Waterford writer's debut story wins €5,000 top prize in RTÉ Short Story Competition

A Waterford-based writer has scooped the €5,000 top prize in this year's RTÉ Short Story Competition with the very first work of fiction she has ever sent out for publication.

Lynda McCarthy was crowned the winner for her debut Witness during a live Arena broadcast from the Pavilion Theatre in Dún Laoghaire, where judges praised her story as "subtle, sensitive and quietly powerful".

Originally from Cork, McCarthy now lives in County Waterford with her husband and children. An award-winning journalist, she wrote Witness last year while taking part in an online creative writing course with Waterford Libraries. It was her first time putting a piece of fiction forward for publication.

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“I wanted to explore this character who feels barely visible in her own home - what would it take for her to change her circumstances? What would it mean for her to have someone witness how she is treated?" she said.

McCarthy is currently working on a Middle Grade mystery novel, building on her growing passion for creative writing.

Judge Neil Hegarty described Witness as "subtle and sensitive", saying the story captures a middle-aged woman taking stock of her life through the arrival of a young French exchange student who prompts her to reassess her stale relationships.

“As she assesses her relationships with her husband and sons, we see - or do we? - the tentative beginnings of a new life, of a new courage, of a new way of living," he said.

Fellow judge Jan Carson praised the story for its emotional depth and realism, calling it "a beautifully written and quietly powerful read".

“In Witness we meet a middle-aged woman forced to take an honest look at her life and marriage," Carson said. "We particularly enjoyed the small but detailed observations and the creeping sense of discomfort as the protagonist slowly begins to acknowledge that her husband is not supporting her youngest son's needs and decides to advocate on his behalf."

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Second prize went to A Spectrum of Sorrow by Angela Finn, a final-year PhD student at the School of English, DCU, who was presented with a cheque for €4,000. Third prize went to Auntie and Anto and Ivy and Ava by Ian Feighery, a primary school teacher from Tallaght, County Dublin, who received €3,000. The seven remaining shortlisted writers each received €300.

The winning stories were selected from more than 2,200 entries submitted this year and chosen by judges Neil Hegarty, Jan Carson and Tristan Rosenstock.

Sarah Binchy, series producer, congratulated the winners and thanked all who took part, saying: "Deep thanks to our reading panel and our thoughtful and insightful judges, to our fine array of renowned actors who have been bringing the stories to life on air and on podcast, and to our Late Date and Arena colleagues and colleagues in RTÉ Sound, Online and Comms for their great support for the competition."

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The RTÉ Short Story Competition, established in 1986 to honour writer and broadcaster Francis MacManus, has long been regarded as one of Ireland's most important platforms for emerging writers.

Past winners and shortlisted writers include Claire Keegan, Molly McCloskey, Danielle McLaughlin, Nuala O'Connor, Liz Nugent and Colin Walsh.

All ten shortlisted stories, including Witness, have been published on rte.ie/culture and read by an ensemble of Irish actors on RTÉ Radio 1's Late Date and Arena.