Titles by three UCD professors make shortlist of best Irish books from last 20 years
26 March 2026
Titles by three professors at UCD have made the shortlist for An Post’s best Irish books of the last 20 years.
(opens in a new window)Professor Anne Enright’s The Gathering, (opens in a new window)Professor Emilie Pine’s Notes to Self and (opens in a new window)Professor Diarmaid Ferriter’s Judging Dev appear on the list of 60 titles, which will be whittled down to a final 20 by public vote over the coming weeks.
The vote is being held in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the An Post Irish Book Awards, with the shortlist comprising titles that have won these awards over the last two decades.
Professor Anne Enright
Professor Anne Enright is the Professor of Creative Writing at the UCD School of English, Drama and Film, and was the first ever Laureate for Irish Fiction (2015-2018).
She has written eight novels, two books of short stories and a book of essays about motherhood. The Gathering won the Man Booker Prize in 2007.
Professor Emilie Pine
Professor Emilie Pine is Professor of Modern Drama at the UCD School of English, Drama and Film. Notes to Self, her bestselling essay collection, has been translated into 16 languages.
Her debut novel Ruth & Pen (2022) won the 2023 Kate O’Brien First Novel Award. She is working on another essay collection to be published in 2027.
Professor Diarmaid Ferriter
Professor Diarmaid Ferriter is the Professor Of Modern Irish History at the UCD School of History. He is widely regarded as one of the leading interpreters of modern Irish history, with a substantial body of acclaimed publications and a prominent role in public debate, broadcasting and education.
Published in 2007, Judging Dev offers an in-depth analysis of Eamon De Valera using previously unpublished letters, government documents and photographs to chronicle his career.
The shortlist also features titles by UCD adjunct professor Sally Hayden, former UCD Writing Fellow Sinéad Gleeson, and UCD Creative Fellow Dave Rudden.
In addition, several notable UCD alumni including Roddy Doyle, Marian Keyes, Edna O’Brien and Manchán Magan appear on the shortlist.
Readers can vote for up to 10 of their favourite books (opens in a new window)here until 13 April. Voters will be entered into a draw to win €100 of National Book Tokens, 20 books, and tickets for the An Post Irish Book Awards 2026.
The top 20 titles will be announced on 20 April.
By: Rebecca Hastings, Digital Journalist, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
