Yet Irish writer Isaac Eppel still managed to get his influential 1926 narrative film about the War of Independence, Irish Destiny, made.

BBC: The evolution of Irish cinema

Also in the running are Sea of Poppies by Amitav Ghosh and The Secret Scripture by the previously-shortlisted Irish writer Sebastian Barry.

BBC: Rushdie tipped for 2008 Booker

Taking part will be several of the poetry world's leading lights, including Irish writer Seamus Heaney, New Zealand's Bill Manhire and former US poet laureate Kay Ryan.

BBC: A festival of Olympic wordsmiths

Ms Enright, the fourth Irish writer to win the prize, is a 45-year-old Dubliner who has written three previous novels, short stories and a work of non-fiction.

ECONOMIST: The Man Booker prize

What the Irish writer and director Martin McDonagh seems to love is snapping back and forth between tragedy and farce, raiding the entire grab bag of terrible cinematic styles and making them shine by exaggeration.

NEWYORKER: Seven Psychopaths

With the help of Catholic Canon lawyer and commentator, the Reverend Thomas Doyle and leading Irish writer Colm Toibin, This World examined the unique relationship that has long existed between the Irish Catholic Church and state.

BBC: Bafta for BBC's The Shame of the Catholic Church

Rounding out the top selling women are consistent bestsellers Jennifer Weiner and Jodi Picoult, Irish writer Emma Donoghue, and Jeannette Walls, who also penned the 2005 memoir The Glass Castle, which has been on the bestseller lists since it was published.

FORBES: The Top Selling Female E-book Authors

The short life and lasting legend of the Irish freedom fighter Michael Collins, compressed into a vigorous movie by the writer and director Neil Jordan.

NEWYORKER: Michael Collins