A LIMERICK man has won one of the literary world’s top prizes.
Paul Lynch won the Booker Prize for his novel Prophet Song, becoming the fifth Irish author to win the prestigious prize.
He was awarded almost €58,000, as well as the ‘Iris’ trophy, which was presented to him by previous winner Shehan Karunatilaka.
Prophet Song centres on a Dublin mother as Ireland becomes a fascist state and her husband, a teacher and trade union leader, is arrested by a newly-formed police service.
Mr Lynch was born in Limerick, but raised in Inishowen in County Donegal.
Reacting to the news that an Irish author had won the Booker Prize, the Arts Council said that Mr Lynch is “one of the most exciting” novelists writing in the English language.
Maureen Kennelly, director of the Arts Council said: “Paul Lynch is one of the most exciting literary novelists working in the English language today. The Arts Council has been proud to directly support his writing through multiple bursaries and through the Arts Council/Maynooth Writer in Residence position this year.”
“Paul Lynch is a gifted, original writer with an incredible commitment to his artistic practice. In Prophet Song he has created a novel that is timely and timeless, and it is immensely gratifying to see his unparalleled work reach such a wide audience.
“Paul is part of a diverse and talented community of writers and writing in Ireland, and the Arts Council is committed to continuing to nurture and sustain that community,” she concluded.
