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Winners announced of RTE Short Story Competition 2025

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Saturday, October 25th 2025 at 9:06 GMT by RTE Online
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RTE Short Story Competition 2025: Winners Announced

RTE’s long‑standing Short Story Competition has once again delivered a wave of fresh talent and captivating narratives. In a press release published on 25 October 2025, the broadcaster revealed the names of the winners for the 2025 competition, detailing the prizes awarded and offering a glimpse into the stories that captured the judges’ imaginations.

Competition Overview

The competition, which is open to all Irish residents aged 18 and over, ran from 1 September to 15 September 2025. Participants were invited to submit a short story of no more than 3,000 words, exploring any theme that resonated with them. The judging panel consisted of a mix of RTE writers, literary critics, and university faculty, ensuring a balanced assessment across originality, narrative structure, and emotional impact.

Submission guidelines were laid out on RTE’s dedicated competition page (https://www.rte.ie/culture/short-story-competition-2025). The page highlighted that entries had to be in English and be the original work of the author. Submissions were received electronically via a secure online portal, and a mandatory cover letter was required to provide basic biographical information and a short statement of intent.

Prizes

• First Prize – €2,000 and a live reading session on RTE’s literary programme, The Story. The winner’s story will also be aired on the show and included in the 2025 RTE anthology of short fiction.
• Second Prize – €1,000 and a one‑hour workshop with the panel of judges.
• Third Prize – €500 and a year’s subscription to the Irish Book Review.
• Honourable Mentions – Ten stories were selected for recognition; each author will receive a commemorative plaque and a copy of the anthology.

The Winning Stories

1. The Light at the Edge – Sarah O’Connor (First Prize)

Sarah O’Connor’s entry, set against the backdrop of a small Galway fishing village, follows an elderly lighthouse keeper who discovers a mysterious, luminescent stone that seems to change colour with his memories. The story’s lyrical prose and nuanced exploration of memory and isolation earned it the top prize. O’Connor said in a brief statement, “I was fascinated by how objects can carry our past, and I wanted to explore that through a symbol that was at once simple and profound.”

2. Digital Rain – Liam Murphy (Second Prize)

Digital Rain examines the intersection of technology and intimacy in a near‑future Dublin where AR filters are mandatory on public transport. Liam Murphy’s protagonist, a data analyst, experiences a sudden glitch that forces him to confront his fabricated persona. The judges praised the story’s “sharp wit and timely commentary on the erosion of authenticity in the digital age.” Murphy noted that the piece “was born from a series of late‑night conversations about what it means to be human in a hyper‑connected world.”

3. The Orchard’s Secret – Aisling McGrath (Third Prize)

Aisling McGrath’s narrative follows a young woman who inherits an abandoned orchard from her estranged grandfather. The orchard becomes a metaphor for the hidden layers of family history, and McGrath’s delicate storytelling won the judges over. “I wanted to write about the quiet places where memory lives,” McGrath reflected. “The orchard was a perfect vehicle for that.”

Honourable Mentions

The ten Honourable Mentions were announced by RTE’s literary editor, Maeve Walsh. They include works such as The River’s Whisper by Niamh O’Sullivan, which tackles the subject of climate change in a small coastal town, and Stained Glass by Conor Ní Chonaill, a tale that intertwines folklore with modern identity. Each of these stories showcases a unique voice and has been invited to appear in the forthcoming anthology.

RTE’s Support for Emerging Writers

RTE’s announcement emphasized the broadcaster’s commitment to nurturing Ireland’s literary talent. “Our Short Story Competition provides a platform for writers to have their voices heard by a national audience,” said RTE Culture Director, Patrick O’Neill. “We are delighted to see such a diverse range of stories and are proud to support the next generation of Irish writers.”

How to Stay Updated

Readers interested in following the winners’ journey can visit RTE’s The Story programme page (https://www.rte.ie/culture/the-story) for updates on the live reading and subsequent broadcasts. The anthology, slated for release in early 2026, will include all winning entries and is expected to be available through major book retailers and online platforms.

Conclusion

The 2025 RTE Short Story Competition once again showcased the richness of contemporary Irish fiction, bringing forward narratives that span from the tangible to the speculative. With the prizes and platform offered, the winners are poised to take the next step in their writing careers, while the competition continues to affirm RTE’s role as a patron of the arts and an advocate for emerging literary voices.