The 20 best new Irish fiction writers, according to literary experts

The An Post Irish Book Awards unveiled its ‘New Voices 20 Best New Irish Writers’ initiative on Monday, August 26.

The new initiative - of which there is no overall winner - will see the group of Irish authors be promoted across bookshops and libraries in Ireland during September ahead of the An Post Irish Book Awards 2024 campaign.

The 20 best Irish writers were selected by a panel of literary experts, including: Maria Dickenson, Chairperson of the judging panel and Irish Book Awards board member; Angus Laverty, Public Affairs Manager at An Post; Breda Brown, Chair of the Irish Writers Centre; Dawn Behan, President of the Irish Booksellers Association; Eileen Morrissey, President of the Library Association of Ireland; Madeleine Keane, Literary Editor of the Sunday Independent; Sinead Mac Aodha, Executive Director at Literature Ireland.

The nominated authors could be working in any genre of fiction, must have had no more than two books published over the past decade, and be Irish by birth, citizenship, or long-term residence. 

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The An Post Irish Book Awards said on Monday that the list of authors is focused on "showcasing a new generation of incredible Irish writers who are reshaping the literary landscape with their fresh perspectives and captivating storytelling."

They continued: "This new wave of Irish writers is infusing the literary landscape with vibrant voices that blend tradition with modernity. Their sharp, insightful prose has garnered much acclaim, resonating with both Irish and global audiences. 

"This new literary talent is not only preserving Ireland's rich storytelling heritage, but also pushing its boundaries, making contemporary Irish literature even more dynamic and globally relevant than ever before.

"The nominated authors could be working in any genre of fiction, must have had no more than two books published over the past decade, and be Irish by birth, citizenship, or long-term residence."

Maria Dickenson, Chairperson of the judging panel and an Irish Book Awards board member, says: “We are delighted to continue supporting Irish writers, and, this year, to present 20 of the most promising names in Irish literature through the New Voices initiative.

"As a nation of storytellers, Ireland has an incredible level of writing talent which was showcased through the vast range of amazing authors submitted for this initiative.

"Irish writing is in great hands with this new generation of authors selected for New Voices. We look forward to celebrating them in the weeks to come, and at our awards ceremony this November.”

David McRedmond, CEO of An Post, says “I have always loved the connection between the writers we champion and the community of publishers, booksellers and readers that has grown up around the An Post Irish Book Awards. Now we are taking it a stage further and saying ‘Just take a look at what’s next.'

"Here’s to the next wave of writers meeting readers, the magic continues.”

The shortlist for the An Post Irish Book Awards 2024 will be announced in October, with the award ceremony set to take place on November 27. A television programme will be broadcast on RTÉ One television in December, culminating in one of the 2024 winning titles being announced as the An Post Irish Book of the Year 2024.

'New Voices 20 Best New Irish Writers' (in alphabetical order)

Aingeala Flannery

Aingeala Flannery is a writer and broadcaster. Her critically acclaimed debut novel "The Amusements" was published by Penguin Sandycove in 2022. She is also the current writer-in-residence at Dublin City University.

Alan Murrin

Alan Murrin is an Irish fiction writer based in Berlin. In 2021 he was the winner of the Bournemouth Writing Prize for his short story "The Wake," which was later shortlisted for Short Story of the Year at the Irish Book Awards. He is a graduate of the prose fiction masters at the University of East Anglia and also writes for the Irish Times, Times Literary Supplement and Spectator.

Cathy Sweeney

Cathy Sweeney is a writer living in Ireland. Her short fiction has been published in the Stinging Fly, the Dublin Review, Egress, Winter Papers, Banshee, and the Tangerine, and has been broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Her debut short story collection, "Modern Times," was published in 2020.

Catríona Lally

Caitríona Lally is the recipient of the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature (2018) and a Lannan Fellowship for Fiction (2019). In October 2021, she was announced as the inaugural Rooney Writer Fellow at Trinity Long Room Hub. Her first novel, "Eggshells," was shortlisted for Newcomer of the Year at the Irish Book Awards in 2015. "Wunderland," her second novel, was published by New Island Books in 2021.

Claire Coughlan

Claire Coughlan worked as a journalist in Ireland for many years. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from UCD and lives in Co Kildare with her husband and daughter. "Where They Lie" is her debut novel.

Colin Walsh

Colin Walsh's short stories have won several awards including the RTE Francis MacManus Short Story Prize and the Hennessy Literary Award. In 2019, he was named Hennessy New Irish Writer of the Year. "Kala" is his first novel and was a number one bestseller. He is from Galway and lives in Belgium.

