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03 Dec 2025
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03 Dec 2025
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Gráinne O'Brien and Professor Joseph O'Connor with their An Post Irish Book Awards
THE UNIVERSITY of Limerick is celebrating a remarkable double win at the 2025 An Post Irish Book Awards, where two members of its Creative Writing community were honoured for their outstanding contributions to Irish literature.
Professor Joseph O’Connor, Frank McCourt Chair of Creative Writing at UL, received The Last Word Listeners’ Choice Award for his best-selling novel 'The Ghosts of Rome'.
One of Ireland’s biggest-selling books of 2025 and a Sunday Times bestseller, the novel has earned widespread acclaim, with The New York Times describing it as “dazzling.”
READ MORE: Limerick author releases ‘Be Your Own Rock’ to inspire readers
A sequel to 'My Father’s House', the book continues O’Connor’s exploration of the heroic Rome Escape Line and was also shortlisted for the Eason Novel of the Year.
UL graduate and guest lecturer Gráinne O’Brien also triumphed, winning Teen and Young Adult Book of the Year for her debut novel 'Solo'. The book, written in verse and published in April, explores the complexities of teenage love and friendship.
O’Brien credits UL’s MA in Creative Writing with nurturing the early development of the novel, praising the support and encouragement she received during her studies.
Congratulating the award-winning novelists, Dr Sandra Joyce, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, said: “On behalf of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, I am thrilled to congratulate our colleagues Professor Joseph O’Connor and Grainne O’Brien on receiving this prestigious award, which stands as a powerful recognition of their dedication, expertise and impact in the field of Creative Writing.
“This achievement not only celebrates their individual excellence but also reflects the collaborative spirit and commitment to innovation that define the Creative Writing team at UL. We are proud to see their work acknowledged at this level and look forward to supporting their continued success," said Sandra.
O’Connor’s award comes as he prepares for the paperback release of 'The Ghosts of Rome' and the 2027 publication of the final instalment in his Rome Escape Line trilogy.
The awards ceremony will be broadcast on RTÉ One on December 11.
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