The Wild Atlantic Words Festival 2025 Short Story Competition is now open! Writers aged 18 and over who are Irish or living in Ireland are invited to submit an original short story of under 3,000 words. The first prize is €500 and the second prize is €250. The competition is judged by award-winning author Eimear McBride.
The competition is designed to individuals aged 18 or over who are Irish or currently residing in Ireland. Each participant may submit only one original short story that has not been previously published or broadcast. The story must be under 3,000 words, and the author’s name should not appear on the manuscript.
The Wild Atlantic Words Festival is an annual literary celebration held in Castlebar, County Mayo, Ireland. It brings together writers, poets, and readers to explore and enjoy the richness of storytelling and the written word. Founded in 2016, the Wild Atlantic Words literary festival aims to celebrate the literary heritage of our rugged coastline over several days of readings, recitals, debates and reflection, while also acknowledging our new and emerging writers.