Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award

The Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award—named in honour of Frank O’Connor, who devoted much of his work to the form—was an international literary award presented for the best short story collection. It ran for 11 years (between 2005 and 2015) and worth €50,000 in its first year and later reduced to €25,000, was the biggest short-story collection prize in the world at the time. Each year, roughly sixty books were longlisted, with six books shortlisted, the ultimate decision made by three judges.

The award was established in 2005 in an effort to increase the profile of the short story form on the literary scene, and to reward those who were judged to have written the best collection of stories that year. Serving our ethos of innovation and development, The Munster Literature Centre aimed at bringing accomplished international writers in contact with new and emerging Irish short story writers.

Previous Winners