Photo Paul Sharp/SHARPPIX
Suad Aldarra wins the 2024 Rooney Prize for Irish Literature
Suad Aldarra is the winner of this year’s Rooney Prize for Irish Literature, which will be presented this evening at an awards ceremony in Trinity College Dublin.
The €10,000 Rooney Prize celebrates an outstanding body of work by an emerging Irish writer under 40 years of age, and is administered by the Oscar Wilde Centre for Creative Writing in the School of English.
Suad Aldarra is a Syrian-Irish writer and engineer based in Dublin. Her debut memoir, I Don’t Want to Talk About Home (Penguin 2022) is about her experience of fleeing war-torn Syria in 2012.
Aldarra said that although she has been living in Ireland since 2014, it was only when she published her memoir that she came close to a true sense of belonging.
“To win the Rooney Prize is a heartwarming surprise beyond my wildest dreams. Having my name among previous talented winners is an honour that will motivate me to continue the rewarding writing path. I’m forever grateful to the judging committee and the Rooney family. Today, I can proudly say I’m no longer a migrant looking for belonging. I’ve found my tribe.”
The jury praised the author’s book for its vivid and eloquent account of life as a migrant. Chair of the prize committee, literary agent Jonathan Williams said that it was only the second time in the forty-eight-year history of the prize that it has been won by a work of non-fiction.
“Suad’s account of her life as a Syrian migrant is vivid and eloquent — a narrative of displacement and exile. The six members of the judging panel believe that the memoir promises future impressive books from this gifted writer, thus fulfilling the primary objective of the Rooney Prize.”
The Rooney Prize is the longest-established literary prize in Ireland, and recognises emerging writers, rewarding originality and risk. Last year’s winner was Michael Magee, with Close to Home.
Benefactor of the prize Dr Peter Rooney congratulated Aldarra, praising her moving memoir about the search for home.
“Her memoir is not only timely, it is also important. It is important because it gives a personalised voice to the migrant, allowing the reader to feel a much-needed sense of sympathy amidst a barrage of global images where that voice can be lost. We are thrilled to add Suad Aldarra’s name to our prestigious list of Rooney Prize winners.”
Eoin McNamee, Director of the Trinity Oscar Wilde Centre at the School of English said it was vital that young writers be acknowledged and encouraged.
“We are fortunate that two Oscar Wilde graduates have received the prize, and even more fortunate to have another winner, Seán Hewitt, on our staff teaching a new generation. We are deeply indebted to the Rooney family for their support over many years.”
