Ireland's Own

Do you/Can you write the type of story that they publish in Ireland's Own? One for you then:

There is €2200 total prize money up for grabs and winning and some highly commended stories will be published in a Winning Writers Annual in May 2010.

The competition has a number of categories that you can enter.

For the short story competitions your entry must be no more than 2,000 words in length and must be aimed at Ireland's Own's readership. They say it must be "of an non-experimental nature".

The Open Short Story is as you may expect open to all. There are a number of prizes, with €600 for 1st, €200 for 2nd and two runners-up prizes of €100 each. The Beginners Short Story section is for unpublished writers with €400 as 1st prize and three runners-up prizes of €100.

The memories category is where competitiors must write in no more than 800 words about a memorable moment or event. The organisers suggest: " It could be about school, holidays, falling in love, getting married, emigrating, a special person you have known, etc."
Again there are good prizes to be won, €200 for 1st place and and three runners-up prizes of €100.

For all sections entries must be previously unpublished; any number of entries can be sent in by post.

Fee: €6.00 (or £5 Sterling) fee, in cheque or money order).

Entries should be sent to: 2009 Original Writing Competitions, Ireland's Own, Channing House, Rowe Street, Wexford

Deadline: September 30th 2009.

Which section each entry is intended for should be clearly marked on the envelope.