Colum McCann says he was devastated that Ireland lost out to France in the World Cup but that winning the National Book Award "did make up in some way for the defeat.”

The National Book Award for fiction for 2009 has gone to Irish author Colm McCann who lives in New York for his book "Let the Great World Spin." The book is set in New York in 1974 when a French tightrope walker Philippe Petit walked between the two towers of the Twin Towers, creating a massive publicity stunt.

Sarah Palin releases her new book 'Going Rogue' this week, and judging by the reviews she really gets her Irish up. John McCain, the media, the Democratic Party, and the know alls in Washington all get it loud and clear from the former Alaska governor.

Tadhg Kennelly returns to Australia next week to promote his autobiography amid furhter speculation that his future may lie in the red guernsey of the Sydney Swans as opposed to the green and gold jersey of Kerry.

Ireland is famous for its written word masterpieces. It’s tough to narrow down the best of the best, but IrishCentral has taken on the tricky task, identifying the top 10 examples of Irish writing.

Kathy Griffin visited "The Tonight Show" with Conan O'Brien on Monday night, and the conversation between the two fiery-haired, Irish-American comedians quickly turned to Griffin’s “love affair” with Levi Johnston.

Eoin Colfer has made his name – and his fortune – writing the best-selling “Artemis Fowl” series for young adults. He could have played it safe and stuck with his winning formula but instead he’s decided to write a new episode of “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” Douglas Adams’ revered sci-fi satire.

Tyrone boss Mickey Harte has dismissed claims that his recent revelations about Sean Cavanagh’s absence from the starting team in the All-Ireland semifinal against Cork will cause any rift with the player.

To get started with your own literary tour of Ireland here’s a list of the 10 top annual Irish literary festivals to check out. Pick any one of them and in no time you’ll be completely absorbed by Irish culture and craic.

Legendary Cork hurling goalkeeper Donal Og Cusack has revealed that he is gay in his new autobiography.

Irish hunk Colin Farrell may not have been a good enough singer to make it with Boyzone back in the day, but the 33-year-old is a prolific A-list actor, and stills from his latest movie “The Way Back” have just been released.

A rundown of the latest and greatest books out of Ireland and Irish America.

The thirtieth anniversary of the publication of the original 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' was marked by the publication of Irish author Eoin Colfer's sequel 'And Another Thing -- Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Part 6 of 3' Monday.

Irish writer Cecelia Ahern, the daughter of former Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern, thought she was pregnant with twins until recently.

An unmistakably Irish memorial service was held in upper Manhattan on Tuesday night when the life and work of the incomparable Frank McCourt, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Irish-American writer, was commemorated in story and song.

Irish acting heavyweight Liam Neeson has joined the all-star cast of the upcoming thriller “The Next Three Days.”

Former Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Bertie Ahern reveals in his upcoming book “Bertie Ahern: The Autobiography” that the breakdown of his marriage was one of the hardest things he had to go though in his life.

Sarah Palin fan Bill O’Reilly thinks the former Alaska governor has big things in store for her in her political future.

Roman Polanski recently finished filming a movie called “The Ghost,” starring Pierce Brosnan, Ewan McGregor and Kim Cattrall. Polanski was finishing post-production on “The Ghost” when he traveled to Zurich over the weekend, where his unexpected arrest took place.

"House" star and Maxim’s sexiest woman of the year Olivia Wilde has signed on to star with Russell Crowe in “The Next Three Days,” which will be directed by Oscar winner Paul Haggis.

Writer J. Courtney Sullivan on the Virgin Mary, her debut novel and fighting the good fight.

Out with the old, in with the new: Kathy Griffin used to hang out with the likes of former BFF Paris Hilton on “Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List,” but now she’s moved on to a new best friend forever: Kate Gosselin.

Ireland's foremost writer of fiction, William Trevor, talks about his latest work, ‘Love and Summer.'

Pulitzer Prize-winning author William Kennedy will be presented with the inaugural 2009 Eugene O'Neill Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish American Writers and Artists, Inc. (IAW&A) in Manhattan on October 16, Eugene O'Neill's birthday.

Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Brian Cowen and Sinn Fein leader Martin McGuinness came very close to blows and a stand up fight during negotiations on Northern Ireland.

Two upcoming films starring Irish-American actor Mark Wahlberg: “The Lovely Bones,” based on the best-selling novel by Alice Sebold, and "The Fighter," a biopic of boxer Mickey Ward.

Recommended Leo Tolstoy famously said that all great literature is one of two stories: a man goes on a journey, or a stranger comes to town. William Trevor’s latest novel is thus great literature two times over. The Cork-born Irish master, author of fourteen novels and twelve short story collections, came forth this September with Love and Summer, which focuses on the small town of Rathmoye and its inhabitants, tracing over the stories, true or warped with time or completely imagined, that they

James B. Irwin, the founder of the annual International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award, took his own life on Monday evening at his home in Connecticut.

