Ireland’s literary prowess can sometimes be treated as a little strange or unlikely. I remember when Anna Burns became the first Northern Irish writer to win the Booker Prize for Milkman, back in 2018, one of the judges described the protagonist of her book – a young woman living in Belfast during the Troubles – as a “literary person in a rather unliterary society”. I don’t think it was intended as a barbed comment; he spoke very highly of her book. But at the time I did think it seemed naive, even to the point of cluelessness.
I grew up in Belfast and I have a novel out this month, set in Belfast. I’ve found myself being asked if it’s about the Troubles, or why it’s set in Belfast if not, and so on. But the reality is I consider the place hugely inspirational, and I’ve always known it to have a huge influence on all my writing work. Belfast is a place full of natural storytellers, big colourful (occasionally outright odd) characters and brilliant material. Ireland is like this in general, but my biased view is the North has a cheekier bent, which gives it an edge in this regard. You’re welcome to tie me up outside and shoot me if you disagree.
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