1st prize (€1,000)
Ghosties by Meadhbh Ní Eadhra
The judge, Martina Evans, had this to say about Meadhbh’s story: ‘This pitch-perfect child’s voice poetically reveals the darker adult world without losing a beat. As funny as it is sad and utterly authentic.’
Meadhbh is from Galway. She is 24 years old and the author of two award-winning Irish language books for young people,
Rua and
Fáinne Fí Fífí. She is currently enrolled on the MA in
Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia, and is working on a short story collection based in Belfast, giving voice to those who are marginalised.
The Mighty Gary by Rob Perry
‘The Mighty Gary opened one world to the reader and then the main character took us to another one, effortlessly surprising us with a true storyteller’s skill so that it felt like the story couldn’t possibly have happened any other way. Subtle heartbreaking humour,’ said Martina.
Rob is 25 and from Norwich. He is a recent graduate of the UEA creative writing programme and has been shortlisted for the Bristol Short Story Prize. Last year he won first prize in the Nottingham Short Story competition. He is currently working on a novel.
Martina also commended ‘A Bit of a Tragedy’ by Frances Gapper. ‘A poetic and playful story with a dream-like sense of place.’ Frances has written lots of different things: a booklet of mini fictions (The Tiny Key), some longer stories, a novel, a children’s novel, and even a gardens guide.
All three stories are published in the summer issue of The Moth, which will be available on 1 June.
Martina Evans has published four books of poetry and three novels. She is the recipient of, among other things, a Betty Trask Award and a Ciampi International poetry prize.
Click
here to see the 2011 winners.
