Féile An Earraigh Over 60’s Short Story Competition

Congratulations to all those who entered our Over-60 writing competition, as part of World Book Day. We received many short stories, biographical and autobiographical submissions. The quality and variety of the writing presented our judges with a really difficult task deciding on the winners. 

There was a wide range of topics and subjects; lyrical stories about the beauty of Black Mountain above West Belfast and the solace it offers; one story, in sumptuous prose about a son looking back on glorious summer holidays in Tyrone with his father, returning to his home place in the 1950s.  

Not all of those reminiscing on their youth were about happy times. There were brutal fathers and much domestic abuse. One story, ‘Rubble’, adult-themed, about marital violence was graphically written and totally realistic. It’s a very confident, self-assured piece of writing. Another, ‘My Bare Feet’, dealt with the memory of a scintillating holiday romance and how unfair fate can be.  

One ghostly or supernatural story about a light in a window during a raging snow storm was almost Chekhovian in its subject matter. Others were about loneliness: a devoted daughter who looks after her frail, dying mother but who pines for love in a small, claustrophobic village which thrives on gossip.  

There was a child’s perspective on an imprisoned father; and another similar story, a tribute to a father and his republican past. 

And there were some hilarious stories including that of an anonymous newspaper gossip columnist whose inspiration comes from fellow drinkers in the pub; a man at a wake who stole de Valera’s hat while he was condoling with the family; and another about the conversation between an electric blanket and a hot-water bottle! One ingenuous story was told in the voice/character of a house (its bricks and mortar) about the family and lives that had passed through. It reminded us of ‘Home Is So Sad’ by the poet Philip Larkin. 

Some of those aforementioned titles qualified them as strong contenders but, unfortunately, they were pipped to the post by the following.  

‘The Birthday’ by Keven Wickham  was so powerful and exceptional that we’ve placed it in a special category of its own—Special Recognition Award. Although not set in Ireland but in present-day Gaza it is an incredibly moving story about a young boy and his attempts to survive the Israeli forces’ current genocide of the Palestinian people.  

Which means we still have three other winners! 

First prize goes to ‘Fainne Geal An Lae’ by James Skiffington. It is set in the Glens of Antrim in 1904 and is about Rosie McKay, a young girl taken on by an exploitive widowed farmer at a hiring fair as a home-help. She is burdened with heavy work but her dream is to take part and sing in the Feis at Cushendun. And, of course, there is an innocent romantic interest in her life as well!  

Second prize goes to ‘Of All The Places’, by Margaret Cameron, a beautiful story, about ninety-year-old Heather, a Protestant, who has just moved into sheltered accommodation. Still with her wits about her she recognises a face among the residents as that of an old boyfriend, John, a Catholic she hasn’t seen since 1956. Their former relationship had been poisoned by sectarianism. ‘Do you believe in fate?’ John, aged eighty-nine, asks, in this charming story! 

Third prize goes to ‘Business As Usual’ by Sue Donaghy, which takes place during a funeral, as seventy-year old Sheila, sitting with her husband in the church, reflects on the long affair she had with Kieran, the man who is being buried. It is both honest and funny. 

So, well done to our four winners and many thanks to all those who took the time to sit down and write or type up their brilliant stories!