Big Why, Little Why' by Brendan Killeen Wins First Prize of 5,000
Wildly imaginative, surrealist extravaganza and a marvellous, unforgettable story world Judges
Fire Starter' by Alan McCormick wins Second Prize of 4,000
Irish language story, Cn mharlach Uaigneach' by Nicola Crean wins Third Prize of 3,000
Big Why, Little Why by Brendan Killeen has been announced as the winning story in this year's RT Short Story Competition in honour of Francis MacManus. The announcement was made by judge, Lisa McInerney at a special RT Radio 1 Arena RT Short Story Special live event hosted by Sean Rocks in the Pavillion Theatre Dun Laoghaire and broadcast live on RT Radio 1 as part of an Arena special programme.
As winner, Brendan Killeen received a cheque for 5,000.
Fire Starter by Alan McCormick was announced as Second Prize by judge, Ferdia Mac Anna. who presented Alan with a cheque for 4,000. Cn mharlach Uaigneach by Nicola Crean was announced as Third Prize by judge, ilis N Dhuibhne who presented Nicola with a cheque for 3,000.
Commenting on his short story, Brendan, who is a writer, journalist and editor originally from Beaumount in Dublin and now living in Copenhagen, said: I was inspired to write my story, Big Why, Little Why, while on a week's holiday in Madrid with my son Noah in October 2021. We visited the Reina Sofia' art museum and overheard a couple arguing in front of Picasso's masterpiece Guernica. This moment' inspired me to start writing the story, which amongst other things is a reflection on how literal we have become as a society.
WHAT THE JUDGES SAID ABOUT THE WINNING STORY, BIG WHY, LITTLE WHY'
Lisa McInerney: Wildly imaginative and surprising, and at the same time intimate, deeply felt and familiar. That's not an easy mix of adjectives. And yet that's how this story works: it's a rulebreaker and a bit of a messer, but shot through with big questions and quiet, vital moments.
Ferdia Mac Anna: Thanks be to the Pagan Gods of Literature for bestowing upon us this wildly original extravaganza of imagination and daring. I loved the way the story tilted out of a straightforward father and son's excursion to an art gallery into a surreal, insightful, frequently hilarious interrogation of the philosophy of art where paintings erupt into vivid life, a yearning to experience Vermouth turns into a mini crusade and an ordinary potato takes on new significance. The writer has created a marvellous, unforgettable story world.
ilis N Dhuibhne: A surrealist story inspired by the famous surrealist painting, Miro's' Man With a Pipe' (painted in 1925.) Set during a short visit during recent times to the Reina Sofia museum in Madrid, a father-son relationship is described in a philosophical and aesthetic context, with flashes of mischievous humour. Imaginative, surprising, and thought provoking.
WHAT FERDIA MAC ANNA SAID ABOUT THE SECOND PLACED STORY, FIRE STARTER'
Ferdia Mac Anna: A deeply bizarre, dramatic excursion into bad behaviour, mental delusion and disturbing rituals as perpetrated by strange, unfettered characters. Absolutely nothing here is normal and the world is a better place for it. Listening to this original tale is like being on stage in the middle of a glorious post-punk anthem by your favourite band.
WHAT ILIS N DHUIBHNE SAID ABOUT THE THIRD PLACED STORY, CN MHARLACH UAIGNEACH'
ilis N Dhuibhne: Another surrealist, and definitely absurdist, story. It takes traditional tropes, in this instance very well-known wonder tales from the Disney/storybook world (with a nod and wink to Patrick Kavanagh!) and plays with them. With no pretensions to be anything other than playful and entertaining, it's a highly amusing tale which would appeal to children and adults. The wink and elbow language of delight, one might say!
The ten exciting new stories shortlisted from more than 1,700 entries, and selected by our judges were (in alphabetical order, by title):
A Nice Cup of Tea by Bernard Crowley
Big Why, Little Why by Brendan Killeen
Cherries by Sara Keating
Cn mharlach Uaigneach by Nicola Crean
Fire Starter by Alan McCormick
Fishing for Pike by Antoinette McCarthy
Scrappage by Aingeala Flannery
Strawberry Season by Doreen Finn
The Big House of Nora Toad by Rachel Hynes
The Coast of Africa by Julie Cruickshank
Details on the authors and their shortlisted stories, and our judges, are included below.
All 10 short stories were broadcast and podcast in a season of new writing as part of Late Date on RT Radio 1a. The stories remain available to read and podcast on www.rte.ie/culture.
Commenting on this year's RT Short Story Competition, series producer Sarah Binchy said: It was a great pleasure to work with our judges and a superb cast of actors on this year's selection of shortlisted and prizewinning stories and for the first time in a few years to gather in person with our Arena colleagues for a fine celebration of these writers' work. As far as I know, this is the most generous prize fund currently available for an annual Irish short story competition interested writers, take note! Note also, it's free to enter, and that we're open to entries in Irish. I'm delighted to see a funny, exuberant Irish-language story among this year's excellent prizewinners.
Set up in 1986 to honour writer and broadcaster Francis MacManus, the RT Short Story Competition has been a critically important launch pad for new and emerging writers in Ireland. Past winners and shortlisted writers include Claire Keegan, Danielle McLaughlin, Anthony Glavin, Chris Binchy, Nuala O'Connor, Liz Nugent, Colin Walsh, Stephen Walsh, Austin Duffy and Sarah Gilmartin.
Details of next year's competition will be released at www.rte.ie/writing in ear
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Big Why, Little Why' by Brendan Killeen Wins First Prize of 5,000
