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Irish Examiner
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Niall Williams wins €20k Irish Novel of the Year award
Author Niall Williams has been named as the winner of the 2025 Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award for his novel Time of the Child. Williams was announced the winner at the opening night of the Listowel Literary Festival, a celebration of literature which features events with acclaimed writers, panels, workshops, and performances across Listowel until June 1. Now in its 31st year, the award remains one of the most esteemed literary honours in the country, celebrating outstanding Irish fiction. The award, sponsored by Kerry Group, has a prize fund of €22,000, with €20,000 for the winner and €500 for each shortlisted author. This year's adjudicators, acclaimed authors Carol Drinkwater and Paul McVeigh, 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. Niall Williams, winner of the 2025 Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award for his novel Time of the Child, pictured with the winner is Ned O'Sullivan Writers Week. Picture: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD. McVeigh said that judging the prize this year was no small task and complimented the quality of the entries, which he said 'a 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,' he said. '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.' Drinkwater described Williams's writing as exciting and exquisite and touched on how he brings his characters to life on the page. 'Reading his sentences was like sitting in a magnificent cathedral and listening to a great soprano singing, notes reaching to the rafters and returning to me, to nestle in my heart. It is a novel full of compassion,' she said. "The characters are so vulnerable, they tear you apart. 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.' Chief corporate affairs officer at Kerry Group Catherine Keogh praised the continued partnership with Listowel Writers' Week. 'Every year, the calibre of writing reminds us why Ireland continues to lead on the global literary stage,' she said. 'We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Niall Williams on this well-deserved recognition,' she said.
The Irish Sun
25-04-2025
- The Irish Sun
‘He wouldn't have walked away' says ex-cold case cop in never too late info plea as Michael Gaine mystery in 5th week
A FORMER cold case Gardai has shared his thoughts on the case of a missing Kerry farmer. Michael Gaine has been 4 Michael was last seen on Thursday March 20, 2025 in his local Centra store Credit: Garda Press Office Handout 4 Searches included over 250 volunteers at the start and the army are now involved Credit: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD The 56-year-old was on Thursday March 20, 2025 before 10am in his local Centra store . The Despite weeks of READ MORE IN MICHAEL GAINE Now, an ex-cold case Alan Bailey, a former detective garda sergeant who has worked on many murder and missing persons cases spoke to He told how once Michael was reported missing, the Gardai didn't waste a second. He explained: "I would say that the Gardai really hit the ground running, from what I can see from the outside... In this case, within days you've had major searches being organized, and not saying casual searches - full scale searches. Most read in Irish News "You had the army being brought in, you had specialist teams being brought in." He noted that isn't always the case immediately. Ireland's Longest Unsolved Missing Persons Cases Bailey added: "You have to admire the Gardai for the way they responded." But he acknowledged that so far, there sadly hasn't been any update - though the searches are continuing, to a scale that Bailey said he has never seen before. The search so far has included over 250 volunteers in the first few days, multiple Gardai units, drones, helicopters, civil defence forces and other state and volunteer bodies. He added: "It shows how seriously the Gardai viewed the circumstances of his disappearance." And now, he is urging anyone with any information at all to come forward - not matter how small they believe it is. INFO PLEA He explained that people with information may feel that they would be judged because they didn't come forward with it on the first day, or even because of the source - but stressed that you won't be judged. But he added: "We learned very early in Operation Trace never to judge the information by its source... Don't question the source, question the information and then go back to the source. "You have all sorts of people contacting you with all sorts of theories - don't dismiss them." Speaking about the day Michael disappeared, Bailey explained that for Michael it was likely just a normal day where he put the phone on the dashboard to walk the 'YOU JUST DON'T KNOW' Heartbreakingly however, he noted that if Michael had his phone with him, there would be more information available to the Gardai. He said: "Had he it with him, you'd now be using the triangulation method to find the phone and then to find Michael. "It's just one of those unfortunate things, if he had it in his pocket it would be a great assist at this stage." He added that on the other side, someone may have left the phone there on purpose so it couldn't be traced - noting "you just don't know." Bailey told the host how Michael "wouldn't have walked away" from his life and his farm. 'WE STILL NEED HELP' He said: "He wouldn't have just walked away, that's what makes it all the more suspicious. That is the reality of it." Bailey urged the public to come forward with any information, saying: "It's so important that the appeal is left out there, that people don't forget. "Keep it out foremost in your mind, and in the mind of people who knew Michael, that we still need help finding him." 4 Michael Gaine has been missing for five weeks Credit: Gardai Missing Persons 4 The Army was brought in to help search for Michael in Co Kerry Credit: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD
