Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition

Open for entries 1 May – 31 July

Most recent results here

Word limit: 3,000
Closing date: 31st July (midnight)
Entry fee: €19 per story

The competition is open to original, unpublished and unbroadcast short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or fewer. The story can be on any subject, in any style, by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. Translated work is not in the scope of this competition. Entrants may submit more than one entry. Once entered, no alterations can be made to the submission. Simultaneous submissions are accepted but please notify us immediately should your work be accepted elsewhere.

Prizes

1st Prize

• €2,000
• Featured reading at the Cork International Short Story Festival (with four-night hotel stay and full board)
• Publication in Southword

2nd Prize

• €500
• Publication in Southword

Four Runners-Up

• €300
• Publication in Southword

2025 Judge

TBA

Submission Details

Email entry

Send to: sofcomp@munsterlit.ie
Subject: SOF entry

Attachment 1: the story for submission (Word / RTF/ ODT – we cannot accept PDFs or weblinks such as Google Drive). As the competition is judged anonymously, we request that you do not write your name or personal details anywhere on this document.

Attachment 2: cover letter (separate text document (Word / RTF / ODT – we cannot accept PDFs or weblinks such as Google Drive) attached to the same email, not in the body of the email ). The cover letter should include:

• Your name
• Story title
• Email address
• Email associated with your PayPal account (if different from your contact email address)
• Phone number
• Postal address
• Image of PayPal receipt or the PayPal transaction ID number
• How your heard about the competition
• A brief bio (optional)

Payment of the €19 entry fee can be made through this PayPal button only (available during submission period). PayPal will deduct the fee in your own currency.

Postal Entry

• Submission manuscript (typed). To ensure anonymity, please do not write your name or any other personal details on the manuscript.
• Cover letter: see required details above. Cover letter should be on a separate page to ensure anonymity.
• Payment: If you have paid through PayPal, just quote the PayPal transaction ID. Alternatively, we accept cheques or bank drafts payable to the “Munster Literature Centre” in Euro, U.S Dollars or Pounds Sterling at a rate of €19 EUR, $22 USD or £18 GBP for each entry. We also accept postal orders from the Republic of Ireland only. Please note that we cannot accept cash payment or Western Union money orders.
• Send to:
  Seán Ó Faoláin Competition,
  The Munster Literature Centre,
  84 Douglas Street,
  Cork, T12 X802
  Ireland
• Please do not sent entries by registered post. Unfortunately, we are less likely to receive entries sent by registered post and your submission may be ineligible due to the delay incurred.
• If you would like us to send you confirmation of your postal entry, please include a self-addressed stamped postcard or envelope (if posted within Ireland). We can confirm the receipt of international entries via email.
• Postal entries postmarked on or before 31st July (even if received by us after the deadline) will be accepted.

More about the competition

The Seán Ó Faoláin Short Story Competition is an annual short story competition open to writers from around the world, submissions accepted from May 1st to July 31st annually. It is dedicated to one of Ireland’s most accomplished story writers and theorists and is sponsored by the Munster Literature Centre.

Due to the large volume of entries, the judge will not be able to notify the authors of non-winning entries or give individual feedback. A shortlist will be posted on our website homepage by late September / early October, with winners and runners-up contacted before the public announcement. If you need to withdraw an entry, please email info@munsterlit.ie. We recommend following us on social media or signing up for our newsletter to stay up to date with all competition developments directly:

The Munster Literature Centre is a not-for-profit organisation; all money raised from the competition benefits writers and writing.

Previous Winners