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Irish Writers Take the Prize in International Short Story Contest
The John Hewitt Bar in Belfast was buzzing last night as writers from across the province, and throughout Ireland, congregated to learn who had won the 2009 Brian Moore Short Story Awards.
American author Richard Bausch, this year’s contest judge, was on hand to present the prizes and congratulate all fifteen writers short listed from the over 350 entries. Richard, author of nineteen books, including novels and short story collections, holds the Moss Chair of Excellence in the Writing Program at the University of Memphis.
First Prize went to Galway writer Hugo Kelly for his story Traffic Lights. Judge Richard Bausch said, “This story of a man's settlement with himself to accept his life as it is, told in an even-handed and faintly rueful first person, is strangely moving and thoroughly engaging.”
The First Prize winning story will be published in the June edition of Verbal Magazine. Verbal are contest media partners and their monthly publication is distributed to 100,000 homes across Northern Ireland.
Second and Third Prize winners were both from Northern Ireland and both just finished the MA in Creative Writing at Queens University. Second Prize went to Sheena Wilkinson for her story Dissociation, and Third Prize went to Korrena Bailey for Rites of Passage.
Second Prize in the contest is sponsored by the John Hewitt Bar and third prize by local publisher, the Blackstaff Press.
This year the John Hewitt has paid for the creation of a trophy for the contest, made by local artist Anto Brennan, which will be on permanent display in the bar. All three winners, and Richard Bausch, got original trophies by Anto Brennan to commemorate the contest. This year’s prize money totalled £1250.
The Brian Moore Short Story Awards is Northern Ireland’s longest running and most prestigious writing contest, is run annually, and is open to writers of Irish descent worldwide.
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Hugo Kelly wins 2009 Brian Moore Awards
On Sunday 31st May, the John Hewitt was filled with writers and admirers of literature for the great announcement of the winners of this year's contest.Hosted by Debi Madden and judge Richard Bausch, there was a great atmosphere. CWN never lets anyone know who has won. so the air of anticipation and excitement was all pervasive.Local writers present included Glenn Patterson, two of whose MA students from Queens University took prizes, crime writer Sam Millar and storyteller Liz Weir.
Hugo Kelly read out the winning story Traffic Lights with such skill and compassion that the audience were really moved and everyone agreed that it was a well-deserved winner. |
