IRISH AUTHOR Sebastian Barry is not among the half-dozen finalists announced today as the Man Booker Prize shortlist.

Barry’s novel On Canaan’s Side was included on the 13-title longlist. He has twice been shortlisted for the prize, losing out in 2005 to fellow Irishman John Banville with The Sea and in 2008 to Aravind Adiga’s The White Tiger.

Two first-time novelists made the cut for this year’s shortlist – Stephen Kelman for Pigeon English and AD Miller for Snowdrops. Julian Barnes is now tipped as favourite to take the prize, after early favourite Alan Hollinghurst was left off the shortlist.

Chair of the judging panel Stella Rimington said that it was “inevitably” hard to leave some titles out of the final six. “We were sorry to lose some great books,” she said, “but when push came to shove, we quickly agreed that these six very different titles were the best.”

The Booker winner will be announced on 13 October and the six shortlisted nominees are: