Books Ireland

Poetry Happening—Emma McKervey reads 'Deeds Not Words' - Books Ireland Emma McKervey reads from her new collection God-Head-Contraption (Turas Press).

⭐️Emma McKervey reads ‘Deeds Not Words’ from her new collection God-Head-Contraption (Turas Press)⭐️
@poetryireland.bsky.social @poetrysociety.org.uk
booksirelandmagazine.com/poetry-happe...

Every month, we bring you a round-up of opportunities for writers from around the world: from competitions to open submission windows, bursaries and residencies.

Check out our website for March's opportunities digest: irishwriterscentre.ie/opportunitie...

Spit by David Brennan shortlisted for Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize - Books Ireland Irish author David Brennan has been shortlisted for the Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize for his novel Spit (époque press).

😍Huge congratulations to David Brennan! And to the lovely Epoque Press😍
@epoquepress.bsky.social
booksirelandmagazine.com/spit-by-davi...

'You can keep your Darcy, Tilney and Ferrars, Wentworth is the ultimate leading man'—Áine Toner - Books Ireland Áine Toner, author of The Confidence Club, and Features Editor of the Belfast Telegraph talks all things bookish for our Q&A.

❤️Absolutely love this Q&A with Áine Toner, Features Editor at the Belfast Telegraph❤️
@chaptersbookstore.bsky.social @belfasttelegraph.co.uk
booksirelandmagazine.com/you-can-keep...

Irish language reading guide this Seachtain na Gaeilge   - Books Ireland Patricia Forde launches new Irish language reading guide for Seachtain na Gaeilge.

❤️Laureate na nÓg Patricia Forde has launched Léigh Leabhar Gaeilge, a new Irish language reading guide as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge❤️
@forasnagaeilge.bsky.social @childrensbooksireland.ie @loveleabhargaeilge.bsky.social
booksirelandmagazine.com/irish-langua...

Irish Bestseller Charts - Books Ireland The official Irish monthly bestsellers, with figures from Nielsen BookData.

⭐️...and it's us again (did we say there's a lot going on?)😄 Your official Irish monthly bestseller charts are out now! See what's in the top ten in each category⭐️
booksirelandmagazine.com/irishbestsel...

New books for March—First Flush - Books Ireland Find all the new books this March in our data base First Flush.

⭐There's been so much going on, we've almost forgotten to tell you! First up—curious what books are out this month? We've got you covered! ⭐
@lilliputpress.bsky.social @niamhmaccabe.bsky.social @merrionpress.bsky.social @chaptersbookstore.bsky.social
booksirelandmagazine.com/new-books-fo...

Irish-Language books to launch during Seachtain na Gaeilge - Books Ireland Rúnaí an Aire by Brian Ó Tiomáin and Cairdeas & Cogadh by Áine Ní Ghlinn will launch during Seachtain na Gaeilge.

⭐Rúnaí an Aire by Brian Ó Tiomáin and Cairdeas & Cogadh by Áine Ní Ghlinn will launch as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge ⭐
@forasnagaeilge.bsky.social @loveleabhargaeilge.bsky.social
booksirelandmagazine.com/irish-langua...

Celebrate International Women's Day with Dublin Book Festival - Books Ireland Celebrate International Women's Day with talks to uplift, & inspire.

🌼From conversations around wellbeing to finding joy in the small moments, you can spend this International Women’s Day in the company of inspirational authors at Powerscourt Estate🌼
@dublinbookfest.bsky.social @lilliputpress.bsky.social
booksirelandmagazine.com/celebrate-in...

Pigott Poetry Prize rises to €20,000 - Books Ireland Listowel Writers' Week announce Pigott Poetry Prize of €20,000.

⭐️This competition is FREE to enter, with the winner receiving €20,000, an incredible prize for poetry in Ireland ⭐️
@poetryireland.bsky.social @bloodaxebooks.bsky.social
booksirelandmagazine.com/pigott-poetr...

The joy of the journey—Kate Durrant on why she writes - Books Ireland 'If you're not enjoying it, you're wasting your time'—Kate Durrant on the joy of the process.

🌼‘If you’re not enjoying it, you’re wasting your time’—Kate Durrant on the joy of the process🌼
@katedurrant.bsky.social @samblakebooks.bsky.social
booksirelandmagazine.com/the-joy-of-t...

New Island Acquires Clare Murphy's The Spanking Goddess - Books Ireland New Island Acquires World Rights for Clare Murphy's The Spanking Goddess.

‘We have two words for fans of Irish myths: buckle up!’ said Aoife K. Walsh, of New Island.
@newislandbooks.bsky.social
booksirelandmagazine.com/new-island-a...

Book Launch—The Fox of Kensal Green - Books Ireland The Fox of Kensal Green by Richard Tyrrell launches on Thursday 19 February at Books Upstairs.

🦊The Fox of Kensal Green, by Richard Tyrrell launches this Thursday 19 February at the ever-gorgeous Books Upstairs 🦊
@booksupstairs.bsky.social @saltpublishing.com
booksirelandmagazine.com/book-launch-...

Publishing Profile—Noelle Moran - Books Ireland 'At heart, no press exists without its authors'—Noelle Moran, Executive Editor, UCD Press.

‘At heart, no press exists without its authors’—read our Publishing Profile with Noelle Moran, Executive Editor, UCD Press @ucdpress.bsky.social
booksirelandmagazine.com/publishing-p...

Those on pilot eligible to reapply for the Basic Income for the Arts - Books Ireland Those who were on the Pilot who meet the eligibility criteria may apply for the 2026 BIA, which would mean 6 years consecutive payments.

The new BIA will operate in 3-year cycles with artists being eligible for every 3 out of 6 years. However, those who were on the Pilot who meet the eligibility criteria for the new scheme may apply for the BIA in 2026.
booksirelandmagazine.com/those-on-the...

Liam Donnelly & Tony Hayes of Hodges Figgis win O'Brien Bookseller of the Year - Books Ireland Liam Donnelly and Tony Hayes of Hodges Figgis win The O’Brien Press Bookseller of the Year Award 2026.

"They have a gut-level understanding of what makes a great bookshop, and constantly strive to be the best."
@theobrienpress.bsky.social @hodgesfiggis.bsky.social
booksirelandmagazine.com/liam-donnell...

Little Island & new publisher Bad Book Press join forces - Books Ireland Little Island Books join forces with exciting new Irish picture-book publisher Bad Book Press.

⭐Two amazing presses coming together for good—now that's the kind of news we like! ⭐
📕Best of luck to Bad Book Press and Little Island Books 📕
@littleislandbooks.bsky.social @childrensbooksireland.ie
booksirelandmagazine.com/little-islan...

Beauty and pain—Shorelines, by Ruth Ennis - Books Ireland 'Shorelines is beauty and pain, brutality and softness'—Meg Grehan on the novel-in-verse YA debut by Ruth Ennis.

📗Meg Grehan reviews Shorelines, by Ruth Ennis📗
@littleislandbooks.bsky.social @megcathwrites.bsky.social @littleislandbooks.bsky.social @childrensbooksireland.ie
booksirelandmagazine.com/beauty-and-p...

🌼Happy launch day to Ruth Ennis!🌼

❤️Ruth is our fab children's books reviewer & is such a supportive, generous, & talented person—we wish her and Shorelines all the success in the world ❤️
@littleislandbooks.bsky.social @gutterbookshop.bsky.social @childrensbooksireland.ie @rurooie.bsky.social

Shortlist revealed for Children's Books Ireland Awards - Books Ireland The 2026 KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards shortlist has been revealed.

⭐Ten beauties on the shortlist for the 2026 Children's Books Ireland Awards⭐
@childrensbooksireland.ie @halfwayupbooks.bsky.social
booksirelandmagazine.com/shortlist-re...

Shortlist revealed for Children's Books Ireland Awards - Books Ireland The 2026 KPMG Children’s Books Ireland Awards shortlist has been revealed.

⭐Ten beauties on the shortlist for the 2026 @childrensbooksireland.ie awards ⭐
Find them all here, and at @halfwayupbooks.bsky.social
booksirelandmagazine.com/shortlist-re...

Honestly can't really believe I'm typing this. I'm inviting you all to the Shorelines book launch 🧜🏻‍♀️

I'm actually finding it a bit hard to put into words how important this is to me. I've spent so much of my life being shaped by stories, and now I get to shape others with my own.

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Competitions, bursaries, & residencies—opportunities from the Irish Writers Centre - Books Ireland Our friends over at the Irish Writers Centre have published all the juicy opportunities for you this coming month, a regular round-up which includes open

📗Our friends over at the @irishwriterscentre.bsky.social have published all the juicy opportunities for you this February📗
booksirelandmagazine.com/competitions...

New Venue for The London Book Fair 2027 - Books Ireland The London Book Fair has announced a move to world-class venue Excel for 2027.

📗The London Book Fair is moving to Excel for 2027 to ensure a more inclusive and accessible event📗
@theobrienpress.bsky.social @newislandbooks.bsky.social @publishingtraining.bsky.social @literatureireland.bsky.social
booksirelandmagazine.com/new-venue-fo...

An extract from Filly, by Rosamund Taylor - Books Ireland Read an extract from Filly, by Rosamund Taylor (Banshee Press).

📗Read an extract from Filly, by Rosamund Taylor— a novel in verse about sexual awakening, masochistic love, and the transformative possibilities of community 📗@bansheepress.bsky.social @rosamundtaylor.bsky.social
booksirelandmagazine.com/an-extract-f...

First Flush—New books for February - Books Ireland See all the new books coming your way this February in First Flush, Books Ireland's database.

📗January is nearly over—see which new books are coming out in February in our fully searchable database First Flush!📗
@theobrienpress.bsky.social @mercierpress.bsky.social @charleenhurtubise.bsky.social @bansheepress.bsky.social
booksirelandmagazine.com/first-flush-...

'Significant change' ahead for the Arts Council—Minister O'Donovan on EAC Review - Books Ireland The Department will now engage directly with the Arts Council ahead of 'significant change in the organisation.'

Minister Patrick O’Donovan responds to the EAC Review of the Governance and Organisational Culture of the Arts Council of Ireland
booksirelandmagazine.com/significant-...

'We're lucky to be exposed to such dynamic ideas & backgrounds'—bilingual publishers Ybernia - Books Ireland María Correas and Enda Kenneally on setting up the bi-lingual publishing house Ybernia.

📗María Correas and Enda Kenneally on setting up the bi-lingual publishing house Ybernia 📗
@ybernia-books.bsky.social @literatureireland.bsky.social
booksirelandmagazine.com/ybernia-bili...

'Bookshops are having a renaissance here in the north of Ireland'—Elk Books - Books Ireland Elk Books in Warrenpoint is a dream realised for owner Helene Heaney.

“Bookshops are having a renaissance here in the north of Ireland and it’s exciting!”
📗Elk Books is a dream realised for owner Helene Heaney📗
Read all about this beautiful bookshop in Warrenpoint ⬇️
@bookshop.org
booksirelandmagazine.com/bookshops-ar...

Strokestown Poetry Competition open for submissions - Books Ireland Strokestown Poetry Competition is open for submissions, with a closing date of 06 February.

📗Did you make a resolution for 2026 to send out your poetry? The Strokestown International Poetry Competition is now open for submissions!📗
@poetryireland.bsky.social
booksirelandmagazine.com/strokestown-...