Book by Mayo-born author wins Irish Novel of the Year prize

SOLAR Bones by Louisburgh-born author Mike McCormack, a novel constructed from a single sentence, has won the Novel of the Year prize at the 2016 Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards .

Last week, the Mayo writer's first novel in 11 years won the £10,000 Goldsmiths Prize in London.

Set in rural Co. Mayo, Solar Bones is the story of a dead man returning home on All Souls Day to look back over his life. 

Marian Keyes, Graham Norton, Paul O’Connell and Tana French were also among the winning authors announced at the awards awards ceremony.