Westmeath local Mary O’Rourke was named as a winner at the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards 2012 which took place on Thursday November 22.
Former government minister Mary O’Rourke’s memoir Just Mary was awarded the ‘RTÉ Radio 1’s John Murray Show Listeners Choice’ award. The veteran politician’s writing debut details both her personal and professional life to date. Mary O’Rourke is a former deputy leader of Fianna Fáil, who has held a number of senior cabinet positions. She has also been leader of the Seanad and is a frequent guest on radio and television.
The Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards took place in the RDS, Dublin and were hosted by RTE’s Claire Byrne. Over 50 Irish authors gathered with 350 guests to celebrate the best of Irish literature published in the last year. Among those in attendance were: Olympic star Katie Taylor, novelists Edna O’Brien, Jennifer Johnston, Joseph O’Connor, Keith Ridgeway and David Park, Senator David Norris, hurling star Lar Corbett, comedian Maeve Higgins, children’s author Derek Landy, and Cecelia Ahern.
The public can vote for their overall ‘Bord Gáis Energy Book of the Year’ by going to www.irishbookawards.ie Voting is open until December 14 and the winner will be announced on Sunday December 16. Last year’s winner was Belinda McKeon for her debut novel, Solace.
