Acclaimed author Cauvery Madhavan has won the Fiction Award at the Eastern Eye Art, Culture and Theatre Awards (ACTAs) 2025, for her powerful and evocative novel The Inheritance. Published in September 2024 by HopeRoad Publishing, the book intricately weaves together two timelines set in Ireland’s Beara Peninsula — one in 1986 and the other in 1602 — exploring themes of identity, belonging, and the legacy of history on present lives.
Born in India and resident in Ireland for over three decades, Madhavan brings a unique bicultural perspective to her writing. She began her career as a copywriter in Chennai before moving to County Sligo in 1987 and later settling in County Kildare. Her fiction often bridges Indian and Irish cultural landscapes, with earlier novels including Paddy Indian (2001), The Uncoupling (2002), and The Tainted (2020), each exploring nuanced social and historical themes.
The Inheritance has been widely praised for its lyrical prose and compelling characterisation. Set in 1986, it follows Marlo O’Sullivan, a London-Irish man seeking a fresh start in Glengarriff, where he forms an unlikely bond with a non-verbal child and his mother. Interwoven with this is a haunting tale from 1602, portraying the retreat of Dónal Cam O’Sullivan Beare through the eyes of a mute boy named Cloichín. Madhavan’s deep personal connection to the Beara Peninsula — where she owns a holiday home — lends authenticity and emotional richness to the narrative.
Renowned authors have praised the work: Donal Ryan described it as “a novel that evokes the place and people with such tenderness and insight and love,” while Graham Norton commended its unique perspective on the West Cork region.
In addition to her novels, Madhavan contributes regularly to The Irish Times and has played an important role in nurturing emerging voices through creative writing workshops for immigrant writers at the Irish Writers Centre. Her work continues to champion diverse experiences and amplify underrepresented narratives in literature.
The ACTAs 2025 award for fiction is a fitting tribute to Madhavan’s literary achievements and her ability to transcend borders and time through masterful storytelling.
