Press Releases11 Dec 14

First World War Short Story Competition – Announcement Of Winners And Stories Selected For Online Publication

The Church of Ireland Historical Commemorations and Centenaries Working Group has great pleasure in announcing the winners of its First World War Short Story Competition for 15–21–year–olds run this year. The entries were judged anonymously by a selection panel chaired by the renowned author Glenn Patterson and including the historian Prof. David Hayton; Bishop John McDowell, Chairman of the Church of Ireland Historical Commemorations and Centenaries Working Group and Dr Paul Harron, the Church of Ireland Press Officer.

First prize of €1000 goes to: Carys Aldous–Hughes for ‘An Inhumane Humanity’
The judging panel praised this story for the originality of its prose and because it makes the reader think. It is a story which keeps the reader highly focused on a particular character in certain circumstances. The reader becomes powerfully engaged with the narrator so that they identify effectively with the subject. The judges felt that the writer had fully imagined the story in a convincing way.

Runner–up prize of €300 goes to: Alice O’Donnell for ‘One Woman’s War’
The judges were impressed by this well written, highly engaging and touching story inspired by the writer’s Great–great Aunt who was a nursing assistant during the First World War.

Highly Commended prize of €200 goes to: Kathryn–Anne Frazer for ‘Recall’
The judges enjoyed the author’s interplay between diary entries and specific events during and after the War creating a poignant and well–conceived piece of writing.

In addition, the following short stories were selected on their merit for online publication on the Church of Ireland website early next year:
‘Silenced Thoughts’ by Emma Jones
‘The Hills’ by Enya O’Connell–Hussey
‘On the Sound of a Gun’ by Christy Grattan
‘Hear them Cry’ by Helen Moriarty