Night of glitz and glamour at book awards
This week I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Awards at the Double Tree Hilton, Dublin and experience all the glitz, glamour and razzmatazz of the red carpet.
Joining RTE cameramen and press from all the national newspapers I was blown away by the buzz, the style, the excitement and the talent.
Surrounded by sports celebrities like Paul O`Connell, Donal Lenihan, Jason McAteer and John Kavanagh and models and fashionistas like Roz Purcell and Pippa O’Connor and the cream of Ireland’s literati Donal Ryan, Cecelia Ahern, Marian Keyes, Liz Nugent, Paul Howard, Sinead Gleeson, Tana French and many, many more, not to mention the illusive Graham Norton, it was an enchanting evening beautifully choreographed and expertly managed by Unique Media and the lovely Lisa Buckley.
The red carpet fashion was stunning with the diminutive Cecelia Ahern captivating in a retro pink sequined number accompanied by her elegant mother Miriam. Midnight blue appears to be the new black as many of the shortlisted sported classy versions of both, including Vanessa O’Loughlin (aka Sam Blake), Hazel Gaynor, Alex Barclay and E.R. Murray who was wearing the most delicious Dorothy Over the Rainbow shoes and said when I admired them that they were to direct the eye away from the rest of her!
Kathleen Watkins looked regale at 82 in deep burgundy standing to one side whilst hubby Gaybo and Ryan Tubridy had a right old bant with Jason Byrne in front of the cameras just about remembering in time to ask Kathleen, the author, to join them.
But Jilly Cooper at 88 stole the show. She looked simply elegant, sporting an extraordinary figure for an octogenarian and has managed to retain her girlish demeanour and can you believe a girlie naughtiness. Jilly who has written over 40 bestselling books was the recipient of the Bord Gais International Recognition Award – a special award made to international authors who have contributed to the health and wealth of the Irish book trade.
But my focus and reason for attending was of course our Wexford gal and chairperson of the Wexford Literary Festival Carmel Harrington, who was shortlisted for her fourth novel The Things I Should Have Told You. Carmel, in flowing ballgown with intricate lattice top, exquisitely complimented by an eye catching piece of Blaithin Ennis jewellery, looked to the red carpet born and along with husband Roger cut quite a dash. It was an amazing achievement for Carmel to be nominated and all of Wexford should be proud of her. She is a terrific ambassador for the county and for the Wexford Literary Festival.
Now in its 11th year the star-studded ceremony presented by RTE’s Keelin Shanley continued in the packed function room, and as winners were announced they were guided into the green room where they were interviewed by Evelyn O’Rourke in front of press and members of book clubs and writers circles from around the country.
Bord Gais Chairman Larry Mac Hale congratulated all of the winning authors, including Graham Norton, Paul O’Connell, Liz Nugent, Dave Rudden, Marian Keyes, Tana French, Orla McAlinden, Jane Clarke, The Happy Pear, Mike McCormack, Sinead Gleeson, E.M. Reapy, Paul Howard, Kathleen Watkins, Jilly Cooper and John Montague who received the Bob Hughes Lifetime Achievement Award.
The exciting event is most certainly a fantastic celebration and the highlight of the Irish literary calendar, bringing together the entire literary community – readers, authors, booksellers, publishers and librarians – to acknowledge and acclaim all that is good about Irish writing.