Secondary School Fiction & Poetry Winners

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Secondary Schools Fiction and Poetry competitions. We had a great response this year, and the standard was higher than ever. The future of literature and poetry is bright!

Winners (first, second and third places) are invited to attend the Awards Ceremony in the Abbey Arts Centre, Ballyshannon, on Saturday November 10th at 13.30. See you all there!

U13 Flash Fiction

1. Conor Boyle "Out of the Frying Pan."

2. Isabel Gomez "Boys"

3. Olivia Stefanska "Once in a Faraway Land"

U13 Poetry

1. Sophia Brock "Goodbye and Goodnight"

2. Joshua Mullins "Monday Morning Blues"

3. Orla Grant "One Smile"

U15 Flash Fiction

1. Mirren Dunlop "Swan Song "

2. Sorcha Feehily "The Fire"

3. Conor Grant Farren "Two in the Morning"

U15 Poetry

1. Sean Livesley "Cutting Turf 2"

2. Ben Kelly "Sealing the Bond"

3. Orla Devlin "Not Twins"

U19 Flash Fiction

1. Cadhla Doyle"Autumn Equinox"

2. Penelope Durran "Skipping Generations"

3. Rachel Thorpe"Beeswax"

U19 Poetry

1. Siofra Kelleher"Candle Women"

2. Ella Sloane"Heather Hen"

3. Penelope Durran " Metamorphosis"

The Francis Harvey Tribute at Allingham 2018

Reflections and reminiscences about the late Donegal poet and playwright from leading poets Moya Cannon and Theo Dorgan, journalist Gerry Moriarty, and Francis Harvey's daughter Attracta Harvey Kinsella. The evening will include a multimedia presentation “Celebrating Francis Harvey” by photographer Emer O'Shea, inspired by and featuring Harvey’s poem ‘Heron’ which won the 1998 Guardian and World Wildfund Life Poetry Competition.

Entry is free but seats are limited so booking is essential.

'Black 47' Screening + Q&A at Allingham 2018

Join us in the Abbey Centre next Saturday afternoon for a very special screening of hit Irish movie, 'Black 47', in the company of key members of the production team. Patrick and Rossa O'Neill will both be in attendance for a Q&A following the movie, giving fans a fantastic opportunity to learn more about the making of the film. Rossa was the Locations Manager for the film, and Patrick was an Associate Producer, as well as the CEO of Wildcard Films, the film distribution company which he set up five years ago. The Q&A will be hosted by Ken Fox, Principal Lecturer in the School of Media, Art and Design, Canterbury Christ Church University.

Book Now as we expect this event to be busy!

Creativity Workshop with Olive Travers

Olive Travers, Clinical Psychologist and regular contributor to RTÉ’s Sunday Miscellany, will once again host one of her very popular Creativity Workshops next Friday morning as part of the Allingham Festival. This workshop was over-subscribed last year, so we recommend booking in advance to ensure you don’t miss out!

This fun two hour workshop explores how we can harness creativity through increasing awareness of the richness of life around and within us. Suitable for both writers and any forms of creative expression. Weather permitting the outdoor natural beauty around the Abbey Mill Wheel will be part of the workshop.

Participants are advised to wear warm clothing and walking shoes.

Friday 9th November 12am-2pm
Abbey Mill Wheel, Ballyshannon

€10

Winners of Poetry and Fiction Competitions

The winners of the Allingham 2018 Poetry and Flash Fiction competitions are…

Flash Fiction

First Place  -- ‘Pan on the Lean Branch’, by Niamh MacCabe

Second Place -- ‘The Crossing’, by Christina Campbell

Third Place -- ‘Once Upon a Time in Holles Street’, by Ingrid Casey

Poetry

First Place -- ‘The Long Path’, by Ron Carey

Second Place -- ‘Ectopic’, by Simon Lewis

Third Place -- ‘The Fat Man’, by Jerm Curtin

Congratulations to the winners, and we look forward to seeing you all at the awards ceremony next Saturday as part of the Literary Lunch (Nirvana Restaurant, The Mall, Ballyshannon, 12pm - open to the general public). Well done to everyone who took part. We had a record number of entries in both categories this year, and all of our judges were suitably impressed by the quality of the work. Thanks also to our judges Jessica Traynor, Paul Mc Veigh, Una Mannion and Theo Dorgan for all their hard work in selecting the winners.