The Christopher Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize was created in 1977, in memory of Christopher Ewart-Biggs, British Ambassador to Ireland, who was assassinated by the Provisional Irish Republican Army in 1976.
Founded by his widow Jane Ewart-Biggs (following her death, the literary prize is currently administered jointly by their 3 children) following the death of her husband, its stated goal is to promote peace and reconciliation in Ireland, a greater understanding between the peoples of the United Kingdom and Ireland, or closer co-operation between partners of the European Community now known as the EU.
It is awarded to a book, a play or a piece of journalism that best fulfills this aim, published during a two-year period up to December 31 of the year preceding the year in which the prize is awarded. The value of the biennially awarded literary prize is currently set at ã7,500, an increase on the original ã5,000 award of 1977.
Past winners
The years of publication/broadcast for which the prize was awarded is given. In earlier years the Prize was identified by the year of award, but the official website now gives year of publication/broadcast.
- 1978: A. T. Q. Stewart, The Narrow Ground: Aspects of Ulster 1609-1969
- 1978: MÃÂcheál Mac Gréil, Prejudice and Tolerance in Ireland
- 1979: Stewart Parker, I'm A Dreamer, Montreal
- 1979: Dervla Murphy, A Place Apart
- 1980: Robert Kee, Ireland: A Television History
- 1981: F. S. L. Lyons, Culture and Anarchy in Ireland, 1890-1939
- 1982: Fortnight magazine
- 1983: John Bowman, De Valera and the Ulster Question, 1917-1973
- 1984: Oliver MacDonagh, States of Mind: A Study of Anglo-Irish Conflict, 1780-1980
- 1984: Padraig O'Malley, The Uncivil Wars: Ireland Today
- 1985: Brian Friel, Translations
- 1986: Frank McGuinness, Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme
- 1986 Special Award: Hubert Butler
- 1987âÂÂ88: David McKittrick and Mary Holland, newspaper columns
- 1989âÂÂ90: John H. Whyte, Interpreting Northern Ireland
- 1989âÂÂ90 special citation: Blackstaff Press
- 1991âÂÂ92: Brian Keenan, An Evil Cradling
- 1993âÂÂ94: Fionnuala O'Connor, In Search of a State: Catholics in Northern Ireland
- 1995âÂÂ96: Norman Porter, Rethinking Unionism: An Alternative Vision for Northern Ireland
- 1995âÂÂ96: Sebastian Barry, The Steward of Christendom
- 1997âÂÂ98: Peter Hart, The IRA and its Enemies; Violence and Community in Cork, 1916-1923
- 1999âÂÂ2000: David McKittrick, Seamus Kelters, Brian Feeney and Chris Thornton, Lost Lives: The Stories of the Men, Women and Children who Died as a Result of the Northern Ireland Troubles
- 2001âÂÂ02: Linen Hall Library, Troubled Images Project
- 2003âÂÂ04: Tom Dunne, Rebellions: Memoir, Memory and 1798
- 2003âÂÂ04 Special Award: Garret FitzGerald
- 2005âÂÂ06: Richard English, Irish Freedom: The History of Nationalism in Ireland
- 2005âÂÂ06 Special Award: Michael Longley
- 2007âÂÂ08: David Park, The Truth Commissioner
- 2007âÂÂ08 Special Award: Fergus D'Arcy, Remembering the War Dead
- 2009âÂÂ10: Timothy Knatchbull, From a Clear Blue Sky: Surviving the Mountbatten Bomb
- 2009âÂÂ10: Guy Hibbert and Oliver Hirschbiegel, Five Minutes of Heaven
- 2011âÂÂ12: Julieann Campbell, Setting the Truth Free: The Inside Story of the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign
- 2011âÂÂ12: Douglas Murray, Bloody Sunday: Truth, Lies and the Saville Inquiry
- 2011âÂÂ12: Special Award: Peter Taylor (for his work covering Northern Ireland over many years)
- 2013âÂÂ14: Charles Townshend, The Republic: The Fight for Irish Independence 1918-1923
- 2013âÂÂ14: Special Award, Colette Bryce, The Whole & Rain-domed Universe (in memory of Seamus Heaney)
- 2015âÂÂ17: Fergal Keane, Wounds: A Memoir of Love and War
- 2015âÂÂ17: Special Award, Marianne Elliott (for her achievement in advancing the understanding of Irish history in Britain)
- 2018âÂÂ19: Anna Burns, Milkman
- 2018âÂÂ19: Special Award, Katy Hayward, for her Twitter account
- 2020-21: Gail McConnell, book of poetry, The Sun is Open, published by Penned in the Margins.
- 2022-23: Lisa McGee, Derry Girls
References
External links