Francis MacManus Short Story Competition

This year marks the 26th anniversary of the RTÉ Radio 1 Short Story Competition, which over the years has proved to be the launching pad for many renowned Irish writers.

The competition, which was founded to commemorate the writer and broadcaster, Francis Mac Manus, has been a source of encouragement and inspiration to thousands of emerging writers over the years and continues to offer a platform for the best of new Irish writing.

2012 Entry Form | Past Programmes | 2011 Winners |2010 Winners | 2008 Winners

Judges in the 2011 Francis Mac Manus Short Story Competition 2011
Writers Alan Titley, Molly McCloskey and John Mac Kenna with
RTE Radio Producer and Competition Organiser Seamus Hosey.

Leading Washington-based oncologist wins RTÉ Radio 1’s Francis MacManus Short Story Competition

Dundalk-born doctor Austin Duffy is the overall winner of the 26th Francis MacManus Short Story Competition emerging from 810 entries as an exciting new voice in Irish fiction. Born in Dundalk, he graduated in Medicine from Trinity College Dublin in1998. After a postgraduate fellowship in cancer research in New York he took up the position of Staff Clinician in the Medical Oncology Branch of the National Cancer Unit in Besthesda, Washington DC where he now works and lives. While in New York he attended the prestigious Writers’ Studio in Greenwich Village which he says was a crucial turning point in his inspiration and development as a writer. He embraced that institution’s philosophy that “when the desire to write is strong enough and the writer has found his/her voice then anyone can learn the craft necessary for full creative expression.”

In his winning story, ‘Orca’, the winning author calls on his medical expertise to explore the complex relationship between a young doctor and his teenage patient, who is terminally ill with cancer. The story is written from the inside with great compassion, insight and skill.

Set in Cork, where the author spent time working as a registrar following his graduation from Trinity College, Dublin 1998, ‘Orca’ uses the cityscape to explore the stark contrast between the harrowing clinical hospital ward and the calm of the early morning urban streets to which his hero escapes.

Austin Duffy’s story was chosen from 810 entries which was narrowed down to a shortlist of 25. The final adjudication was made by a panel of distinguished writers and academics - Alan Titley, Molly McCloskey and John MacKenna under the Chairmanship of RTE Radio1 Producer Seamus Hosey.

Austin Duffy was presented with a cheque for €3,000 by Head of RTÉ Radio 1, Jim Jennings. His winning story will be read by actor Hugh O’Conor and broadcast on Monday 6 June on RTÉ Radio 1 in The Book On One slot at 11.10pm.

Second Prize (€2,000) was won by Patrick Griffin from Kilkenny City for his story “Platform 17 – Grand Central Station.”

Third Prize (€1,000) was won by Andrew Fox from Skerries, Co. Dublin for his story “Seven Steps Home.”

The Francis Mac Manus Short Story Season begins on RTE Radio 1 on Monday 6th June at 11.10pm in The Book On One slot with actor Hugh O’Conor reading Austin Duffy’s winning story “Orca.” The season, produced by Seamus Hosey, continues Monday to Friday with the other winning and shortlisted stories.

All the shortlisted stories will be broadcast on RTE Radio 1 beginning with the winning story on Monday 6th June at 11.10pm in The Book on One Slot.

2011 Shortlist:

(1) “Seven Steps Home” by Andrew Fox, Skerries, Co. Dublin.
(2) “First and First” by John Butler, Mount Merrion, Dublin.
(3) “Routines” by Maura O’Brien, Parnell Street, Dublin 1.
(4) “Shadow Girl” by Breda Joy, Killarney, Co. Kerry.
(5) “The Every Day Woman” by Niamh Boyce, Ballylinan, Athy, Co. Kildare.
(6) “Saibh” by Aideen Henry, Claddagh, Galway.
(7) “In My Granny’s” by Bernadette Melia, Newbridge, Co. Kildare.
(8) “Don’t Start Listening To This Story” by Patrick G. O’Connor, Castleconell, Co. Limerick.
(9) “The Lightning Field” by Jon Gregory, Molesworth Place, Dublin 2.
(10) “Scar” by Des Mc Inerney, Walkinstown, Dublin 12.
(11) “The Devil’s Breath” by Sheila Barrett, Dalkey, Co. Dublin.
(12) “The Little Girl In Pink” by Davnet Heery, Indrebhán, Co. na Gallaimhe.
(13) “The Secret of Mary” by Jacinta Carey, Manor Estate, Dublin12.
(14) “Granite” by Alice Redmond, Killiney, Co. Dublin.
(15) “Breath” by Anne Harris, King’s Road, Belfast.
(16) “It’s Been A While” by Richard Stevens, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin.
(17) “If Birds Could Talk” by Francis Browner, Greystones, Co. Wicklow.
(18) “Remembering Belinda 1959” by Vincent Scott, Vernon Street, Dublin 8.
(19) “The Emperor of Ice Cream” by Natalie Ryan, Monkstown Valley, Co. Dublin.
(20) “Still Life with Apples” by Rachael Hegarty, Raheny, Dublin 5.
(21) “The Third Quarter” by Carl O’Brien, Mount Brown, Dublin 8.
(22) “Orca” by Austin Duffy, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
(23) “The Street With Looking Glass Eyes” by Geraldine Mills, Roscahill, Galway.
(24) “Platform 17 – Grand Central Station” by Patrick Griffin, Archer’s Crescent, Kilkenny.
(25) “Wonderland” by Ilona Blunden, Kilcullen, Co. Kildare.