The Francis MacManus Short Story Competition is back on RTÉ Radio 1 complete with a prize fund of €5,000.
Those who have made the shortlist of the annual promotion also get a broadcast of their story on-air.
Since its establishment in 1986 the competition has been the launch pad for several new and emerging writers, with previous winners including Claire Keegan, Ciarán Folan, Ivy Bannister, Katy Hayes, Nuala Ní Chonchúir and Martin Malone.
The competition was founded in memory of Francis Mac Manus: the Kilkenny-born novelist, short story writer, biographer and former Head of Talks and Features at Radió Éireann.
A total of 813 short stories were entered into this year’s competition, and were submitted from countries including England, Australia, France, Spain, Germany, Poland, Japan, Canada the US as well as Ireland. From these entries, a shortlist of 25 was compiled.
The competition is being judged this year by award-winning writers Julie Parsons and Christine Dwyer Hickey and Eoin Purcell, Commissioning Editor, New Island Books.
This year’s 25 shortlisted stories will be read on RTÉ Radio 1 over five weeks starting on Monday 30 June 2014, and then week-nightly at 11.10pm. Readers of the stories include Andrew Bennett, Catherine Walsh, Bairbre Ní Chaoimh, Karl O’Neill, Aonghus Óg MacAnally, Kelly Campbell, Patrick Dawson, Caitríona Ní Mhurchú, Angela Harding, Aaron Monaghan, Keith Hanna.
The overall winner will be announced on Monday 23 June 2014.
The series producer, and Judging Panel Chair of The RTÉ Radio Francis Mac Manus Short Story Competition 2014 is Clíodhna Ní Anluain.
The shortlist, in no particular order, is:
Venus and The Little Hell by Annemarie Neary read by Robert O’Mahony
He’s Going Nowhere, Your Son by Fiona O’Rourke read by Catherine Walsh
Bus by Dermot Christophers read by Hugh O’Connor
O Danny Boy by P.A. McNiff read by Aaron Monaghan
Silvercup by Fergal Byrne read by Andrew Bennett
Early Days by Joanne Hayden read by Karen Ardiff
Bumblebee by Fiona Gartland read by Angela Harding
Tying the Knot by Clare O’Reilly read by Aileen Mython
Mrs Ledbetter by Patrick Talbot read by Caitríona Ni Mhurchú
Headshot by Joan Martin read by Keith Hanna
White by Alannah Hopkins read by Angela Harding
Poked by Anne Donnelly read by Catherine Walsh
The Chamber Pot by Richard Ball read by Andrew Bennett
All There Ever Is by Toby McGrath read by Karl O’Neill
Whalesong by Barbara Leahy read by Aonghus Óg MacAnally
Bedtime Routine by Simon Rochford read by Aaron Monaghan
Red by Colin Burns read by Andrew Bennett
Whaling Slang by John Fleming read by Gary Murphy
Chrysalis by Lesley Cassidy read by Bairbre Ní Chaoimh
Spun Sugar by Annemarie Harrington read by Aonghus Óg MacAnally
Happiness by Hilary Minch read by Bairbre Ní Chaoimh
Reminiscence by Pól Mac Mathúna read by Aonghus Óg MacAnally
The Last Time I Saw Valerie by Mary McGill read by Aileen Mythen
The Talking Doll by Daniel Hughes read by Patrick Dawson
The Oyster Catchers by Beth Tyrell read by Kelly Campbell