The 111 Greatest Literature of Ireland
The Greatest Literature of Ireland list is based on the same extensive research and surveys carried out over the past two decades for our Greatest Literature of All Time list with special attention paid to additional evaluations by Irish readers, writers and critics.
The included authors are those who have resided or created their work anywhere on the Irish isle—that is, in both the area today known as the Republic of Ireland and the area today designated Northern Ireland.
This list focuses on major creative works—such as novels, plays, epic poetry and story collections—although some shorter or nonfiction writing of literary significance may also be included.
Latest update: January 17, 2023
The 111 greatest works of Irish literature
In chronological order
c. 0700
The Táin
Anonymous,
Ireland,
Epic prose, poetry
c. 1100–1200
The Madness of Suibhne
Anonymous,
Ireland,
Epic poem
1726
Gulliver's Travels
Jonathan Swift,
Ireland,
novel
1820
Melmoth the Wanderer
Charles Maturin,
Ireland,
novel
1864
Uncle Silas
Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu,
Ireland,
novel
1872
In a Glass Darkly
Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu,
Ireland,
story collection
1890
Lake Isle of Innisfree
W.B. Yeats,
Ireland,
poem
1891
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Oscar Wilde,
Ireland,
novel
1892
Lady Windermere's Fan
Oscar Wilde,
Ireland,
play
Irish Fairy and Folk Tales
W.B. Yeats,
Ireland,
story collection
1894
Esther Waters
George Moore,
Ireland,
novel
Arms and the Man
George Bernard Shaw,
Ireland,
play
1895
The Importance of Being Earnest
Oscar Wilde,
Ireland,
play
A Ideal Husband n
Oscar Wilde,
Ireland,
play
The Ballad of Reading Gaol
Oscar Wilde,
Ireland,
long poem
1898
Candida
George Bernard Shaw,
Ireland,
play
1899
Some Experiences of an Irish RM
Somerville and Ross,
Ireland,
novel
1903
Man and Superman
George Bernard Shaw,
Ireland,
play
1904
Riders to the Sea
John Millington Synge,
Ireland,
play
1905
Major Barbara
George Bernard Shaw,
Ireland,
play
1907
The Playboy of the Western World
John Millington Synge,
Ireland,
play
The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists
Robert Tressell,
Ireland,
novel
Pygmalion
George Bernard Shaw,
Ireland,
play
1917
The Charwoman's Daughter
James Stephens,
Ireland,
novel
1920
Heartbreak House
George Bernard Shaw,
Ireland,
play
The Second Coming
W.B. Yeats,
Ireland,
poem
1922–1923
Back to Methuselah
George Bernard Shaw,
Ireland,
Plays
1923
Saint Joan
George Bernard Shaw,
Ireland,
play
1924
The King of Elfland's Daughter
Lord Dunsany,
Ireland,
novel
Juno and the Paycock
Sean O'Casey,
Ireland,
play
1926
The Plough and the Stars
Sean O'Casey,
Ireland,
play
1938
Murphy
Samuel Beckett,
Ireland,
novel
The Beast Must Die
Nicholas Blake,
Ireland,
novel
At Swim-Two-Birds
Flann O'Brien,
Ireland,
novel
1941
The Case of the Abominable Snowman
Nicholas Blake,
Ireland,
novel
The Poor Mouth
Flann O'Brien,
Ireland,
novel
1950
The Ginger Man
J.P. Donleavy,
Ireland,
novel
1951
Watt
Samuel Beckett,
Ireland,
novel
1951–1953
The Trilogy
Samuel Beckett,
Ireland,
novel series
1952
Waiting for Godot
Samuel Beckett,
