The Irish Writers Handbook 2025 contributors recommend books and bookshops for Irish Book Week
What do Irish writers read ? Donal Ryan, Mark Tighe, Nuala O’Connor, Claire Hennessy and more give recommendations
I’m torn between The Kilkenny Bookcentre, where I spent so many happy days of my childhood browsing, and Waterstones in Cork, which won my heart in my late teens and twenties. No Alibis in Belfast is my favourite bookshop. I will always remember the generous deliveries during the pandemic, the personalised book recommendations, and of course, the launch of my debut poetry collection. No Alibis is my home away from home. It keeps me grounded in Belfast.
My piece in the handbook: I’ve been working in comics since 2015, and the one thing that was always missing was information on how other people got started. The community is always growing and changing, and it’s always been welcoming to new voices. It’s my hope that my piece will provide some useful insights to people who love the medium of comics and graphic novels, but find the whole scene too overwhelming to figure out how to break in.
My piece in the handbook: If we’re struggling to commit to a writing practice, it can be helpful to identify our unique “why as writers. Having identified our why, we can explore ways to make writing the priority that other activities accommodate rather than the other way around.I recommend Amanda Clarke’s Holy Wells of County Cork, from Wildways Press. Full of gorgeous photos and in-depth information about these important cultural sites.
I’ve written an article in the handbook on the practicalities of writing and teaching writing. While it’s not a path that every writer is suited to, for those who are the rewards go far beyond the financial security it can provide. It can fuel your own writing, and there is surely no greater joy than witnessing the pleasure that writing brings to others.Though not my local bookshop any more, I will always hold Charlie Byrne’s in Galway close to my heart.
In the handbook I talk about the importance of school, library and festival events to children’s authors and why they are important. Live literature events for children help build keen readers of the future. They are also an important source of income for children’s authors.which follows and imagines the life of Alice Kyteler, the first woman in Ireland to be condemned as a witch.
My piece in the handbook: There is so much to learn about the children’s book world in Ireland when you are starting out as a writer for young people. My essay offers a snapshot of some of what I’ve learned over the last five years that will help any budding children’s literature enthusiast.I am reading Our London Lives by Christine Dwyer Hickey. I’ve just started it, and I’m loving the voice of the main character, Milly.
My favourite bookshop has to be the one dedicated to children’s books, the fabulous Halfway Up the Stairs, in Greystones. I don’t get there half as much as I’d like! My piece in the handbook: A few little tips that will hopefully help a writer’s submission grab the attention of an editor or publisher.The Bone People by Keri Hulme. I’ve pushed this book into so many people’s hands I’m surprised there aren’t barring orders against me
My piece in the handbook: Writing requires a lot of time spent alone, so I believe looking after our mental health is a top priority.Books Upstairs, for the support it continues to give to smaller Irish publishers and journals. There are so many wonderful book shops in Dublin and I have bought, browsed and attended fantastic events in so many of them over the years. I have a special place in my heart for independent bookshop Books Upstairs on D’Olier Street, because they are so passionate about championing new writers. I’ve been lucky to have had the opportunity to read my poetry there and they also stock my book Traces.
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