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Irish Independent
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- 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.
Irish Examiner
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Wedding of the Week: A big, traditional Kerry wedding for Emma and Dylan
This Kerry couple got engaged in Cork, but returned to the Kingdom for their big day. Emma Grimes, from Listowel, and Dylan Roche, from Lixnaw, were married in St Agatha's Church, Glenflesk, by Fr Jim Lenihan and held their reception in the Heights Hotel Killarney. Emma Grimes and Dylan Roche. Pictures: Emily Doran 'We wanted a big wedding and a big celebration — a traditional Kerry wedding,' says Emma. The bride, a primary school teacher, and the groom, a technical support engineer, now live in Carrigtwohill, Cork, and first met in the Listowel Arms Hotel, in 2014. Emma Grimes and Dylan Roche with their wedding party. Pictures: Emily Doran 'I was on a night out and Dylan was working behind the bar and we got chatting,' says Emma. 'He added me on Facebook and that was it.' Dylan popped the question in September 2023 at one of Emma's favourite spots, Lough Hyne, in West Cork. Emma Grimes and Dylan Roche. Pictures: Emily Doran 'When we got to the top of the hill, there were so many people there sitting around and taking photos that Dylan had to wait for everyone to go before he got down on one knee," says Emma. "This made him very nervous — but he did so well and it was such a romantic proposal.' They chose the month of romance to wed, exchanging vows on February 1 this year. Emma Grimes and Dylan Roche with their wedding party. Pictures: Emily Doran 'Our day lived up to our expectations and beyond,' says Emma. 'We wanted a personal ceremony and our priest, Fr Jim, ensured it was very special and so beautiful,' says Emma. Emma and Dylan with Fr Jim Lenihan, Laura O'Connor and Keefer Roche. Pictures: Emily Doran 'Our friends Helena Grace, Aideen O'Connor, and Stacey Taylor played the music for our ceremony, which was so meaningful.' Emma Grimes and Dylan Roche. Pictures: Emily Doran Joe Grimes was the wedding chauffeur. The couple's photographer, Emily Doran ( and videographer, Emily's husband Aodhagán ( organised the photoshoot. The bride's parents, Mary and Alan Grimes, and the groom's father, Tony Roche, led the toasts. 'It was lovely to see our parents having just as much of a ball as we were," says Emma. It was really special too to have Dylan's nana Phil with us at the top table.' Emma Grimes and Dylan Roche. Pictures: Emily Doran The groom's mother, the late Jackie Roche, was very much in their thoughts on the occasion. 'We had a photograph of Dylan's mom in the church and also at the wedding reception,' says Emma. Emma's school friend Laura O'Connor was her maid of honour, and her friends Olivia Quilter, Maura Stack, and Ally Treacy joined her cousin Elaine O'Sullivan as bridesmaids. Emma Grimes and Dylan Roche. Pictures: Emily Doran Dylan's brother Keefer Roche was his best man, and his pals David Hogan, David Ryan, Dominic Kissane, and Jeremy Lyons were the groomsmen. 'Two groomsmen came home from Canada and two bridesmaids came from Australia for the wedding,' says Emma. 'My brother and his boyfriend travelled home from Canada, too, to be with us.' Emma Grimes and Dylan Roche. Pictures: Emily Doran Emma looked chic in a Fortune gown by designer WToo, which she sourced in Memories in Cork City. 'A holy medal from my auntie was my something blue (it had belonged to my granny),' she adds. 'And for my 'something borrowed', I borrowed my veil from one of my bridesmaids, Ally.' Emma Grimes and Dylan Roche. Pictures: Emily Doran Laura Lou Hair Stylist and makeup artist Orla O'Connor ensured the bridal party were ready for their close-ups, while the groom and his party were dapper thanks to Tuxedo, Tralee. 'The best man left his suit in the car the night before, and the next morning someone went off with the car — not very funny but funny looking back,' says Emma. Eleanor's Florist, Tralee, created the floral décor, while The Old Moderns band ensured the dance floor was full. The newlyweds honeymooned in the Maldives. If you would like your wedding featured in Weekend, email
