The Merriman Short Story Competition is dedicated to the memory of the late Maeve Binchy, who was a life-long supporter of Cumann Merriman and a regular visitor to the Merriman Summer School. In 2005 Maeve wrote a special short story for the Brian Merriman bicentenary celebrations. The story, entitled A Week in Summer, was read by the author at that year’s Summer School in Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare and was recorded live. A limited edition of the story was subsequently published in CD and booklet form. Maeve generously donated the royalties from the US edition to Cumann Merriman, and she agreed that her donation be used to award a short story prize. A prize of €1000 will be awarded to the winning short story, which must be original, unpublished and unbroadcast. Entries should be not more than 2,500 words in length and set in Ireland. Stories may be written in Irish or English. The competition is confined to writers born or living on the island of Ireland. The closing date for entries is October 31st 2012. The Merriman Short Story Competition is being run in association with Cumann Merriman, the Ennis Book Club Festival, Clare County Library and the Irish Times. The winning story will be read at the 2013 Ennis Book Club Festival and will be published in the Irish Times.
The Merriman Short Story Competition Guidelines
Prize for winning story €1,000/Duais do churadhscéal €1,000
1. Entries, in English or Irish, must be the original work of the author and must not have been previously published or broadcast.
2. The story must not exceed 2,500 words
3. The story must be set in Ireland and can be on any subject, by any writer of fiction born in or living on the island of Ireland. Translated work is not within the scope of this competition.
4. Manuscripts must be typed, and only one story per entrant will be accepted. Manuscripts will not be returned.
5. The entrants’ names should not be written on the manuscripts but should be written on a separate sheet, along with the title of the story and full contact details (address, telephone numbers, email address). Writers’ names will not be revealed to the judging panel.
6. All entries must be received by 5 pm on October 31st 2012. Entries may be submitted by email or in hard copy. Entries received after this deadline will not be considered.
7. There is an entry fee of €10 to cover administration costs.
8. Hard copies, accompanied by cheque or postal order for €10 (made out to Cumann Merriman Teoranta) should be addressed to Merriman Short Story Competition, Clare County Library, Mill Rd., Ennis, Co. Clare.
9. Email copies in pdf format should be sent to merrimanshortstory@gmail.com. Accompanying entry fees (cheque or postal order) must be posted to the address above. Entries for which fees have not been received will not be considered.
10. The winner will be notified in February 2013, and will be invited to attend the Ennis Book Club Festival in March to read their story (or have it read, if that is their preference)
11. The winning story will be published in the Irish Times after the festival.
12. The Judges’ decision is final and no correspondence can be entered into concerning the judging or merits of any entry.
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Comórtas Gearrscéalta Merriman: Treoirlínte
13. Caithfidh gur bunsaothair leis an údar féin, i nGaeilge nó i mBéarla, iad na hiontrálacha, nár foilsíodh nó nár craoladh cheana.
14. Níor cheart dul thar 2,500 focal sa scéal.
15. Is ceart an scéal a shuíomh in Éirinn; is féidir aon ábhar a bheith i gceist, ag scríbhneoir ficsin a rugadh, nó a bhfuil cónaí uirthi/air, ar oileán na hÉireann. Ní thagann aistriúcháin laistigh de raon an chomórtais seo.
16. Ní mór scríbhinní a bheith clóite, agus ní ghlacfar ach le scéal amháin ó aon iontrálaí. Ní sheolfar scríbhinní ar ais.
17. Níor chóir ainmneacha na n-iontrálaithe a bheith scríofa ar na scríbhinní; is cóir iad a bheith scríofa ar bhileog faoi leith, maille le teideal an scéil, agus sonraí iomlána teagmhála (seoladh, uimhreacha fóin, seoladh ríomhphoist). Ní scaoilfear ainmneacha na scríbhneoirí leis an bpainéal moltóirí.
18. Ní mór na hiontrálacha go léir a bheith faighte faoin 5.00 i.n. ar 31 Deireadh Fómhair 2012. Is féidir iontrálacha a chur isteach ar ríomhphost nó mar chóip chrua. Ní thabharfar iontrálacha san áireamh a fhaightear i ndiaidh an spriocdháta.
19. Táille iontrála: €10 (le costais riaracháin a ghlanadh).
20. Ba chóir Cóipeanna crua, maille le seic nó ordú poist do €10 (iníoctha le Cumann Merriman Teoranta), a sheoladh chuig ‘Comórtas Gearrscéalta Merriman, Leabharlann an Chláir, Bóthar An Mhuilinn, Inis, Co. an Chláir’.
21. Ba chóir Cóipeanna ríomhphoist i bhformáid pdf a sheoladh ag merrimanshortstory@gmail.com. I gcás na n-iontrálacha seo, ní mór na táillí iontrála (seic nó ordú poist) a chur sa phost chuig an seoladh thuas. Ní chuirfear iontrálacha san áireamh gan táillí iontrála a bheith faighte.
22. Cuirfear an buaiteoir ar an eolas mí Feabhra 2013, agus tabharfar cuireadh di/dó a bheith i láthair ag Féile Leabhar na hInse mí an Mhárta lena scéal a léamh (nó a chur á léamh ag duine eile, más é sin is fearr leo).
23. Foilseofar an duais-scéal san Irish Times i ndiaidh na Féile.
24. Ní bheidh dul thar bhreith na moltóirí, agus ní rachfar i mbun comhfhreagrais maidir leis an mholtóireacht ná le fiúntas aon iontrála faoi leith.