Bai Li (right). [Photo provided to China Daily]

Beating other three Chinese translators, Bai Li won the Irish Literature Translation Prize 2015 for her translation of Irish writer Colm Toibin's novel The Empty House, announced Lu Li'an, English professor of Fudan University and one of the judges of the prize, at an award ceremony held at Sinan Mansions in Shanghai on Aug 20.

Bai is praised for her "faithful, elegant and expressive translation that presents us a work that cuts cross the barrier of time and language, bringing us back to James Joyce's The Dubliners", said Lu.

The translated edition of The Empty House was co-published by Shanghai 99 and the People's Literature Publishing House in 2012.

The Irish Literature translation award is organized by the consulate-general of Ireland in association with the Shanghai Book Fair, the Shanghai Review of Books (book review supplement of Oriental Morning Post) and the Ireland Literature Exchange. It is the second year for the prize taking place in China.

Translator is vital for the bridge of cultural exchange between China and Ireland, so the prize is to acknowledge "the important role of translators", Paul Kavanagh, ambassador of Ireland to China, said at the ceremony.

Other translators on the shortlist included Li Yuchao (Sebastian Barry's On Canaan's Side), Zhou Jianing (Emma Donoghue's Slammerkin) and Zhang Yun (Colum McCann's Dancer).

As part of the prize, Bai is awarded a bursary for travel to visit Ireland for one month to work on another translation by a contemporary Irish writer, apart from 17,000 yuan ($2,656).