The eligibility period for all the prizes was for books published between July 31st, 1997, and August 1st, 1999. Because of its publication date, Roddy Doyle's novel was technically ineligible but the judges on the international prize panel insisted that it be included "as a book that is already part of our literary culture".
The International Fiction Prize (£7,500) is for a work in English published in Ireland, the United Kingdom or the United States.
The Irish Literature Prizes (each of £5,000) are awarded in four categories - fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and the Irish language. For the non-fiction shortlist, the judges considered works of history, biography, autobiography, politics, criticism, travel, current affairs and belles lettres.
The Irish language prize was open to works of fiction, poetry and non-fiction.