The book was one of six titles vying for the honor, all of which were category winners at the recent 2024 An Post Irish Book Awards. These finalists were selected based on receiving the highest number of votes during the awards’ shortlist voting process.

Ryan’s achievement was revealed during a one-hour special on RTÉ One, hosted by broadcaster Oliver Callan, on Thursday evening. His novel, which had already won the ‘Eason Novel of the Year Award,’ was chosen as the overall winner by a distinguished judging panel.


The six shortlisted titles competing for the award included:

• Heart, Be at Peace by Donal Ryan (Doubleday, Penguin Random House)

• Fia and the Last Snow Deer by Eilish Fisher, illustrated by Dermot

Flynn (Puffin, Penguin Random House Children’s)

• Frankie by Graham Norton (Coronet)

• A Stranger in the Family by Jane Casey (Hemlock Press)

• Obsessed: The Autobiography by Johnny Sexton with Peter O’Reilly (Penguin Sandycove)

• Nature Boy: A Journey of Birdsong and Belonging by Seán Ronayne (Hachette Books Ireland)

Described by The Irish Times as “an absorbing, emphatic story of a community in trouble,” Heart, Be at Peace has been widely praised since its publication.

Donal Ryan, a celebrated author from Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, has received major critical acclaim, with his work translated into over 20 languages.