Gerard Howard

West of Ireland #actor. Trained @Gaietyschool Work in #TV #Film & #Theatre Currently touring one-man show The Midnight Court #arts

[Annie Ryan @annieryan849]

Beautiful new edition of The Spinning Heart with a foreword by the author, Donal Ryan x

[Annie Ryan @annieryan849]

WHERE ARE THE KINGS by Donal Ryan, August 13, available now to pre-order ❤️

[Annie Ryan @annieryan849]

Donie’s lovely, heartfelt acceptance speech ⁦@TheOrwellPrize⁩ ❤️

[Gerard Howard @GerryActor]

@rtenews Congratulations Donal 👏

[RTÉ News @rtenews]

Irish writer Donal Ryan has been announced as the winner of the prestigious Orwell Prize for Political Fiction for his novel 'Heart, Be At Peace' this evening in London
https://t.co/zBJ4jdKPCM

[Gerard Howard @GerryActor]

@DonalShielsIrl @DubGAAOfficial 👏

[Tipperary Book Club 2022 @Tipperarybook22]

“The Spinning Heart” by Donal Ryan

Donal Ryan’s The Spinning Heart is a haunting, beautifully written portrait of post-Celtic Tiger Ireland, told through 21 distinct voices, each one rich with pain, bitterness, hope, and quiet resilience. Set in a small rural town devastated by economic collapse, the novel pieces together the community’s unraveling after the local building firm goes bust—leaving workers unpaid and futures uncertain.

Each chapter offers a monologue from a different character, forming a mosaic of overlapping experiences and hidden truths. The central figure, Bobby Mahon, becomes the moral anchor, though even his story is layered with ambiguity and suppressed rage. Ryan’s gift lies in how he captures the cadence of rural Irish speech and the private griefs of ordinary people with sharp empathy and restraint.

Despite its short length, the book is emotionally weighty, managing to feel both intimate and epic in scope. The structure is daring but works seamlessly, creating a cumulative power that’s hard to shake off. It’s a story about betrayal, community, buried trauma, and the fragile human heart trying to keep spinning.
@TippLib @FHCexperience @FethardHistory

[Donal Shiels @DonalShielsIrl]

This Sunday at 4pm at @civictheatre
#TheLonesomeBoatman

[Dingle Literary Festival @DingleLit]

We loved chatting to Donal Ryan after his sold out event in the Dingle Skellig Hotel last November 📚 Are you joining us this year?

#DingleLit #Dingle #LiteraryFestival #DonalRyan #IrishAuthor #Storytellers

[The Washington Post @washingtonpost]

Review by Katherine A. Powers: Donal Ryan’s new novel tells the story of a small town where contemporary problems threaten, but don’t break, everyone’s spirit. https://t.co/fRdEVOuxCp

[Annie Ryan @annieryan849]

Beautiful review for #HeartBeAtPeace in the ⁦@washingtonpost⁩ ❤️ ⁦@VikingBooks⁩ https://t.co/f7aSc3caMl

[Verdant Productions @VerdantProduct1]

Stunning ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"A must see play...Stephen Jones shines in this role..his excellent performance is all that any audience should see" for @1stejones in @irishdailymail
Falling To Earth now on at @Viking_Theatre & @theatreroyalw @EverymanCork @civictheatre @dlrMillTheatre

[Annie Ryan @annieryan849]

Donal Ryan on Embracing the Evolution of Language While Preserving Its Essence ‹ Literary Hub https://t.co/XUgavGW6wA

[Annie Ryan @annieryan849]

‘Spellbinding…’ Thanks ⁦@annlevinnyc⁩ and @AP for another rave review for my favourite client ❤️ https://t.co/bES6DQum4K

[Annie Ryan @annieryan849]

‘Heart, be at Peace is a wonder.’ Thanks, ⁦@HamiltonCain⁩ for this beautiful review in the ⁦@nytimes⁩ https://t.co/0AigDzzk4e

[Annie Ryan @annieryan849]

Congratulations to Donie on being shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction. Very proud.

[Verdant Productions @VerdantProduct1]

Congratulations to @1stejones on a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ performance of #FallingToEarth at @Viking_Theatre until 31 May & on tour for June
https://t.co/ULPLUU6iuF
#DavidBowie

[Verdant Productions @VerdantProduct1]

Opening tonight at.@Viking_Theatre #clontarf
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Falling To Earth: My Summer With Bowie by #eugeneobrien
Starring @1stejones
https://t.co/FGcnv7ZlV5

[The Civic @civictheatre]

Just Announced! The Programme for Cruinniú na nÓg Festival 2025.
A Day of Free Creativity for Young People.
Check out all the events happening at The Civic on Sat 7th Jun
There's something for Everyone ages 0 - 18
and it's FREE (Booking essential)
https://t.co/gKSregPJB9

[Verdant Productions @VerdantProduct1]

@1stejones chatting to @IrelandAMVMTV about Life, Love & FallingTo Earth by Eugene O'Brien
Opening next week at @Viking_Theatre then to
@civictheatre @theatreroyalw @EverymanCork @axisBallymun
@dlrMillTheatre @mermaidarts @LyricBelfast