'A clever, delightful story with a rare mix of playful humour and deadly seriousness,' is how this year's competition judges described The Shape on the Strand by Katherine Duffy, a ghost story concerning a literary translator, a transgression, and a feathered hat which was awarded third prize in the RTÉ Short Story Competition 2020
Kissing Booth by Alan Walsh was awarded 2nd prize in this year's competition. Read on air by Bláithín MacGabhann, Kissing Booth is described by the judges as a dark, clever, funny, dystopian tale of our times in which catching a virus is a ticket to a better life
The winning entry to the RTÉ Short Story Competition 2020: Flower Wild - the story of the Irish woman, Violet Gibson, who shot Mussolini - was written by Shane Tivenan and is read by Ingrid Craigie
Guinness & Coke by Lochlainn McKenna one of 10 Shortlisted Stories in this year's competition, tells of father-and-son weekend adventures by car throughout the length and breadth of the country. Wonderfully written with matter-of-fact child’s eye storytelling but with an undertow of sadness
Tonight’s story from the shortlist of this year's RTÉ Short Story Competition, Tactics, by Andrew Maguire, is “impressive, commanding and intense” in the words of the judges. Unusually – but to great effect – it’s told in the future tense. It features a boy, Wojciech, who plays snooker with older Irish men in a shebeen – playing to win
In Beneath the Trees, Where Nobody Sees, by Julie Cruickshank, a woman takes her daughters and nephew on a playdate to a park where there’s a tree the children love. But underneath the surface, something darker is going on…
One of the 10 Shortlisted Stories from this year's competition, the story moves fluently between past and present as a man and his granddaughter in Inishowen try to rescue an injured bird. Everything will be Recorded is read by Lalor Roddy
The Brow of the Hill, one of this year's shortlisted of ten, 'takes us to a snowy Sunday morning in December 1886 on the feast of St Sabas, a day when death and life intermingle. The setting is magnificently rendered, the images are striking, it’s like stepping inside a painting. ' The Brow of the Hill by Edel Moloney is read by Derbhle Crotty
Neadú, by Ceri Garfield, is one of the first Irish language entries to make it to the shortlist of the RTÉ Short Story Competition in a few years. Described by the judges as “beautiful and tender”, Neadú is the story of a little boy who’s confined to home; he finds a bird and with it a tantalizing glimmer of the world beyond his boundaries.
One of 10 shortlisted stories, Hands; A Downpour by Aengus Murray, is read by Liam Carney. Taking the form of a single continuous sentence, Hands; A Downpour by Aengus Murray was inspired, the writer says, by “a dejected figure” he saw, “standing in the middle of the footpath as rain teemed down upon and around him.'
“A clever, delightful story with a rare mix of playful humour and deadly seriousness,” is how this year’s competition judges described The Shape on the Strand by Katherine Duffy, a ghost story concerning a literary translator, a transgression, and a feathered hat which was awarded third prize in the RTÉ Short Story Competition 2020,
Kissing Booth by Alan Walsh was awarded 2nd prize in this year's competition. Read on air by Bláithín MacGabhann, Kissing Booth is described by the judges as a dark, clever, funny, dystopian tale of our times in which catching a virus is a ticket to a better life
The winning entry to the RTÉ Short Story Competition 2020: Flower Wild - the story of the Irish woman, Violet Gibson, who shot Mussolini - was written by Shane Tivenan and is read by Ingrid Craigie
The final story in our series from the shortlist of the RTÉ Radio 1 Competition in honour of Francis MacManus. In Salt by Tríona Walsh, a young wife, miserable in her husband’s rural homeplace, struggles between supporting the dreams of the man she loves, and trying everything to convince him to leave. It’s read by Caitríona Ní Mhurchú
Our series of short stories in honour of Francis MacManus continues tonight with the comic and inventive Toby, Toby, Toby by Dee Roycroft. It features a dog in a celestial spirit world, hoping to get to the next level of reincarnation. The story is read by Andrew Bennett
Our series of short stories in honour of Francis MacManus continues tonight with The Planters by Mel O’Doherty, a story of a family tragedy at a time of great change in Irish history. It’s read by Gary Murphy
Time for another short story now from our series in honour of Francis MacManus. In Filling in Blanks by Niamh Heery, a sick day at home makes a schoolgirl see the adults in her life in a new light. It’s read by Ruth McGill
Our season of RTÉ Radio 1 Short Stories in honour of Francis MacManus continues with 'Out The Pontoon Road' by Edward Melvin. It features the exploits of local hero Micheál playing out against the backdrop of a summer town regatta. It’s read by Emmet Kirwan.
