Clare poet and author Doireann Ní Ghríofa’s bestselling debut A Ghost In The Throat has secured two nominations in the forthcoming Irish Book Awards.

Doireann’s debut prose book finds the eighteenth-century poet Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill haunting the life of a contemporary young mother, prompting her to turn detective.

Speaking on Wednesday, the Kilnamona writer said she was “astonished and delighted” with the early reception for the book.

It has been nominated in the Odgers Berndtson Ireland Non-Fiction Book of the Year in association with the Business Post category alongside Beyond the Red Tape’a book by state pathologist Marie Cassidy and Here’s the Story the memoir of former President of Ireland Mary McAleese.

A Ghost in the Throat is also in the running for TheJournal.ie Best Irish Published Book of the Year.

“Since A Ghost in the Throat was published in the middle of the pandemic, I didn’t really know what to expect, but I’ve been astonished and delighted by how many readers have contacted me to say that they loved it. It was even more of a surprise to hear that it has been nominated for not one, but two Irish Book Awards. I’m very grateful to Tramp Press, and to all the readers who have given this book such a great welcome,” Ni Ghríofa stated.

Co-Founder of Tramp Press, Lisa Coen expressed her delight at Doireann receiving two nominations. “We knew as soon as we read Doireann’s manuscript that we had the chance to publish something very special, and we’re delighted to see Doireann’s ambition and talent being recognised and celebrated. It’s a shame there is no party this year, so we will be dressing up at home and raising a glass to Doireann instead”.