Irish writer Cónal Creedon has been honoured as the first Irish artist to receive the prestigious World Cultural Council (WCC) Award for Arts in its 40-year history. The award will be presented at a ceremony on October 23rd at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

The WCC is an international organisation founded in 1982, with members including Nobel laureates, scientists, scholars, and university leaders from around the world. Cónal Creedon has been selected to receive the Leonardo da Vinci World Award of Arts 2024.

Cónal is an award-winning novelist, playwright, filmmaker, and storyteller. His work often explores life in downtown Cork city, where his family has lived for over a century. Through his stories, Cónal delves into the universal human experience, contributing significantly to the world of creative arts.

The WCC Jury praised Cónal’s wide-ranging body of work, which spans over 30 years and includes writing, theatre, film, radio, music, and collaborations with other artists. His work has a broad international appeal, reaching audiences in the USA, China, Europe, and beyond. His writing has been translated into several languages, including Bulgarian, German, Italian, and Chinese.

Cónal’s talent has earned him numerous accolades, including the Eric Hoffer Award (USA 2020) and the IP Gold Award (USA 2023). His plays have been performed to critical acclaim in the UK, Shanghai, and New York, and his short stories have won awards like One City One Book. His documentaries have been screened internationally, and during the Covid restrictions, he continued to engage audiences through podcasts, films, and lectures.

In Cork, Cónal’s contributions to the arts are widely recognised. He has served as Writer-in-Residence at University College Cork and was named Cultural Ambassador for Cork City in 2020. He has also been awarded the Cork City Lord Mayor’s Cultural Award.

In addition to the WCC Award, Cónal will receive the iBAM Award for Literature 2024 at the Irish American Heritage Centre in Chicago on November 15th, joining the ranks of previous recipients like Maeve Binchy and Frank McCourt. 

Cónal’s latest book, Spaghetti Bowl, will be published this month.  

To learn more about Cónal Creedon and his work, visit www.conalcreedon.com.


Pictures: Main: Conal Creedon watching the world go by with his dog Jude. Credit: Paul Reardon/Supplied Cover: Conal Creedon and Jude. Credit: Supplied