Our series of short stories in honour of Francis MacManus continues tonight with News, by Sheila Barrett. In this story, Margaret hopes for tidings of her son in America, who’s dropped out of contact. It’s read by Ali White
A story about one man's difficult relationship -- with a flatpack. Like all his relationships, it has instructions he should probably follow. But he has other ideas on which parts belong where... It is read by Peter Hanly
Tonight's story is The Boxer Rebellion by Liz Houchin. This story won third prize in the RTÉ Radio 1 Short Story Competition in honour of Francis MacManus. A woman doesn’t recognise her husband’s boxer shorts and decides her marriage must be over.The story is read by Janet Moran.
This story won 2nd Prize in the season of RTÉ Radio 1 Short Stories in honour of Francis MacManus 2019. In the story, a widower loses something precious: an object which has been his faithful companion through his marriage
For the next two weeks, at the same time, you can hear a story from the shortlist of ten in the Francis MacManus Competition for 2019, selected from over 2000 entries this year. with the story that . Honey Days by Stephen O'Reilly won first prize in the competition - it's is a dark fairytale about artificial intelligence. It is read by Jane Brennan
At the suggestion of their counsellor, a couple make a day-trip together in order to bolster their ailing marriage. Their choice of destination proves inspiring but in ways neither they nor their counsellor could have envisaged.
A couple hope to buy their own home in a difficult financial climate. Their plans are more complicated when he has mental health difficulties and she must keep everything going.
A dream-like fable wherein a mysterious house guest arrives one day to terrorize a mother and daughter. Their home is quickly thrown into chaos circling around feelings of loss, fear, and loneliness.
What is it to live out the grief of loss in a small town, but a loss that comes decades too early. When a husband or wife dies with young children still at home, the community offers condolence, but condolence often flavoured by sympathy, and the sympathy of unshared experience can be heavy, suffocating and isolating. Where does it leave the person left behind, publicly conspicuous as a young widow or widower, living a very private grief?
A young Irish woman tries to shed her skin during a filthy hot New York summer. She has to hustle for what she wants, but does she have the smarts to stay out of trouble?
In a story that brings Celtic myth and magical realism to modern Ireland, the wife of the legendary Mad Sweeney battles the curse of a belligerent saint and the rising rental crisis, struggling to keep her head as her husband descends into madness.
The 3rd place entry from this year's Francis MacManus Short Story Competition, 'Have You Seen Her Legs and other stories from Fat Land' by Claire Mulligan. The story equivalent is of death by a thousand cuts. Each vignette gives a glimpse into a moment in a girl's life where thoughtless words about her body leave marks that cannot be removed.
Tonight's story is the 2nd place entry in this year's Francis MacManus Short Story Competition 2018: 'The New Place' by Peter McNamara. Phil’s mam has just moved out of the family home. In the story, Phil is visiting her in her new flat, and trying to figure out how he feels.
The winning entry from this year's Francis MacManus Short Story Competition, 'Ashes' by Claire Zwaartman. 'Ashes' is the story of a pair of siblings scattering their father’s ashes. It is about the complicated nature of family, disharmony and moving on. In their early twenties, Mike and Emer must let go of anger and resentment with this final act.
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: The Talking Doll by Daniel Hughes read by Patrick Dawson.
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: The Last Time I Saw Valerie by Mary McGill.
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: Reminiscence, an Ice Age, an Otter and an Eel by Pól Mac Mathúna.
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: Happiness by Hilary Minch read by Bairbre Ní Chaoimh
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: Spun Sugar by Anne Marie Harrington read by Aonghus Óg McAnally.
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: Chrysalis by Lesley Cassidy read by Bairbre Ní Chaoimh.
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: Whaling Slang by John Fleming read by Gary Murphy.
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: Red by Colin Burns read by Andrew Bennett.
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: Bedtime Routine by Simon Rochford read by Aaron Monaghan.
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: All There Ever Is by Toby McGrath read by Karl O'Neill.
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: Poked by Anne Donnelly read by Catherine Walsh.
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: White by Alannah Hopkin read by Angela Harding.
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: Head Shot by John Martin read by Keith Hanna.
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: Mrs Ledbetter by Patrick Talbot read by Caitríona Ni Mhurchú.
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: Tying the Knot by Clare O'Reilly read by Aileen Mythen.
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: Bumblebee by Fiona Gartland read by Angela Harding.
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: Early Days by Joanne Hayden read by Karen Ardiff
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: Silvercup by Fergal O'Byrne read by Andrew Bennett.
A reading of one of the 25 finalists of the Francis MacManus Short Story Competition: O Danny Boy by Peter McNiff read by Aaron Monaghan.
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