Competitions

Twenty years ago, author, Christine Dwyer Hickey won the Bryan MacMahon short story award at Listowel Writers’ Week. In 2012 she stepped onto the stage again to collect her prize as the winner of the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award.  In her acceptance speech, she said that the recognition she received from Listowel Writers’ Week twenty years ago had been a major influence and inspiration in her writing career.

This year as always, there is a wide array of competitions available for the aspiring writer in our programme. From the youngest school child to the hopeful playwright; from the homeward looking emigrant to the unforgotten prisoner; we encourage participation in this vital part of our festival. A Chinese proverb says that the longest journey begins with a single step and another says that even the most difficult journey is begun when you open the door. Like our good friend Christine, you may find that your journey as a writer could start at Listowel Writers’ Week.

Sean Lyons
Chairman

Here are our 2013 Literary Competitions:-

The Kerry Group Irish Novel of the YearAward
The Bryan MacMahon Short Story Award
Duais Foras Na Gaeilge
Eamon Keane Full Length Play Award
The Nilsson Local Heritage Writing Competition
The Single Poem Competition
The Poetry Collection Competition
Writing in Prisons Competitions
The Irish Post New Writing Competition
Listowel Writers’ Week Originals Competitions
The Con Houlihan Young Sports Journalist Award
Creative Writing Competitions for Youth