The Last Word with Matt Cooper Katriona O'Sullivan Reflects On Winning Two Awards At An Post Irish Book Awards
Nov 27, 2025
Katriona O'Sullivan, an esteemed author and academic, recently celebrated her wins for Biography of the Year and Last Word Listeners' Choice at the An Post Irish Book Awards. In this conversation, she shares how her bestselling book, Poor, connects with a diverse audience through themes of hope and resilience. Katriona also gives a sneak peek of her upcoming book, Hungry, exploring society and body image. Additionally, her new role at the National Centre for Inclusive Higher Education highlights the importance of access initiatives in supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Awards Launched An International Bestseller
- Katriona O'Sullivan described how winning the Last Word Listener's Choice and Biography of the Year propelled her book Poor to sustained bestseller status.
- She noted translations into seven languages and that the book remained in Ireland's nonfiction top 10 weeks after release.
Hope Amplifies Reader Connection
- Katriona believes Poor resonates because it mixes sadness with hope and clear stories of triumph and community support.
- She highlighted that different readers identify with varied themes like lone parenting, addiction, or education.
Second Book Explores Her Body
- Katriona described her next book, Hungry, as a biography of her body and a reflection on how society shapes women's relationships with their bodies.
- She said writing the follow-up was nerve‑wracking but also empowering and liberating.
