Joseph O’Connor’s latest novel, The Ghosts of Rome, has been named the overall An Post Irish Book of the Year 2025.

The announcement was made during a special television broadcast on RTÉ One hosted by broadcaster Oliver Callan. The book, which previously won ‘The Last Word Listeners’ Choice Award’ at the An Post Irish Book Awards, was selected as the overall winner by a panel of judges chaired by author Paul Howard.

The Ghosts of Rome is the second instalment in O’Connor’s Escape Line Trilogy. It follows the success of the first book, My Father’s House, which has sold over 150,000 copies in English. Both novels reached the Number One spot on the Irish bestseller charts within days of their release.

Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty
The trilogy is inspired by the extraordinary true story of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, known as the ‘Vatican Pimpernel’.

Though born in County Cork, O’Flaherty was raised in Killarney, attending the local Monastery school.

During World War II, O’Flaherty used his position in the Vatican to coordinate an ‘Escape Line’, a secret network that smuggled over 6,500 Allied soldiers and Jews to safety from Nazi-occupied Rome.

Despite constant threats from the Gestapo and a bounty on his head, he operated from the steps of St Peter’s Basilica, providing refugees with food, money, and false papers.

Joseph O’Connor is currently working on the final book of the trilogy.

While The Ghosts of Rome continues to dominate bestseller lists, fans will have to wait until early 2027 for the conclusion of the series.

Killarney’s Seán O’Sullivan has been named as one of the Fexco Kerry Heroes of 2025 following his life-saving actions earlier this year.

The award, organised by Radio Kerry and Fexco, recognises Seán’s courage and his subsequent work as an advocate for CPR training.

In April 2025, Seán saved the life of his 24-year-old son, Seán Óg, who had suffered a cardiac arrest at the family home.

The incident occurred on a Sunday afternoon when Seán Óg, a fit and healthy non-smoker, suddenly became unresponsive.

His younger brother Conor (15) began CPR before Seán took over, maintaining the effort until paramedics arrived ten minutes later.

Seán Óg was then flown by air ambulance to Cork University Hospital. Medical staff confirmed that the immediate CPR performed at home was the deciding factor in his survival.

Since the incident, Seán has used his platform to encourage everyone to learn CPR, highlighting that such emergencies can happen to anyone, anywhere.

He was one of eight recipients chosen by a judging panel for their outstanding community spirit and service to the county.

The winners were announced on the Kerry Today programme just before the Christmas break, and each received a specially commissioned Fexco Kerry Heroes wall plaque.

Also honoured in the 2025 awards was Jerh O’Donoghue of the Social Action Group in Rathmore.

Founded by Jerh in 1975, the group has delivered vital services like meals on wheels and a day care centre for 50 years.