WHEN it comes to Yuletide, Ireland is the best place to reside and when it comes to capturing the festive spirit no one does it better than Irish writers.

IRISH literature has a long tradition of producing writers who capture the mood of the times that we live in. Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels is a classic searing satire of Georgian Britain’s greed and moral bankruptcy. In every era writers have emerged from Erin’s shores as voices who have been able to chronicle the experiences of a generation and articulate their concerns.

A KEEN eye for relationship dynamics is central to a good plot. It drives the story and hooks the reader. Blend family dynamics with a hint of intrigue and you have the makings of a page-turner. For the past two decades Derry-born Maggie O’Farrell (above) has mastered the art of writing about family relationships whilst spinning a good yarn.

AT THE heart of any great book is the ability to tell as good story with characters who are believable and that we identify with. Critics often sight male writers such as Frank O’Connor and Sean O’Faolain as being literary giants in this Irish tradition. Yet in terms of book sales and global recognition, Maeve Binchy has been at the forefront this tradition.