Winners of the Allingham Secondary School Poetry & Fiction Competitions

The wait is finally over! The judges had a very difficult task this year as the quality of entries was exceptionally high, but we also received many more entries in both Poetry and Fiction than usual. It's clear that our literary future is in safe hands. Congratulations to all the winners, and well done to all who took part.

We look forward to seeing you at the awards ceremony in the Abbey Arts Centre on Saturday Nov. 11th at 1.30 pm (please note, the Primary School awards will take place at 12.00pm). 

UNDER 13 POETRY 

1. 'Waterhen' by Sean Livesley, St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal.

2. 'Love and Loss' by Olivia Diver, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal.

3. 'Warnings' by Emma Couley, Crana College, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.

Highly Commended

         'Friends' by Megan Doherty, St. Columba’s Stranorlar, Co. Donegal.    

         'Do You Know That Feeling' by Alisha Crawford, St. Columba’s, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal.  

         'War' by Caitlyn Ellison, Royal Grammar School, Enniskillen.             

        ' Smile' by Ashley Beaumont,  Royal Grammar School, Enniskillen.     

UNDER 15 POETRY 

1. 'Lough Melvin' by Ben Kelly, St. Michael’s College, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh

2. 'Kneeling' by Órnath Ní Fheargaile, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal.

3. 'Water' by Tom Blake, St. Michael’s College, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. 

 HIGHLY COMMENDED 

           'The Earth' by Tommy Fitzpatrick, St. Michael’s, Enniskillen.        

           'What Age Are You?' by Aoife O Riordan, Crana College,  Buncrana, Co. Donegal. 

UNDER 19 POETRY 

1. 'Uncle' by Luíseach Alexander, Killygordon, Co. Donegal. 

2. 'To A Scarlet Woman' by Evie Lunn,  Mercy College, Sligo.                  

3. 'Shoulder to Shoulder' by Lucy Breslin, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.   

HIGHLY COMMENDED 

'You' by Klaudia Ptasinska, Collooney, Co. Sligo.       

'Nothing Lasts Forever' by Javeria Ramzan, Heather View, Sligo.              

'The School Corridor' by Bethan Seymour, Enniskillen Royal Grammar.      

UNDER 13 FLASH FICTION 

1. 'The Note' by Ella O Connor, Collooney, Co. Sligo.  

2. 'Awake' by Maeve Coyle, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal. 

3. 'Crime Scene' by Kate McGarry, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh. 

HIGHLY COMMENDED 

'Oscar Abercrombie' by Anna Louisa McCurren, Enniskillen Royal Grammar.  

'A Walk in the Woods' by Sorcha Feehilly, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon. 

'The Escape' by Cian O Donnell, Crana College, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.   

UNDER 15 FLASH FICTION 

1. 'You Already Have' by Aoife Devlin, Ursuline College Sligo.

2. 'The Negotiator' by Harry Rees, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School. 

3. 'Grandparents' Day' by Molly Lavelle, Crana College, Buncrana, Co. Donegal. 

HIGHLY COMMENDED 

                      'Get Even' by Nadine Melly, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.      

                      'The Battle for the Best' Maebh Kelly, Burnfoot, Co. Donegal.    

                      'A Day for the Ducks' by Amy Carney, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.

                      'Fatherly Love' by Katie White, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.    

                      'On the Edge' by Amy Gallagher, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.  

 

UNDER 19 FLASH FICTION 

1. 'Green (James)' by Emma Elliott, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, Co. Fermanagh

2. 'Come On Johnny' by Niamh Messenger, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon Co. Donegal.   

3. 'The Calamity of Christmas' by Caoimhe Doherty-Craig, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal. 

HIGHLY COMMENDED 

                     'The North' by Eva McIntyre, Crana College, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.     The North 

                     'Tír Gan Anam' by Laura Ní Dhúibhir, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dhobhair, Co. Donegal.   

                    'Yet Another Day' by Andrea Mihoc, Crana College, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.  

                    'Compliance' by P.J. McKinney, Crana College, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.         

                    'The Adoption' by Catherine Sweeney, Crana College, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.  

                    'Waves' by Darragh Harkin, Clonmany, Co. Donegal.           

Allingham 2017 Poetry Competition Shortlist

The shortlist for the Allingham 2017 Poetry Competition is as follows:

Moyra Donaldson

Frank Fahey

James Finnegan

Siobhán Flynn

Teresa Godfrey

Patrick Holloway

Paul Jeffcutt

John D. Kelly

Olivia Kenny McCarthy

Rose Malone

Karen O'Connor

John Baylis Post

Maresa Sheehan

Well done to all those who entered. This was a record year for entries in the Poetry competition. Best of luck to all those who have been shortlisted. Winners will be contacted in the near future. 

Allingham 2017 Flash Fiction Competition Shortlist

The shortlist in the Allingham 2017 Flash FictionCompetition is as follows:

Mary Angland

Amy Campbell

Chris Connolly

Michela Esposito

Patrick Holloway

Louise Kennedy

Paul Lenehan

Róisin Loughrey

Niamh MacCabe

Siobhán McNamara

Una Mannion

Best of luck to all! The shortlist for Poetry

willbe published in coming days. 

Allingham Festival Launch: 'Young Stephen' starring Patrick Mc Eneaney

Join us for the Allingham Festival programme launch with 'Young Stephen', a dramatic adaptation of Joyce's 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man', starring Patrick McEneaney, in the Abbey Arts Centre on October 14th, with wine reception at 7.30pm.

'Young Stephen' examines the early life of Stephen Dedalus from Joyce’s semiautobiographical novel. Stephen’s young and idyllic life is turned around as he spends his first term at boarding school. We follow Stephen from isolation and loneliness to a new sense of freedom. On his return home he finds a household torn down the middle due to the political turmoil caused by the fallout from the revelation of Charles Stewart Parnell’s affair with Kitty O’Shea.

McEneaney’s highly energetic performance expertly weaves through the characters and stories of young Stephen’s formative years.

Also on the night, Allingham Festival Committee chairperson Tom Sigafoos will present a preview of the Allingham Festival 2017.

Not to be missed!

Abbey Arts Centre - October 14th - Free Admission - Wine Reception - 7.30pm.

Songwriting Deadline Extended: Midnight Oct. 8th

The deadline for entries to the Allingham Festival Songwriting Competition has been extended to midnight on Friday October 8th. Spread the word! If you didn't get the chance to enter the first time, now is the time to upload via our website www.allinghamfestival.com/songwriting, or to post your entry with payment to Allingham Songwriting, A Novel Idea, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.