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Earlier this week, Colm Tóibín delivered his final craft talk to MA Creative Writing students of MU English Dept. Pictured: Belinda McKeon, novelist and Senior Lecturer & Creative Writing MA Coordinator at Maynooth University, introducing the Laureate to the students.

Don't miss the full conversation tomorrow! The brilliant Elaine Feeney is our final guest writer in the #ArtofReading series. #HowToBuildABoat The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon Libraries Ireland Wexford Libraries @HarvillSecker #IrishWriters #IrishFiction #IrishLiterature

The final #ArtofReading episode is here, and it's one to remember! Not only does it feature an in-depth chat about #HowToBuildABoat with author Elaine Feeney, it also includes a stunning performance by Sean-nós singer Róisín Chambers. 👉bit.ly/41PM7eb✨

Don't miss out! This weekend is your final chance to see the stunning Laureate exhibition at VISUAL Carlow. Featuring works handpicked by Colm Tóibín from the The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon collection, it’s a must-see! 📸: Patrick Browne

A book that "raises questions about the relationship between poems and the untidy ‘life’ that caused them to come into being" Colm Tóibín discusses the biography of poet John Montague 👉bit.ly/4hoEOyK 📸: Montague with Jennifer Johnston, 1988, Dublin. By Tony O'Shea

"I think we learned something along the way ... you can never say that a certain book is not for everybody" After 3 years, Colm Tóibín's tenure as Laureate for Irish Fiction has come to an end. Watch as he reflects on his time as Laureate 👉 bit.ly/4jEjg36

"This is a beautiful novel, painfully yearning, mysterious, and tender." This weeks #ReadWithAC explores blended families and loyalties through the imaginative voice of a child. Written by Agility & Bursary funded author Seán Farrell. New Island Books newisland.ie/shop/p/frogs-f…

Visit the Arts Council website to read the last blog Colm Tóibín wrote as Laureate for Irish Fiction 👉 bit.ly/41l9qdY Image: Mung A/P by Mary Farl Powers, 1981. From the collection of The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon

Look back at Colm Tóibín's term as The Laureate for Irish Fiction The role of Laureate of Irish Fiction seeks to acknowledge the contribution of fiction writers to Irish artistic & cultural life. Colm discusses his work & the ever changing world of Irish literature. youtube.com/watch?v=kFoQb3…

Have you spotted The Lilliput Press's newly printed paperback edition of Youth on the shelves? If you have picked up a copy or are simply curious, why not (re)listen to Colm Tóibín and Kevin Curran discussing the novel in detail? 👉 bit.ly/3UXM64u

On March 21st, the George Moore Association is organising a seminar entitled 'George Moore: Back in Dublin Again' Find out more & register: bit.ly/4kEwXzs Back in 2022, Colm Tóibín discussed Moore's novel 'Esther Waters' with Adrian Frazier 👉 bit.ly/4kIeaTW

The search is on for the fourth Laureate for Irish Fiction! Meet our brilliant shortlisting panel: Eimear O’Herlihy (West Cork Literary Festival), Mícheál McCann, Anne-Marie Kelly (Dublin City Libraries), Martin Doyle, and cliodhna ni anluain, and chaired by The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon Chair Maura McGrath.

Meet the international selection panel! First up: celebrated poet Vona Groarke. Author of fifteen books—including the acclaimed Hereafter (2022) and the forthcoming Infinity Pool (The Gallery Press)—Vona’s work spans poetry, prose, and literary criticism. Stay tuned for more!

The next panellist is Anton Hur—acclaimed writer & translator of Korean literature His translations of Cursed Bunny and Love in the Big City made waves at the 2022 International Booker Prize, landing on the shortlist & longlist. His writing appears in Asymptote, Litro and more

We were thrilled to have the brilliant Mariella Frostrup on our selection panel! A leading UK broadcaster, Mariella Frostrup hosted BBC Radio 4’s Open Book for 20 years, judged the Booker, Women’s Prize & BAFTAs, and authored Wild Women and the pioneering Cracking the Menopause.

Award-winning children’s writer and playwright Piers Torday has captivated readers in 14+ languages, from The Last Wild to Midnight Treasure. A seasoned awards judge, we were delighted he brought his insight to the selection panel for the 4th Laureate for Irish Fiction!

Bestselling author Tea Obreht—known for The Tiger’s Wife & Inland—also served on the panel for the next Laureate for Irish Fiction! Originally from former Yugoslavia, Téa now lives in Wyoming. Her latest novel, The Morningside, is a finalist for the Climate Fiction Prize

Finally, a big thank you to Brian Lavery, Deputy Chair of The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon, for chairing our selection panel! Currently, Brian leads EU e-commerce at Google and has held senior roles at AccuWeather, Twitter and Vodafone. Former journalist, arts critic & board member at The Ark.

Wishing Colm Tóibín a very happy birthday today! We're also pleased to note that he will be awarded an Honorary Degree from the University of Oxford on 25 June. Congratulations! 📸: Patrick Browne (Patrick Browne)