The best Irish books of the last 20 years have been revealed- here are the ones you need to read

Readers have chosen the best Irish books of the last 20 years

To celebrate 20 years of the An Post Irish Book Awards, readers have been voting for their top 20 Irish books of the last two decades.

There was stiff competition, but some of the greatest Irish books of all time made the top 20. If you're looking for an Irish novel to read, then there are some true gems included on this list, but I've selected five books that every Irish person should read at some point in their lives.

You can view the full list here, but read on for my top picks.

Asking For It by Louise O'Neill

Louise O'Neill has long been one of our finest authors, so seeing Asking For It make the top 20 confirms just how important her work is to Irish readers.

In a small town where everyone knows everyone, Emma O'Donovan is different. She is the special one - beautiful, popular, powerful. And she works hard to keep it that way. Until that night...

Now, she's an embarrassment. Now, she's just a slut. Now, she is nothing. And those pictures - those pictures that everyone has seen - mean she can never forget.

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Normal People put Irish books on the map again, so it comes as no surprise to see this book feature in the top 20.

Connell and Marianne grew up in the same small town in the west of Ireland, but the similarities end there. In school, Connell is popular and well-liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation - awkward but electrifying - something life-changing begins

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

One of the most striking but devastating Irish books I've ever read in my lifetime, never mind in the last 20 years.

In a small Irish town, just before Christmas 1985, Bill Furlong is a hardworking coal-merchant with a good reputation and a devoted family.

He is also the son of a teenage mother who never married.

When a young woman in the convent where Bill delivers coal confronts him with a quiet plea for help, he finds himself unable to ignore the truth he sees unfolding.

The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan

Donal Ryan has to be one of the most treasured writers in Ireland, and The Spinning Heart is one of his best.

“My father still lives back the road past the weir in the cottage I was reared in. I go there every day to see is he dead, and every day he lets me down. He hasn’t yet missed a day of letting me down.”

No.1 bestselling author Donal Ryan exploded onto the literary scene with his stunning debut, set in the aftermath of Ireland’s financial collapse. When dangerous tensions surface in a small Irish town, the characters face a battle between their public persona and inner desires. Told through a chorus of twenty-one unique voices, each struggling to tell their own kind of truth, a single authentic tale unfolds.

Poor by Katriona O’Sullivan

One of the top recommended Irish books of all time, Poor is a must-read for the people of Ireland.

Like young girls everywhere, Katriona O’Sullivan grew up bright, enthusiastic, and curious. But she was also surrounded by abject poverty and chaos, and after she became pregnant and homeless at 15, what followed was five years of barely surviving. Yet today, Katriona is an award-winning academic whose work explores barriers to education for girls like her.

What set Katriona on this unexpected path were the mentors and supporters who truly saw her. The teachers who showed her how to wash in the school toilets or turned up at her door to convince her to sit at least one GCSE. The community worker who encouraged her to apply for training schemes. The friend who introduced Katriona to Trinity College’s access program while she was a cleaner. Simple acts that would help her turn her life around.

Do you agree with the Irish books that made the top 20?