Departures Short Story Competition, sponsored by Aer Rianta Irish Airports, Shannon, began in issue 3 of Departures in 1989 and ran for 3 issues to 1993.

This is an international competition to encourage the writing of poetry and short story. The competition is publicised widely in the press at home and abroad and attracts participation from writers in the US, United Kingdom, Europe and Ireland. The number of writers who participate annually average at 300. The competition carries prizemoney of IR£350. Two prominent writers judge the competition and the work of the winners appears in the annual issue of New Series: Departures.


New Series: Departures committee initiated the Nora Fahy Literary Awards in 1995 - named in memory of the well-known writer and humorist, Nora Fahy.


Departures Winners since 1989
Dan Binchy
Ann Fitzgerald
Tony McMahon
John Newman
Patrick Shine
Cathal Browne
Margaret Wright
Carole Gurnett
Mary Ellen Fean
Louise Hermana
Hellen Fallon
John Hunt
Trish Fitzpatrick
Nora McGillen
Jonathan Black
Nancy J. Thompson
Elizabeth Carty
Paul Brownsey
Máiríde Woods
Michael Wynne
Frank Dullaghan
Thomas Murray
Eileen Casey
David Lang
Nicola Lindsay
Cyril Ó Céirín
P. McFarland
Máighréad Medbh
Christine Broe
Karen O'Connor
Claire Keegan
Elizabeth Carty
Breda Sullivan
Kathleen Keyes
Gordana Sugden

 

    Departures' Short Story Competition Winners
   1989,   1990,   1993

    Nora Fahy Literary Awards Winners
   1996,   1997,   1998,   1999

1989 - Departures 3

Judge:
Rita Kelly

Shared prize

  • Dan Binchy
  • Ann Fitzgerald
  • Tony McMahon
  • John Newman
  • Patrick Shine
1990 - Departures 4

Judges:
John Doorty,  Rita Kelly

Shared prize

  • Cathal Browne
  • Tony McMahon
  • Patrick Shine
1993 - Departures 5

Judge:
Maeve Kelly

  • 1st Prize: Margaret Wright
  • 2nd Prize: Carole Gurnett
  • 3rd Prize: Mary Ellen Fean
  • 3rd Prize: Louise Hermana


    1996 - New Series: Departures Vol. 1 - Nora Fahy Literary Awards

SHORT STORY
Judge: Kate Thompson

  • 1st Prize: Helen Fallon, 'Carrying the Cross'
  • 2nd Prize: John Hunt, 'Fuel in the Afternoon'
  • 3rd Prize: Trish Fitzpatrick, 'The Butterfly House'
POETRY
Judge: John Liddy
  • 1st Prize: Nora McGillen, 'Parting'
  • 2nd Prize: Jonathan Black, 'A Flask of Iced Water'
  • 3rd Prize: Nancy J. Thompson, 'Mineral Logic'
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     1997 - New Series: Departures Vol. 2 - Nora Fahy Literary Awards

SHORT STORY
Judge : Katy Hayes

  • 1st Prize: Elizabeth Carty, 'Daisy Chains'
  • 2nd Prize: Paul Brownsey, 'Lingering Hatred'
  • 3rd Prize: Máiríde Woods, 'Listening to Frankie'
  • 3rd Prize: Michael Wynne, 'Thalidomide'
POETRY
Judge : Gabriel Fitzmaurice
  • 1st Prize: Frank Dullaghan, 'Ferdeidh Prepares to Meet Cuchulain'
  • 2nd Prize: Thomas Murray, 'Science Room Skeleton'
  • 3rd Prize: Eileen Casey, 'Kate'
Highly Commended
David Lang
Nicola Lindsay
Cyril O Céirín
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     1998 - New Series: Departures Vol. 3 - Nora Fahy Literary Awards

SHORT STORY
Judge : Frank Golden

  • 1st Prize: Karen O'Connor, Tralee, Co. Kerry for her story 'Dominion'
  • 2nd Prize: Claire Keegan, Tullow Co. Carlow for 'Ride If You Dare'
  • 3rd Prize: Elizabeth Carty, Dunsany Co. Meath for 'The Sound of Many Waters'
POETRY
Judge : Jo Slade
  • 1st Prize: Patricia McFarland, London for 'Oranges'
  • 2nd Prize: Máighréad Medbh, Swords, Co. Dublin for 'System'
  • 3rd Prize: Christine Broe, Rathgar, Dublin for 'Regaining Paradise'
Highly Commended:
Breda Sullivan, Kilmore Streets, Co. Westmeath for 'Tears'
Kathleen Keyes, Bray, Co. Wicklow for 'Escape'
Gordana Sugden, Australia for 'Inventory'
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    1999 - New Series: Departures Vol. 4 - Nora Fahy Literary Awards

SHORT STORY
Judge: John Saul

  • 1st Prize: Valerie Sirr, Dublin for her story 'Made You Look'
  • 2nd Prize: Peter Paul Sweeney, Dublin for 'Petty Doom'
  • 3rd Prize: Deirdre Devally, Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare for 'On the Verge'
POETRY
Judge: Moya Cannon
  • 1st Prize: Tom French, Dublin for 'Teaching English in a Coastal Classroom'
  • 2nd Prize: Noel King, Tralee, Co. Kerry for 'Hay Fever'
  • 3rd Prize: Hugh O'Donnell, Ballinakill, Co. Laois for 'In the Walled Garden'
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