Sometimes one mad idea can turn into an unexpected goldmine. When bestselling Irish author Derek Landy was pursuing his dream of becoming a horror film screenwriter, fate pointed him toward a whole new career. He talks about his long and winding road to success.

With Gallery: Dan "The Da Vinci Code" Brown has just written a book about them, and now a court case in Belfast could unearth some of the most closely-guarded secrets about the one of the most-secret organizations in the world: the Freemasons. The ultimate fraternity, the Freemasons have been around since the end of the 16th century, and rumors abound that some of the most-famous men in the world, from presidents to politicians, count themselves as members.

Reality TV kid – and upcoming contestant on "Dancing With the Stars" – Kelly Osbourne was in Dublin last week signing copies of the new book she wrote about herself called "Fierce."

Kathy Griffin does a hilarious impression of TV’s most famous mom Kate Gosselin for a new sketch on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” The Irish-American comedian visited Kimmel’s show on Wednesday, and told the host she stars in a new “TV film.”

Kathy Griffin’s new memoir, “Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin,” reveals some juicy details about the Irish-American comedian’s love life.

The shortlist for the 2009 Man Booker Prize was announced today, and surprisingly, no Irish-written novels were included.

Father Tim: This is how great Irish jokes, as well as great children, are born. Roman Catholic couples should pray together before they have sex, says a new book published by a prominent Church group. It invites those setting out on married life to recite the specially-composed "Prayer Before Making Love."

She may have a bold, in-your-face sense of humor, but Irish-American comedian Kathy Griffin wasn’t always so confident. When Griffin began her career in L.A., she was extremely insecure about her body, and went to great extremes to obtain the thin, perfectly sculpted Hollywood look.

Josephine Hart has read and absorbed the best prose and poetry produced in Ireland over the last 200 years, because in her new novel, “The Truth About Love," she gives it back to us in a microburst, a whirlwind of sound and fury to match the emotions that created and sustained it.

Frank McCourt is back on the best-seller list thanks to the huge publicity surrounding his tragic death from cancer. Angela's Ashes debuted at number five in the paperback non-fiction section in The New York Times list on

The O'Carrolls go back to the third century King Oilioll Olum of Munster. Their name derives from Cearbhaill, who was the Brian Boru in 1014 at the battle of Clontarf. Cearbhaill means warlike champion and the O'Carrolls have lived up to the name.

Tom Deignan reviews a selection of recently published books of Irish and Irish-American interest.

While mourning the death of Irish author Frank McCourt on Sunday, his friends and relations were consoled by the knowledge that -- although taken too soon -- McCourt had lived a rich life and had achieved every goal he had set himself.

U2 Bono and The Edge are two men of many talents! The Irish rock stars - currently clawing their way round the world with the 360 Tour - are the brains behind the new Spider-Man musical set to light up Broadway next

Frank McCourt, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of “Angela’s Ashes” has died. The celebrated Irish author was 78 and had recently been diagnosed with cancer. His wife Ellen daughter, Maggie, and granddaughter Chiara survive him.

In “Bobby and Jackie: A Love Story,” author C. David Heymann reveals what he argues has been an open secret among Kennedy insiders for years: the much hinted at, but never fully disclosed, romantic relationship between Jackie Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy. The New York Times bestselling author talks about the two legendary figures and the tragedy that he says brought them together.

Any avid reader or casual book fan who plans a getaway to the beach during the summer is sure to pack one essential item: the perfect beach read. IrishCentral has compiled recent Irish and Irish-American releases (and re-releases) that would make the perfect beach books.

The Irish are famed for many things -- for their writers, their music, their hospitality, and even for their whiskey. But what about for love?

ON August 7, 1974 a man stepped out on a thin high wire tied between Manhattan’s famous Twin Towers. Phillipe Petit, a skinny French tightrope walker, cast a rope between the two buildings of the World Trade Center with a bow and arrow in the night, and his illegal, crazy but ultimately successful walk between the two iconic buildings would eventually come to be called the art crime of the century. For Dublin-born writer Colum McCann, 44, Petit’s daring 1974 tightrope walk was a jumping off point, irony intended, a way to talk about New York, the Twin Towers and the people of the city and what they mean to him, without instantly conjuring up images of sirens and dust and devastation.

Filming is ready to begin on Steven Spielberg’s next movie, “Lincoln,” starring Ballymena-born actor Liam Neeson. In a role that’s set to be the Irish actor’s greatest to date, Neeson will play U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in the biopic opposite Sally Field, who will portray his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln.

Best-selling author Cecelia Ahern, 28, the daughter of former Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, is expecting her first child. The beautiful writer and her partner,Dave Keoghan, an actor and former Olympic hopeful in hurdling, are thrilled with the news and hope to welcome their first child in December.

An Irishman has gone from writing an entire novel on his cell phone to having it published by crime fiction Web site. Armagh native Stuart Neville began his novel, “The Twelve,” by punching in letters on his mobile.