojo Alour (Polari Press)
The New Life by Tom Crewe (Chatto & Windus)
None of the Above by Travis Alabanza (Canongate Books)
Orpheus Builds a Girl by Heather Parry (Gallic Books)
In Her Jaws by Rosamund Taylor (Banshee Press)
Is This Love? by CE Riley (Serpent’s Tail)
No Country for Girls by Emma Styles (Sphere)
Some Integrity by Padraig Regan (Carcanet Press)o
The Polari Prize Longlist
Fire Island by Jack Parlett (Granta Books)
Roam by Juno Roche (Dialogue Books)
Other People Manage by Ellen Hawley (Swift Press)
All Down Darkness Wide by Seán Hewitt (Jonathan Cape)
Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart (Picador)
Mother’s Boy by Patrick Gale (Tinder Press)
The Schoolhouse by Sophie Ward (Corsair)
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield (Picador)
Rookie by Caroline Bird (Carcanet Press)
Cells by Gavin McCrea (Scribe)
Screen Age by Fenton Bailey (Ebury Press)
Here Again Now by Okechukwu Nzelu (Dialogue Books)
Channel to launch first bi-lingual issue
Channel, a Dublin-based literary journal which fosters human connection with the natural world, will feature writing in both English and Irish for the first time.
Marking the release of its eighth issue will be an online launch followed by an in-person celebration at Books Upstairs on Thursday 10 August.
Established in 2019 as a creative response to the climate emergency, Channel aims to bring writers and artists together, building new narratives surrounding human relationships with the natural world.
Founding editors Cassia Gaden Gilmartin and Elizabeth Murtough now work alongside a growing team including S.R. Westvik, the 2023 recipient of the journal’s annual Publishing Internship, and Aisling Ní Choibheanaigh Nic Eoin, the journal’s new Irish Language Editor/Eagarthóir Gaeilge, whose participation has been made possible by a Projects Fund award from Foras na Gaeilge.
For the first time a selection of poetry in Irish will feature in the new issue, with established poets such as Julie Breathnach-Banwait alongside exciting new voices including Keev O’Baoill and Amano Miura. These Irish language pieces are presented bilingually, with accompanying English translations by Ní Choibheanaigh Nic Eoin offering non-Irish speakers an opportunity for full engagement with the work.
The issue’s launch at Books Upstairs will feature readings by contributors, alongside a performance of traditional music from Muirine Nic Roibín and Anne-Marie Bell.
The editors are proud to introduce this bilingual element into Channel’s practice:
“We couldn’t be more grateful to Aisling as Eagarthóir Gaeilge for guiding us through the rich engagement with the landscape, plants and creatures of this island that writing in Irish has to offer.
“The formation of language, shaped as it is by collective relationships with place, has always fascinated us—and to move from publishing solely in English towards engagement with Ireland’s native language has always been a goal for our work. We hope this issue’s readers will feel invigorated, as we do, by the deep expressive potential of a language formed over millennia in close relation with the landscape and non-human life of this country.”
Ní Choibheanaigh Nic Eoin said that this new journey with the Irish language reflects the strength and connection which lies there.
“Shaped by the sharp rocks in the Atlantic, by the scent of bog plants, by the hands of countless families and communities, Irish is a language created by and within its own environment.
“It grows around the roots of yew, hazel and oak; in the seeds of spear thistle and foxgloves; in the green juice of nettles. It grows in the songs of school-children, and in the woven centres of crosses we make for Brigid. It continues growing, against all the odds.”
Full details of the launch and more about Channel can be found here.
Children’s Books Ireland seek reviewers
Children’s Books Ireland are seeking new reviewers to share their thoughts on the latest books in English and in Irish.
CBI regularly reviews excellent books for children, teens and young adults through Inis magazine, their reading guides, themed reading lists, and online.
If you are interested in getting involved, follow the link to fill in a brief Google form with your information and reading preferences. The only prior experience needed is a genuine love of books.
Reviewers are asked to commit to reading and reviewing a minimum of four books per year. Reviewers are contacted monthly if a book that may be of interest to them is available.
Reviews are usually 250 words long and must be completed by a stated deadline. Informal training will be provided for any new reviewers later this year. Reviewers must be over 18 years of age.
For any questions or further information please contact Ruth.
Irish Writers Centre Open Day
The Irish Writers Centre will once again open its doors for Autumn Open Day on Saturday 26 August.
Taking place inside the centre’s beautiful Georgian building on Parnell Square in Dublin, Autumn Open Day is a dynamic programme of free events that brings together anyone with an interest in books and writing through taster workshops, information sessions, writer-led panel discussion, and more.
Autumn Open Day is an opportunity to inform those interested in writing about the variety of services, programmes, courses, career support and resources available for writers at the Irish Writers Centre.
What to expect:
- Free taster creative writing workshops
- Writer-led panel discussion on The Influence of Irish Folklore on World Literature
- Professional Development Information Session
- Novel Fair Information Session
- Meet a selection of our creative writing groups and sign up
- Free teas, coffees and biscuits
Speaking about Autumn Open Day, IWC Director Valerie Bistany said it was a pure delight to throw open the doors on Parnell Square:
“The sense of community and learning that the Irish Writers Centre has provided for writers since 1991 cannot be underestimated. As artists who often work in isolation, countless relationships and connections have been forged here with writers from all backgrounds, sharing skills and information.
“We are always looking to welcome new audiences to our building and are thrilled to be finally in a position to offer this opportunity again.”
View the programme and book your place here.
