RT announces Francis MacManus Short Story Competition Winners

RT announces Francis MacManus Short Story Competition Winners RT Radio 1 is delighted to announce that the winner of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition 2015 is Eleanor O'Reilly for her story Stoppin' the Silence'. Dolores Walshe has been awarded second prize for her story Small Yellow Sun' and Kathryn Burke's story Irish Gothic: Waiting For Samhain' has won third prize.

The competition for original short stories for radio was established in 1986 in memory of the RT Radio broadcaster and novelist Francis MacManus (1909-1965). Since then it has been a source of encouragement and support for new and emerging writers. Previous winners include Claire Keegan, Ciar n Folan, Ivy Bannister, Nuala N Chonch ir and Martin Malone.

The judges for this year's competition were Evelyn Conlon, Katy Hayes and Cormac Kinsella. There were almost 700 entries for the 2015 competition and the judges commented that this year's shortlist featured an eclectic range of styles and voices' and was of an exceptionally high standard'. The author of the overall winning story receives 3,000. Prizes of 2,000 (2nd prize) and 1,000 (3rd prize) are awarded to the authors of the second and third winning stories.

All 25 shortlisted stories will be broadcast over five weeks on RT Radio 1 beginning with the winning story on Monday, October 5th at 11.10pm.

Winners of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition 2015

First prize Eleanor O'Reilly

Eleanor O'Reilly teaches English and Classical Studies at The Community School in Gorey, Co. Wexford. She began writing one morning, three years ago, over a bowl of porridge, while on maternity leave. Since then she has won a number of awards and commendations, including winning the Trevor/Bowen International Short Story Award 2013, the Writing4Autism 2014 and being shortlisted for the James Plunkett Literary Award 2013 and the Fish Short Story Award 2014. She is currently studying for a Master's in Creative Writing and is half way through her first novel, as part of the Master's programme. She lives in Arklow, Co. Wicklow with her husband and daughter and their two dogs.The judges described Stoppin' the Silence' as a stand-out' story, which managed to be very funny, very sad and very clever'. They praised the author's skill in using a child's voice to deal with very tricky subject matter.

Stoppin' the Silence' by Eleanor O'Reilly will be broadcast on RT Radio 1 at 11.10pm on Monday, October 5th. It will be read by Genevieve Hulme-Beaman.

Second prize Dolores Walshe

The winner of the second prize is Dolores Walshe for her story Small Yellow Sun'.

The judges described this story as deeply affecting', told in a voice that really drew the reader in. They were impressed by how well the author succeeded in conjuring up a whole world.

Third prize Kathryn Burke

The winner of the third prize is Kathryn Burke for her story "Irish Gothic: Waiting For Samhain"

Commenting on this story, the judges said that they admired the story's set-up, and how it revelled in its use of genre. They praised the sense of foreboding in the tale, along with the use of humour.

LINK:	http://www.rte.ie/about/en/press-office/press-releases/2015/0929/73116...
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