Author Anna Burns has been awarded a whopping €100,000 by Dublin City Council after winning the 2020 International DUBLIN Literary Award.
The 58-year-old Belfast writer's novel Milkman has been crowned the best novel published in English.
Anna Burns is the first writer from Northern Ireland and the fourth woman to claim the prestigious award in its 25-year history.
The synopsis for the novel reads: "In an unnamed city, where to be interesting is dangerous, an eighteen-year-old woman has attracted the unwanted and unavoidable attention of a powerful and frightening older man, 'Milkman'.
"In this community, where suggestions quickly become fact, where gossip and hearsay can lead to terrible consequences, what can she do to stop a rumour once it has started 'Milkman' is persistent, the word is spreading, and she is no longer in control . . ."
Anna Burns said: "What an honour. I'm thrilled to bits and am about to break into my sevens with the excitement of it all!
"This is an extraordinary honour – especially given the fantastic list I find myself on. I thank the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Hazel Chu, and Dublin City Council for being the patron and the host of this generous award.
"Also, I salute them for representing Dublin’s position at the cultural heart of worldwide literature."
Anna went on to praise libraries and talk about how much they meant to her as a child in Belfast.
She added: "To go from being a wee girl haggling over library cards with my siblings, my friends, neighbours, my parents and my aunt, to be standing here today receiving this award is phenomenal for me, and I thank you all again for this great honour."
Speaking at the winner announcement, Lord Mayor and Patron of the Award, Hazel Chu, remarked: "What a wonderful book and massively talented writer! The judges should be very proud of their work as it wasn’t easy to choose a winner from among this very strong shortlist.
"I was so delighted to open that envelope and see Milkman written on the card! I wish to extend huge congratulations to Anna Burns."
