News Archive

The 2006 Tir na n–Og Awards

The Welsh Books Council announced the winners of the 2006 Tir na n-Og Awards in a special dinner at the ‘Celtic Connection’ conference organised by CILIP Cymru/Wales held at the Museum of Wales, Cardiff.

The awards are presented annually by the Welsh Books Council to honour the work of authors and illustrators of children’s books in Wales in three categories: best English-language book with an authentic Welsh background, best Welsh-language book for the primary sector and the best Welsh-language book for the secondary sector.  Two of the awards are sponsored by CILIP Cymru/Wales.

This year the Tir na n-Og Awards – established in 1976 – are celebrating their thirtieth anniversary.  ‘During the past thirty years we have witnessed significant developments in the field of children’s books in both languages, in contents and design and in the wealth of books that are available for children and young people,’ said Menna Lloyd Williams, Head of the Books Council’s Children’s Books Department.      

The English Award
Winner: Jenny Sullivan – Tirion’s Secret Journal (Gomer/Pont Books)

The winner in the category best English-language book with an authentic Welsh background is Jenny Sullivan, for Tirion’s Secret Journal (Gomer/Pont), a novel for 9–11 year-old children.}
Set in Llancaiach Fawr Manor, the novel is full of wit and vivacity and gives an intimate picture of life for the rich and poor in the seventeenth century.
This is the first time for Jenny Sullivan, who now lives in Brittany, to win the Tir na n-Og Award.

Welsh-language Primary Category
Winner: Emily Huws – Carreg Ateb (Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion)

The winner of the best book in the Welsh-language primary category is Emily Huws for her novel Carreg Ateb (Cymdeithas Lyfrau Ceredigion).
This novel for 9–11 year-olds echoes the tale of Little Red Riding Hood. A ten year-old girl suffers bullying and sees her father wrongly imprisoned.
This is the fourth time for Emily Huws to win the Tir na n-Og Award.

Welsh-language Secondary Category
Winner: Gwion Hallam – Creadyn (Gomer Press)

The winner of the best book in the Welsh-language secondary category is Gwion Hallam, for his novel Creadyn (Gomer).
A teenage boy suffers under the school bully and he has a difficult relationship with his father following the death of this mother.
This is Gwion Hallam’s first novel.

The Tir na n-Og Awards will be featured on the Welsh-language S4C television programme
‘Wedi 7’ on Monday, 29 May 2006

For further details please contact: Elwyn Jones, Head of Administration and Public Relations, Welsh Books Council: 01970 624 151 / elwyn.jones@wbc.org.uk

www.wbc.org.uk