Éilís Ní Dhuibhne

Éilís Ní Dhuibhne is the author of more than thirty books. Her work includes the novels The Dancers Dancing, The Shelter of Neighbours, Fox, Swallow, Scarecrow, Hurlamaboc, Dordán, Cailíní Beaga Ghleann na Blath and seven collections of short stories. Her most recent books are Twelve Thousand Days: A Memoir (shortlisted for the Michel Déon Award 2020) and Little Red and Other Stories (Blackstaff 2020), Selected Stories (Blackstaff 2023), Fáínne Geal and Lae (Clo Iar Chonnacht 2023).

She has been the recipient of many literary awards, most recently the Pen Award for an Outstanding Contribution to Irish Literature, and a Hennessy Hall of Fame Award. Her novel, The Dancers Dancing, was shortlisted for the Orange Prize in 2000. In addition to her fiction and drama, she has written many scholarly articles on folklore and literary topics, and is a regular book reviewer for The Irish Times. She is a member of Aosdána, and President of the Folklore of Ireland Society. In July 2025 she was selected as Laureate for Irish Fiction 2025-2028. 

The Laureate for Irish Fiction is an initiative of the Arts Council of Ireland. The role seeks to acknowledge the contribution of fiction writers to Irish artistic and cultural life. Éilís Ní Dhuibhne was announced as the fourth Laureate for Irish Fiction in July 2025 and she will hold the role from 2025 to 2028.