7 great Irish contemporary novels everyone should read

 Today marks World Book Day and to celebrate we’ve compiled our favourite books by some of Ireland’s most talented authors.

Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle
While all of Roddy Doyle’s books are laugh out loud as well as thought-provoking, Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha won Doyle the prestigious Man Booker Prize in 1993.

 

The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry
Set in Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital, this novel tells the haunting story of Roseanne McNulty and is currently being made into a movie starring Rooney Mara and Vanessa Redgrave.

 

Broken Harbour by Tana French
A chilling murder in one of Ireland’s many ghost-estates, the reminder of a fallen Celtic tiger, is the centre of French’s fourth installment of the Dublin Murder Squad.

 

Where Rainbows End by Cecilia Ahern
If you loved P.S. I Love You, then you’ll be familiar with Ahern’s second novel. What’s amazing about this, is that it’s a love story spanning decades told only through the medium of notes, letters, emails and texts. The movie Love, Rosie starring Lily Collins was based on this novel.

 

The Sea by John Banville
This 2005 novel, which won the Man Booker Prize, sees Max Morden’s jumbled journal come alive; telling the stories of his life from his childhood to the recent death of his wife, Anna.

 

Star of the Sea by Joseph O’Connor
An international bestseller, if you love historical fiction then this is the novel for you! Set on a famine ship in 1847, The Star of the Sea set sail to New York carrying people from all walks of life, from former landowners, to people looking to start a new life. However, there’s also a murderer aboard…

 

The Gathering by Anne Enright
Another winner of the Man Booker Prize, this time in 2007, this novel deals with the suicide of Liam. Liam’s sister Veronica tries to work out why her brother would want to take his own life and in her quest to find out she reveals some dark and disturbing truths about her family and childhood.