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Irish Independent

Kerry Group Novel of the Year winner announced at Listowel Writers' Week

The Dublin born writer was announced the winner at the opening night of the festival at the Listowel Arms Hotel. Williams' book is set in 1960s Ireland and explores traumatic themes of childhood and Church and State. Now in its 31st year, the award remains one of the most esteemed literary honours in Ireland that celebrates outstanding Irish fiction with a prize fund of €22,000 – €20,000 of which is awarded to the winner with €500 for each shortlisted author. The prize is sponsored by Kerry Group, whose long-standing partnership continues to elevate and honour Irish literary excellence at what is Ireland's oldest literary and arts festival. This year's adjudicators were acclaimed authors Carol Drinkwater and Paul McVeigh who reviewed over 50 submitted novels before selecting the winner from a powerful shortlist that included Christine Dwyer Hickey, Joseph O'Connor, Colm Tóibín, and Donal Ryan. Ms Drinkwater called Niall's writing 'exciting' and 'exquisite' and that reading his sentences is like sitting in a magnificent cathedral and listening to a great soprano singing. 'It's like notes reaching to the rafters and returning to me, to nestle in my heart. It is a novel full of compassion. The characters are so vulnerable, they tear you apart,' she said. 'It has been several weeks since we chose Niall's novel as our winner. Still, I sit at my desk and picture myself in that doctor's surgery. I hear the child crying; I can smell the newly washed nappies; I long for these people, that father and daughter, to be given the miracle they so crave… This is the third time I've judged this prize and each time I'm reminded of the richness of Irish fiction today. Ireland truly is a treasure chest of brilliant modern novelists' Ms Drinkwater added. Mr McVeigh said that judging this year's prize was no small task due to the quality of entries which is testament to an extraordinary time in Irish literature. 'Any of the shortlisted books could have won but, in the end, Time of the Child by Niall Williams rose to the top. I don't remember the last time I read a book that made me stop, so frequently, unable to continue until I had savoured a sentence. He is an extraordinary writer and a worthy winner of the Irish Novel of the Year,' he said. Catherine Keogh, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Kerry Group, praised the continued partnership with Listowel Writers' Week and said every year the calibre of writing reminds us why Ireland continues to lead on the global literary stage. ADVERTISEMENT 'We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Niall Williams on this well-deserved recognition,' Ms Keogh said. The prize night at Listowel Writers' Week and literary festival is an exciting occasion as it marks the official start of a major celebration of literature that runs until 1st June. The super weekend features events with acclaimed writers, panels, workshops, and performances across Listowel. For more information and updates, visit Time of the Child (2024) is published by Bloomsbury Publishing.