Latest news with #AllIrelandScholarshipsCreativeWritingCompetition

Irish Independent

Wicklow writer wins creative writing competition with her short story

EmerRose Kealy from Tinahely impressed in the prose category for her short story The Crown. Sponsored by JP McManus, the competition, now in its fifth year, is open to all members of the All-Ireland Scholarships Alumni Association, whose aim is to help recipients of the prestigious award to stay in touch with one another and form bonds, long after they have gone their separate ways in life. This year's competition focused on the short form written word (max 1,000 words) with fiction, non-fiction, op-ed and poetry categories. A poetry category was also added to the competition for the first time this year. EmerRose was presented with the Roger Downer Award by competition judge and renowned author Donal Ryan at a special awards ceremony in Adare Manor on Tuesday, April 29. She was awarded the All Ireland Scholarship in 2017 and went on to study medicine in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RSCI). She graduated from RCSI in May 2022 and is currently training to specialise as a GP with the Irish College of General Practitioners. Speaking about the competition she said: 'I wanted to enter the All Ireland Scholarships Creative Writing Competition because I think it is a wonderful opportunity for All Ireland Scholarships Alumni to share ideas and showcase our varied talents and interests. I have admired the shortlisted entries in previous years and am honoured to have my piece featured as a winner in 2025.' This year's stellar judging panel included Donal Ryan, Professor Eoin Devereux, Dr Emily Cullen and winner of the 2024 competition, Surnaí Molloy. The judging process was chaired by Professor Sarah Moore Fitzgerald, head of creative writing at the University of Limerick. The judges were impressed by EmerRose's winning piece, The Crown describing it as: 'Wonderfully written and instantly engaging with an ability to conjure both poignantly and accurately the atmosphere of a hospice. An outstanding piece.'