The Linen Hall is pleased to announce the launch of the highly anticipated 2023 Michael McLaverty Short Story Award. This prestigious award, which has been running since 2006, aims to foster and encourage the tradition of the short story.
Open to entrants born in, citizens of, or resident in Northern Ireland/Republic of Ireland, the award offers a significant prize of £2,000 for the winning story, with £250 each for the two runners-up. Writers are invited to submit their entries by the deadline of midnight on October 31, 2023.
The Michael McLaverty Short Story Award is a tribute to the renowned writer Michael McLaverty (1904–1992), whose archive was generously donated to The Linen Hall by the Literary Executors of Michael McLaverty in 2005. McLaverty’s legacy continues to inspire and celebrate the artistry of the short story form.
Esteemed writer Bernie McGill and editor Emma Warnock are this year’s adjudicators. Their expertise will ensure a fair and rigorous selection process.
Since its inception in 2006, the Michael McLaverty Short Story Award has been a launchpad for talented writers. Past winners have gone on to publish further works, solidifying their places in the literary world.
For those interested in submitting their entries or learning more about the 2023 Michael McLaverty Short Story Award, please visit The Linen Hall website.
Bernie McGill said: ‘Michael McLaverty is a writer I have long admired and it is a great privilege to be judging this short story award named in his honour by the Linen Hall Library. I was a second-place winner in this competition in 2010 and I know what a difference a prestigious prize such as this can make to the career of an emerging writer. Good luck to everyone with their submissions. I’m looking forward to reading the stories.’
The Linen Hall Librarian Samantha McCombe said: ‘The Michael McLaverty archive at the Linen Hall is a pillar of the rich and expansive literary archives held at the Library. The award celebrates the skill and artistry of this esteemed writer and continues Michael McLaverty’s commitment to foster and encourage creativity in the short story form.’
Most recent McLaverty winner Niall Bourke said: ‘It was a huge, huge honour for me to win the Michael McLaverty Award. The substantial prize money aside, to have been selected as winner by a writer who I hugely admire, Donal Ryan, was a great boost to me. I suppose that ultimately writing is not really about awards; however, in a vocation such as writing, beset with chronic uncertainty and self-doubt, awards such as The Michael McLaverty do a huge service in identifying, encouraging and giving a platform to emerging practitioners. I can not overstate the positive impact winning the award had on my own writing development.’