Tag Archives: short story

A PHOTO opportunity with a difference is being offered to the young people of Clare thanks to both Ennis Rotary Club and The Clare Champion. The two organisations and several other sponsors have joined forces to offer the talented youth of Clare an opportunity to excel and be recognised for photography. This is the first year of what is hoped will become an annual competition for those between the ages of seven and 18 living in County Clare. The budding young photographers are asked to submit an image based on the theme ‘My Best Friend’. Judging the competition will be award-winning Clare Champion photographer John Kelly, commercial and wedding photographer Paul Corey and Chris Copley, a committee member of Ennis Camera Club. The competition is now open, with submissions closing on April 6. The competition is a first for Ennis Rotary Club, according to its president Michael Shepherd. “For many years Rotary has held a youth leadership competition and the …

FROM inspiring the babies of tomorrow to exploring transgender issues, this year’s Clare Champion Short Story Competition winners were diverse and progressive. While some looked to the past for inspiration, particularly with the 1916 commemorations, others were firmly rooted in the present. This year’s senior winner was Faye Curran from Coláiste Muire, Ennis, who is no stranger to the competition. Faye’s story 16 Years/16 Lessons was about passing on words of wisdom to the next generation. “It’s basically a letter to every baby that will be born this year about 16 things I’ve learned,” she said. Inspired by a Róisín Ingle novel, Faye thought it would be a good idea to explore it further. The story aims to steer them away from embarrassing themselves, like she has in the past, while she also talks about issues her friends are dealing with and how they can stay positive. Transgender issues was the theme of the next two winners in the senior …

By Eve Quinn, Coláiste Muire, Enis. Highly commended, senior Clare Champion Short Story Competition. THE Angelus chimed tunelessly over the whining tyres and impatient horns and babble of voices. Six o’clock was her favourite time of day – it always had been. The suit-clad businessmen and businesswomen bustled past, carrying bulging briefcases, wearing weary expressions. Their eyebrows were pulled together in frustration and their lips were sealed in a firm line of discontent. But beneath the hard exteriors, she could see the love, the hunger to be home, the longing to see family. Some stood waiting at the dilapidated bus stop. Others made their way towards the underground car park, where a private mode of transport awaited them. At six o’clock, everybody had a purpose. She could see what that must have felt like – to actually live for something. As people passed her by, most avoided eye contact. Their eyes darted nervously or disgustedly or judgmentally to the other …

By Aoife Daly, St Anne’s Community College, Killaloe Junior winner, Clare Champion short story  competition. THE nearby crash of waves can scarcely be heard over the fierce murmurs and mutters of the tacticians and the pounding heartbeats of the warriors. Fervent prayers uttered from trembling lips, the melody of battle songs celebrating past triumphs, the screeching, grinding sound of sword against whetstone all meld together to form a vibrant and powerful cacophony. My eyes flash open and slowly I rise from the Grey Rock, Craig Liath, reliving that memory from one thousand years ago. Gliding across the air, I gaze at the ever-changing landscape beneath me, the trees I saw rise and fall, the rapid rushing river that grew from a mere trickling stream and the jade green fields dotted by towns and cities. I watch the land go by, seeing a glimpse of a long forgotten past, the present, tainted by the human emotions of greed and hate, and …

THE Clare Champion annual second level short story competition winners will be announced at a function in the De Valera Library in Ennis on this Thursday evening. The 2014  competition attracted  a record of over 270 entries from  schools all over the county, as well as south Galway. Mr John Galvin, Clare Champion managing director, will present the prizes to all the shortlisted students  in both the junior and senior categories.  

THE Clare Champion Short Story Competition 2014 has just been launched. Open to second-level pupils, the  competition has gone from strength to strength over the past eight years, with a record number of 270 entries received last year. The stories can be on any subject and should be approximately 1,000 to 1,500 words long. There are two entry categories for the competition, Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate, but entries are open to those from first year to sixth year. The first prize in each category is €300, second prize is €200 and third prize is €100. There are also awards for those highly commended and all those shortlisted will have their stories published in The Clare Champion. The competition aims to recognise the talents of young writers across its readership, which not only encompasses County Clare but extends into South Galway. Clare Champion editor, Austin Hobbs said, “Practically every school in the county has had a student on the winners’ list, …