COLM TÓIBÍN HAS been named as the winner of the Irish Pen Award for Literature 2010.

The Irish Pen awards were set up in 1998 to honour Irish-born writers who have made an outstanding contribution to Irish Literature. The prize is given annually to novelists, poets, playwrights and script writers who have produced a significant body of work.

Tóibín was born in Enniscorthy in 1955. He is the author of 6 novels including The Blackwater Lightship and The Master, both of which were shortlisted for the Booker Prize and Brooklyn which was awarded the Costa Prize. The Master was awarded the Dublin International IMPAC Literary Award in 2006.

Tóibín will be presented the award at the Irish Pen annual dinner on Friday, 11 February.

Speaking from Princeton University this week, Tóibín said:

“I am delighted to receive this award from Pen. Now more than ever, I believe that the work which Pen does is vital, and I feel honoured to be involved in that work for freedom of expression worldwide, and honoured, too, to have my own work recognised in my own country”.

The Irish Pen is affiliated to the International Pen, which has 140 branches in 90 countries. Previous winners include Brian Friel, William Trevor, John McGahern, Neil Jordan, Seamus Heaney, Jennifer Johnston, Maeve Binchy and Roddy Doyle.

This September, Tóibín is to take over from Martin Amis as the professor of creative writing at the University of Manchester.