“As written by Cónal Creedon, such moments resound with wince-inducing authenticity before they are eclipsed by an inspirational twist – words, inflected with the faintly Scandinavian accent of Munster, soar like a bracing breeze off the River Lee.”

Andy Webster – New York Times

Cónal Creedon is an award winning novelist, playwright and documentary filmmaker. In recent news…

The World Cultural Council in Switzerland announced Cónal Creedon winner of The World Cultural Council Arts Award. He will receive:

The Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts 2024
At McGill University Montreal, Canada

The jury of this prestigious award were impressed by the diversity of Cónal’s creative practice, described as an exploration of the spaghetti bowl of streets in downtown Cork city, Ireland – where his family has lived and traded for over a hundred years.

“Cónal’s detailed investigation of such a tight-knit neighbourhood across various art forms reveals a fascinating insight into the universal nature of the human condition, and constitutes a significant contribution to the artistic legacy of creative expression.”

Further recognition for Cónal’s work includes:

• The iBAM Award for Literature 2024 (USA)

• The IP Gold Book Award 2023 (USA)

• The One City One Book 2022 (Ireland)

• The Eric Hoffer Book Award USA 2020 (USA)

Cónal’s recently published book, Art Imitating Life Imitating Death, was presented at the centre of Irish Studies at Zurich University, James Joyce Federation in 2020. It was subsequently published by Florence University Press and has since picked up Gold at the IP Book Awards in the European Non-Fiction Category and Silver at the IP Book Awards in the Global reference Non-Fiction Category.

His collection of Award winning short stories Pancho and Lefty Ride Again (2021) has been Awarded One City One Book Award 2020. It holds the record of being the most borrowed adult fiction book at Cork City Libraries 2022.

His novel, Begotten Not Made (2018), has achieved literary award recognition: Winner of the Eric Hoffer Award USA 2020, The Bronze Award New Generation Book Award USA 2020; Finalist in the Montaigne [Most Thought-Provoking Book] Award USA 2020. Finalist The IAN Book of the Year Award 2022, Nominated for the Dublin International Book Award 2020; Book of the Year Irish Examiner; Top Books of the Year – Liveline RTÉ Irish National Radio.

Other published books by Cónal Creedon include, Cornerstone (2017), The Immortal Deed of Michael O’Leary (2015), Second City Trilogy (2007), Passion Play (1999) cited as Book of the Year BBC Radio 4, and beat off stiff competition to be the most popular book at UCC Library Winner in 2021, Pancho & Lefty Ride Out (1995), Pancho & Lefty Ride Again (2021).

Cónal’s award-winning stage plays include; The Trial of Jesus (2000), which featured as part of the Irish National Millennium celebrations, received two Business to Arts Awards by President of Ireland Mary McAleese and was nominated for an Irish Times Special Judges Theatre Award 2000. Glory Be to the Father (2001), produced by Red Kettle Theatre Company, Waterford. Cónal’s Second City Trilogy of stage plays achieved high acclaim from theatre critics in Shanghai, New York and Ireland. The Second City Trilogy picked up a number of awards at the 1st Irish Theatre Awards New York, including Best Actor, Best Director and was nominated Best Playwright. When I Was God, a production from the Second City Trilogy was also awarded Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor at ICA Federation Awards 2014. In 2021 it was awarded Best Production, Best Actor and Best Director at the Irish National Play Awards.

Cónal’s film documentaries achieved high critical acclaim, including shortlisted for the Focal International Documentary Awards UK and numerous broadcasts by RTÉ [Irish National Television] with international screening at New York University NYU, Féile an Phobail West Belfast Festival, World Expo Shanghai, China, Origin Theatre Festival New York, USA and the Irish National Centenary Commemorations.

Cónal has written and produced more than 60 hours of original radio drama broadcast by RTÉ, BBC, CBC, ABC. Cited as Best Radio by Irish Times radio critics 1996 and 1998. 

Recognition for contribution to the Arts:

• Cumann Iarscoláirí na Mainistreach Thuaidh. Person of The Year Award 2021

• Appointed Culture Ambassador for Cork City 2020 

• Awarded Cork City Lord Mayor’s Culture Award 2020. 

• Invited Goodwill Literary [Covid] Ambassador, European Association EASPD, Cork EU 2020

• Speaker at James Joyce Foundation/Centre Irish Studies, Zurich, Switzerland 2019

• Invited Guest of Honour, 10th Anniversary Shanghai Writers’ China 2018

• Nominated Cork Person of the Year [for Contribution to the Arts] 2018

• Appointed Heritage Ambassador for Cork City 2017 

• Appointed Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing UCC 2017

• Keynote Speaker Daniel Corkery Summer School, Inchigeela, Ireland 2016

• Keynote Speaker Merriman Summer School, Glór, Ennis, Ireland 2015

• Keynote Speaker Launch Cork Europa Erlesen, Irish Embassy Berlin, Germany 2014

• Invited Scholarship Forum, Fudan University, Shanghai, China 2008 

• Speaker 7-City Reading Tour, Irish American Cultural Institute, USA 2008

• Nominated Cork Person of the Year 2001  

• Awarded Cork City Lord Mayor’s Culture Award 1999