Ireland,
play
1955
The Trusting and the Maimed
James Plunkett,
Ireland,
story collection
1957
All That Fall
Samuel Beckett,
Ireland,
play
Endgame
Samuel Beckett,
Ireland,
play
1958
Borstal Boy
Brendan Behan,
Ireland,
memoir
Krapp's Last Tape
Samuel Beckett,
Ireland,
novel
1960
The Country Girls
Edna O'Brien,
Ireland,
novel
1961
Happy Days
Samuel Beckett,
Ireland,
play
1962
Girl With Green Eyes
Edna O'Brien,
Ireland,
novel
1967
The Third Policeman
Flann O'Brien,
Ireland,
novel
1969
Strumpet City
James Plunkett,
Ireland,
novel
1979
Faith Healer
Brian Friel,
Ireland,
play
1980
Translations
Brian Friel,
Ireland,
play
1983
Fools of Fortune
William Trevor,
Ireland,
novel
1987
The The Commitments
Roddy Doyle,
Ireland,
novel
1989
The Book of Evidence
John Banville,
Ireland,
novel
1990
Circle of Friends
Maeve Binchy,
Ireland,
novel
The Snapper
Roddy Doyle,
Ireland,
novel
Dancing at Lughnasa
Brian Friel,
Ireland,
play
Amongst Women
John McGahern,
Ireland,
novel
1991
The Van
Roddy Doyle,
Ireland,
novel
1992
The Butcher Boy
Patrick McCabe,
Ireland,
novel
1993
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha
Roddy Doyle,
Ireland,
novel
1994
The House of Splendid Isolation
Edna O'Brien,
Ireland,
novel
1995
The Complete Short Prose
Samuel Beckett,
Ireland,
story collection
1996
The Woman Who Walked Into Doors
Roddy Doyle,
Ireland,
novel
Angela's Ashes
Frank McCourt,
Ireland,
memoir
1998
Tara Road
Maeve Binchy,
Ireland,
novel
Seamus Heaney
Open Ground,
Northern Ireland,
poetry collection
1999
A Star Called Henry
Roddy Doyle,
Ireland,
novel
Tis
Frank McCourt,
Ireland,
memoir
The Blackwater Lightship
Colm Tóibín,
Ireland,
novel
2000
Scarlet Feather
Maeve Binchy,
Ireland,
novel
2001
Artemis Fowl
Eoin Colfer,
Ireland,
novel
At Swim, Two Boys
Jamie O'Neill,
Ireland,
novel
2002
Star of the Sea
Joseph O'Connor,
Ireland,
novel
2004
P.S. I Love You
Cecilia Ahern,
Ireland,
novel
The Master
Colm Tóibín,
Ireland,
novel
2005
The Sea
John Banville,
Ireland,
novel
A Long Long Way
Sebastian Barry,
Ireland,
novel
Ireland
Frank Delaney,
Ireland,
story collection
2006
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
John Boyne,
Ireland,
novel
2007
The Gathering
Anne Enright,
Ireland,
novel
In the Woods
Tana French,
Ireland,
novel
An Irish Country Doctor
Patrick Taylor,
Ireland,
novel
2008
The Secret Scripture
Sebastian Barry,
Ireland,
novel
The Likeness
Tana French,
Ireland,
novel
2009
Brooklyn
Colm Tóibín,
Ireland,
novel
2010
Human Chain
Seamus Heaney,
Northern Ireland,
poetry collection
2011
City of Bohane
Kevin Barry,
Ireland,
novel
2012
A Week in Winter
Maeve Binchy,
Ireland,
novel
The Spinning Heart
Donal Ryan,
Ireland,
novel
2014
Nora Webster
Colm Tóibín,
Ireland,
novel
2015
The Green Road
Anne Enright,
Ireland,
novel
2016
Days Without End
Sebastian Barry,
Ireland,
novel
2017
The Heart's Invisible Furies
John Boyne,
Ireland,
novel
Conversations With Friends
Sally Rooney,
Ireland,
Novel
2018
Milkman
Anna Burns,
Northern Ireland,
Novel
Normal People
Sally Rooney,
Ireland,
Novel
2019
What the Wind Knows
Amy Harmon,
Ireland,
Novel
When All Is Said
Anne Griffin,
Ireland,
Novel
2020
Hamnet
Maggie O'Farrell,
Ireland,
Novel
