Kilkenny-based writer wins top literary prize
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After completing the NUI Maynooth Creative Writing for Publication at St Kieran’s College Caroline Sutherland knew she wanted to write short stories.
‘They are the purest form of communicating an original idea in short form,’ she says.
The Dalkey Creates Short Story Prize is one of the most sought-after prizes in this genre in Ireland with entries from all over the world.
Early on in her writing, she won the Crediton Short Story Competition for publication in Riptide Journal in the UK and was hooked.
‘I was asked to go to Exeter for the presentation and at the same time I won, with a different story, a weekend writing retreat with Retreat West in West Bay near Chesil Beach. I had just finished reading On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan and thought, “well ok, I think I know where that is!”.’ She spent half a day driving from West Bay to Exeter and back trying not to get lost for the presentation. ‘The b