Disha Bose

Disha Bose was born and raised in India and has lived in Calcutta, London, and Dublin. She worked in the tech industry before joining the Masters in creative writing programme at University College Dublin. She now lives in Cork, Ireland. "Dirty Laundry" is her debut novel.

Ferdia Lennon

Ferdia Lennon was born in Dublin to an Irish mother and Libyan father. He holds a BA in History and Classics from University College Dublin and an MA in Prose Fiction from the University of East Anglia. In 2019 and 2021, he received a Literature Bursary Award from the Arts Council of Ireland. After spending many years in Paris, he now lives in Norwich with his wife and son.

Fíona Scarlett

Fíona Scarlett is from Dublin but now lives in Co Kildare with her husband and two children. She holds an MLitt in creative writing from the University of Glasgow as well as a masters in early childhood education. She works full time as a primary school teacher and "Boys Don’t Cry" is her debut novel.

Louise Kennedy

Louise Kennedy grew up a few miles from Belfast. She is the author of the Women's Prize Longlisted novel, "Trespasses," and the acclaimed short story collection, "The End of the World is a Cul de Sac," and is the only woman to have been shortlisted twice for the Sunday Times Audible Short Story Award (2019 and 2020). Before starting her writing career, she spent nearly 30 years working as a chef. She now lives in Sligo.

Louise Nealon

Louise Nealon studied English literature at Trinity College Dublin, and then completed a masters in creative writing at Queen’s University Belfast in 2016. She lives on her family farm in Co Kildare. "Snowflake" is her first novel and was the biggest-selling debut in Ireland, winning Newcomer of the Year at the 2021 An Post Irish Book Awards.

Megan Nolan

Megan Nolan was born in Waterford, Ireland and is currently based in New York. For her debut novel, "Acts of Desperation," Nolan was the recipient of a Betty Trask Award, shortlisted for the Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award, and longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize. "Ordinary Human Failings" was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction.

Michael Magee

Michael Magee is the fiction editor of the Tangerine and a graduate of the creative writing PhD programme at Queen’s University, Belfast. "Close to Home" is his first novel and won the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature 2023.

Michelle Gallen

Michelle Gallen grew up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, a few miles from the border. She studied English Literature at Trinity College Dublin and Publishing at Stirling University. Her debut novel, "Big Girl, Small Town" was shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award. Her critically acclaimed second novel, "Factory Girls," won the Comedy Women in Print award and was shortlisted for the RSL Encore Award. Both books are being adapted for TV.

Naoise Dolan

Naoise Dolan is an Irish writer born in Dublin. Her debut novel "Exciting Times" was a Sunday Times bestseller, widely translated, and optioned for TV. She won the 2021 Hawthornden Prize and has been shortlisted and longlisted for several other prizes. She now lives in Berlin.

Niamh Campbell

Niamh Campbell’s debut novel "This Happy" was nominated for the An Post Irish Book Awards, the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award, the John McGahern Book Prize, and the Kate O’Brien Award. In 2020 she also won the Sunday Times Audible Short Story Award for "Love Many." In 2021, Campbell won the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature. She lives and works in Dublin.

Nicole Flattery

Nicole Flattery is the author of the story collection "Show Them a Good Time." She is the winner of the An Post Irish Book Award, the Kate O’Brien Prize, the London Magazine Prize for Debut Fiction, and the White Review Short Story Prize. A graduate of the master’s program in creative writing at Trinity College, she lives in Dublin, Ireland.

Noel O’Regan

Noel O’Regan is from Tralee, Co Kerry. A recipient of an Arts Council Next Generation Artist Award, his debut novel, "Though the Bodies Fall" (Granta Books, 2023), was shortlisted for the James Tait Black Prize for Fiction, the John McGahern Book Prize, and Newcomer of the Year at the An Post Irish Book Awards.

Sheila Armstrong

Sheila Armstrong is a writer and editor from the northwest of Ireland. "How to Gut a Fish," her first collection of short stories, was shortlisted for the Kate O’Brien Award and longlisted for the Edge Hill Prize. "Falling Animals," her debut novel, was chosen for BBC2’s Between The Covers Book Club and shortlisted for the RSL Ondaatje Prize.

Una Mannion

Una Mannion is based in Co Sligo Ireland. Her debut novel "A Crooked Tree" made the Irish bestsellers list, was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards and the Dalkey Emerging Writer Award, and won the Kate O’Brien Prize. Her second novel "Tell Me What I Am" was shortlisted for the Encore Awards and was the winner of the prestigious Gold Dagger at the CWA Dagger Awards. In September 2024, Una joins the Oscar Wilde Centre and English Department at Trinity College Dublin teaching creative writing.