FORMER Limerick Post journalist, Kevin Barry has had his novel, ‘Night Boat to Tangier included in the Booker Prize longlist.
A native of Ballinacurra Gardens, he is the only Irish author to make the long list for the award this year.
He is the author of two collections of short stories, and the novels Beatlebone and City of Bohane which was the winner of the 2013 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.
He also picked up the Rooney Prize and Goldsmith Prize for literature.
Barry (50) currently lives in Sligo.
Night Boat to Tangier is a crime novel that tells the story of two old Irish gangsters who discuss their past as they search for a missing daughter, while waiting for a boat in Tangier.
Barry is joined by 12 other authors on the longlist, including household names such as Salman Rushdie and Margaret Atwood.
The Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan TD, congratulated the author.
The 13 books will be whittled down to a shortlist of six on 3 September. The 2019 winner will by announced on 14 October. The winner of the award receives £50,000 (€55,790) prize money and will likely see sales of their book skyrocket.
Culture Minister Josepha Madigan said “I am delighted that a contemporary Irish author such as Kevin Barry has been included in the longlist for such a renowned award. He has already made significant contributions to the world of literature.
“Such critical acclaim builds further on Ireland’s strong international reputation for literature and attracts significant readerships from around the world. Ireland’s writers have always been hugely important ambassadors for our country”
