The Arts Council Podcast

The Art of Reading Book Club with Colm Tóibín | Episode 17: 'Iron Annie' by Luke Cassidy

The Arts Council Podcast

Show Notes

The June Art of Reading book club features Laureate for Irish Fiction Colm Tóibín in conversation with writer Luke Cassidy about his novel ‘Iron Annie.

“Iron Annie is written with astonishing energy and verve. It is set in the criminal underworld of Dundalk, but more important, it is written in a tone that is intriguing and unforgettable. It uses a living and contemporary language distilled by Cassidy into a radically original style, a style that establishes him, with this debut book, as one of the most exciting writers in Ireland now.” — Colm Tóibín Luke Cassidy is a writer and theatremaker from Dundalk. His debut novel Iron Annie was published by Bloomsbury Books in September 2021, and shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prize in 2022. He toured a theatre adaptation of Iron Annie to theatres around Ireland in 2021 & 2022, and is currently developing new work for the stage. His second novel, Tooth & Nail, will be published in early 2024, also by Bloomsbury Books. He is published in North America by Vintage/Anchor Books. Learn more about the Art of Reading Book Club and the Laureate for Irish Fiction programme: https://www.artscouncil.ie/Arts-in-Ireland/Literature/Laureate-for-Irish-Fiction/The-Art-of-Reading-Book-Club/

More from The Arts Council Podcast

Oct 13, 2026

In this episode, Éilis talks to Caitríona Lally about her Rooney Prize-winning debut novel ‘Eggshells’ , second novel ‘Wunderland’ and her recently published memoir ‘Home Economics’ which charts her day job as a cleaner in Trinity College and how it lends itself to her writing career as an award-winning novelist.

Sep 14, 2026

San eagrán seo, labhraíonn Éilis leis na húdair Anna Heussaff agus Réaltáin Ní Leannáin faoina gcleachtas scríbhneoireachta agus a bhforbairt mar scríbhneoirí.

Aug 26, 2026

On 18 February 2026 at the Project Arts Centre in Dublin, Laureate for Irish Fiction Éilís Ní Dhuibhne delivered her first annual Laureate Lecture entitled "The Tip of the Iceberg: Thoughts on the Relationship of Oral and Written Narrative, of Folktales and Literature."

Aug 19, 2026

In this episode, Éilis talks to novelist Sarah Gilmartin about novels 'Dinner Party' and 'Service' and her writing practice.

Jul 9, 2026

In this episode, Éilís talks to novelists Oisín Fagan and Roisín O’Donnell about their respective novels Eden’s Shore and Nesting.

See all episodes →