Bookselling Ireland along with Publishing Ireland reveal the ambassadors for Irish Book Week 2023
The plans for Irish Book Week 2023 are getting underway, as Bookselling Ireland together with Publishing Ireland announce their ambassadors for the celebrations this year, which run from Saturday 14 October until Saturday 21 October 2023.
Irish bookshops play a crucial role in championing homegrown talent, and this year over 200 bookshops have registered to participate—so check out your local bookstore to see what events, readings or parties are going on for a whole week of celebrating books, publishers, writers and illustrators.
The visual art for Irish Book Week 2023 is by children’s author and illustrator, Ashwin Chacko, who is also one of this year’s ambassadors, along with author Courtney Smyth, writer, musician and publisher, Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin, and consultant endocrinologist and author, Dr. Mary Ryan.
Irish Book Week Ambassadors
Ashwin Chacko
Ashwin Chacko is an Indian Irish author, illustrator and motivational speaker based in Dublin. He specialises in positively playful, visual storytelling to bring joy and encouragement. His mission is to champion creativity and empower people to find their inner spark through his art, books, talks & workshops. Author of: Keep At It, Little Optimist, Everybody Feels Fear, A little book about Justice, What Wondrous Shapes We Are and Wild City.
Courtney Smyth
Courtney Smyth is from Dublin and currently based in Galway. They are a writer of both short and long stories about people, places and things. They have previously been published in Paper Lanterns Literary Journal and the anthologies The Last Five Minutes of a Storm and Into Chaos. Their debut novel, The Undetectables, will be published in September 2023.
Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin
Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin writes for adults and children. Aifric, the teen TV drama he created with Paul Mercier and Telegael earned three consecutive IFTA awards, and his biography, Mise Raiftearaí an Fíodóir Focal was awarded Gradam Uí Shúilleabháin, Irish-language Book of the Year. His first novel for adults, Madame Lazare, was awarded an An Post Irish Language Book of the Year 2021, and the following year earned a Special Mention at the European Union Prize for Literature, the first Irish language novel to ever have been nominated.
Dr. Mary Ryan
Dr Mary Ryan trained in Trinity College Dublin and obtained her MB BCH BAO in 1992. She then specialised in Endocrinology and General Medicine, and she is also on the Specialist Registrar. A regular contributor to the media and health podcasts, Dr. Mary Ryan’s first book, It’s Probably your Hormones (Gill Books), was released earlier this year.
Keep an eye on social media for updates on events near you for Irish Book Week, and support your local bookshop.
