Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition 2025

The Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition is an annual competition sponsored by the Munster Literature Centre, a non-profit arts organisation based in Cork city, Ireland. It is dedicated to one of Ireland’s most accomplished story writers and theorists and is sponsored by the Munster Literature Centre.

The competition is open to original, unpublished and unbroadcast short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or fewer.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. Entrants may submit more than one entry.

Prizes

• 1st prize: 2,000 €, publication in the literary journal Southword
• 2nd prize: 500 € and publication
• Four Runners-Up: 400 € and publication

Is this competition legit?YES! – Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any event, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work.

FAQ
If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it’s your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.

ProWritingAid
We are keen to encourage quality, so suggest writers to check their stories before submitting using Prowritingaid. They have free and paid versions and are the best writing software we know to help improve grammar, readability and check for repetition, ‘sticky’ sentences and suggest alternatives. Visit their website and try ProWritingAid for free.