Killybegs Author Garrett Carr Shortlisted for Irish Book Awards

A novel by Killybegs author Garrett Carr has received significant recognition, as it has been nominated for the prestigious Irish Book Awards. His book, titled The Boy from the Sea, has been shortlisted in the category of Irish Novel of the Year. Set against the backdrop of Killybegs, the narrative begins in 1973 and explores the life of a fishing family, the Bonnars, and the consequences of their decision to adopt an abandoned baby.

Carr’s work stands out in Irish literature for its focus on the fishing community, a subject he believes has been largely overlooked. “Fishing families have hardly appeared in Irish literature at all,” he commented. “This is part of the reason I wanted to write about one – like a businessperson spots a gap in the market, I felt it was a gap in the culture. Plus, it is my own background; I am the son of a fisherman, so I felt it was a job I could take on.”

Capturing the Essence of Killybegs

In the early chapters of The Boy from the Sea, the protagonist, fisherman Ambrose Bonnar, travels throughout Ireland, working from harbours in Waterford, Cork, and Galway before returning to Donegal. Carr aimed to highlight the unique character of Killybegs, stating, “I wanted to make it clear the novel is set not just in Ireland, but in Donegal. I wanted to capture its distinct character and the first step was saying it’s not like these other places.”

The novel authentically portrays the real Killybegs, reflecting the town’s dramatic growth during the 1970s and 80s, particularly as the fishing industry expanded. Carr noted, “The town was always such a one-off, especially in the 1970s and 80s, when The Boy from the Sea is set. When the fishing industry was expanding so rapidly, there was great drama to be found in how fortunes were won and lost in those times. I saw no good reason to invent a fictional town; the story would’ve lost more than it gained.”

Voting for the Irish Book Awards is currently open to the public. Interested readers can participate by visiting www.irishbookawards.ie/vote/. The recognition of Carr’s work not only highlights his talent as a writer but also serves to bring attention to the cultural and historical significance of fishing communities in Ireland.