Sunday 18 September 2011

FRANK O'CONNOR AWARD WINNER 2011 - Edna!

WRITER EDNA O'BRIEN PHOTOGRAPHED BY JOHN MINIHAN, LONDON 1971

The news just in from Cork is that Edna O'Brien has been announced as the winner of the 2011 Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award for her collection Saints and Sinners (I reviewed it here). An Irish winner at last, right?! Congratulations, Edna, I'm delighted for you!

She gave a stunning reading last night at the Cork Short Story Festival.

My commiserations to her fellow shortlistees, who were each worthy of the award. Wonderful writers all.

I am back in Galway, exhausted after a fantastic time at the festival. I ate too much, drank too much but I never can get enough of that short story love. It was brilliant. Pics and report to follow.

8 comments:

Órfhlaith Foyle said...

Congratulations to Edna!

Group 8 said...

Indeed :)
She didn't prepare a speech bcasue she didn't feel she would win. Bless :)

Kar said...

Oh that's so cute that she didn't prepare a speech. Mega Congrats to Enda its a fantastic collection..

Group 8 said...

Isn't it? And it's her first ever book award. How mad is that??!!???

Steve said...

Ravishingly sexy picture of a great writer. Am so pleased for her.

Group 8 said...

Steve - and she is gorgeous still, so elegant and she has such presence.

Writing For My Life said...

Edna O'Brien is a lovely choice and most deserving. About time she got some serious recognition.
By the way, it's only her first book award if you don't count the Yorkshire Post Book Award (apparently considered quite a big deal once...) and the Los Angeles Times Book Award!

Group 8 said...

I wasn't there for the ceremony but I think she meant for a specific book. She said, acc. to The Examiner: “I haven’t won that many prizes in the past, so I have no qualms about accepting one on this occasion.”