Award-winning novel launched before huge crowd in Ballinrobe

More than 170 people packed Ballinrobe Library for the launch of On The Way Out, the award-winning debut novel by local writer Liam Horan. The venue, set within the beautifully converted former Church of Ireland church, added a spectacular sense of place to the evening.

The launch was performed by fellow Ballinrobe writer Declan Varley in a warm, lively atmosphere. Varley, author of Kittyland and The Confession of Peadar Gibbons, delivered a wide-ranging speech praising Horan’s capacity to observe the nuances and human details of small-town life with freshness, precision and emotional depth.

These qualities reflect the assessment of the Gerald Griffin Award for First Original Adult Fiction 2025 judges, who commended the novel for navigating ordinary lives “with tenderness, wit, and acuity” in naming it the overall winner in September.

“Every sentence is crafted and is dripping with meaning, every nuance is maximised, and not a word is wasted, not a single word, and I applaud him for that,” said Declan.

Buy On The Way Out in your local bookshop or from our online store

Master of Ceremonies Colm Burtchaell guided the evening and led an engaging Q&A session with the author, discussing the novel’s themes, the writing process and Horan’s return to education in his mid 50s to complete a Master’s in Creative Writing at the University of Limerick.

Publisher Dominic Taylor of the Limerick Writers’ Centre, whose Savoy Editions imprint published the novel as part of Horan’s prize for winning the Gerald Griffin Award, spoke about the significance of Horan’s win and the ethos behind the imprint’s support for emerging literary voices. Taylor highlighted that Horan’s book embodies the competition’s mission to champion new Irish writing rooted in character, community and craft.

“With writers like Liam, we hope to continue publishing books that challenge, move and stay with readers long after the final page. Books written by people who have something to say, not just something to sell,” said Dominic.

The launch included readings by Saoirse Courtney (6), Jean Horan (7), and adult poet Brian Joyce from a local writing group, which meets every Saturday in The Bowers Bar & Restaurant, Ballinrobe. Their contributions added an intimate, community-driven element to the evening.

Liam emphasised the cultural, social and economic importance of the proposed redevelopment of the local Valkenburg complex as Ballinrobe Town Hall. He described it as essential infrastructure for the arts and local life and would prove a sustainable enterprise thanks to the extensive bedroom capacity available in the venue. He expressed deep gratitude to Mayo County Library staff Austin Vaughan, Mary Farragher, and Charlie Leeder for hosting the event in such a fitting venue.

He paid special tribute to his editor Aisling Moroney for the careful guidance she offered throughout the writing process.

On The Way Out follows Louise, fighting to save her shop, and Matt, a widower clinging to the past, as a community project ignites controversy in the small town of Rathfin. Their stories explore loss, loyalty and second chances, set against the vivid backdrop of rural Ireland. Rathfin’s gossip, silences, familiar faces and unspoken rules create the atmosphere that drives the story forward.

The book is available in book shops throughout Mayo and Galway, and online at www.liamhoran.info/shop.