Last night’s performance by the Irish soccer (I have to use that term instead of “football” to avoid growls from GAA supporters) team in the World Cup qualifying game might have disheartened many, but for those who hanker after submerging their individuality in the warm bath of patriotism can shake their fists with joy this evening. Two Irish authors have made it on to the Man Booker shortlist! Two–that’s, oh, 1/3 of the entire list.And Three Monkeys Online has done/is doing a sterling job in covering the authors in question. Here’s an interview with John Banville about his nominated book (which I think is pretty interesting despite a friend mocking me for namedropping Cyril Connolly and using the word pronunciamento in a question. There ‘s a review of Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, which is far more interesting that is apparently sci-fi theme would suggest. Moreover, there’s a good chance of snagging an interview with the other Irish nominee, Sebastian Barry.The only black cloud is that, according to the bookies, there is as much a chance of an Irish winner of the Booker Prize as there is of seeing Brian Kerr‘s “lads” in Germany next year.