Writer Catriona Lally nominated for memoir award

Catriona Lally has reached the age of 47 without losing a close family member, a fact she notes in a recent interview as a luxury that has kept her thoughts on mortality at bay. This personal detail anchors her nomination for Biography of the Year at the An Post Irish Book Awards, a recognition that brings her memoir Home Economics into the spotlight for the 2026 ceremony.

The shortlist places Lally alongside other authors in a competition that will be decided on December 1, 2026. The winners will be announced at the Convention Centre in Dublin. RTÉ One is scheduled to broadcast the ceremony on December 10, 2026. This timing allows the book to reach a wider audience through television coverage in the weeks leading up to the final vote.

In a profile accompanying the nomination, Lally discusses her approach to life and work. She describes herself as mostly agreeable, noting that she avoids demanding off menu items in restaurants because she believes workers are not paid enough to handle added nonsense. However, she draws a firm line when it comes to protecting her children. She recalled an incident in a playground where she told an older child she would kill him if he threw stones at her toddler again. She said disagreeable never felt so good.

Lally is the second of four children born within a five year span. She states that this close age gap prevented the typical birth order archetypes from taking hold. Her parents managed to raise the siblings without obvious favoritism. She says that if her own children grow up knowing they are equally loved, she will be doing her job well. She also shares that her middle name is Mary, a choice she once found dull in the 1980s but now appreciates.

Her path to writing began with an injury. Lally was a marathon runner in her early 30s before a meniscus tear and ineffective surgery ended her running career. She joined an evening writing course as a new hobby. She speculates that she might not have become a writer if she had not stopped running. She still feels a hankering to be part of marathon action every October, despite having to stop so abruptly.

The author identifies her favorite place in Ireland as her uncle’s house in Gladree, five miles west of Belmullet in County Mayo. It is the same area where her father grew up. She recalls summers spent roaming the fields and bogs with a sense of freedom. Her extended family gathered at a pub in Corclough for a cousin’s 50th birthday in August, just weeks after the All Ireland hurling win. The conversation that night was dominated by questions about where everyone was when the final point was scored. She noted that The Green and Red of Mayo was sung many times in one night.

Lally’s first novel, Eggshells, has been adapted into a screenplay. When asked who would play her character Vivian in a biopic, she consistently names Helena Bonham Carter. She cites the actor’s joyful eccentricity and general dishevelment as key traits. Lally also admits a personal regret regarding her career. She wishes she had a trade or useful skill that would bring steady employment. She mentions liking the idea of being a plumber or electrician but notes that she is not handy and cannot drive, which would make lugging tools around on the bus difficult.