Two Clare entrants have been included in the tenth Ireland’s Own Anthology of Short Stories and Memories.

Forty winners and highly commended entries from almost 500 participants of the long-running Ireland’s Own writing competitions are featured in the publication, two Clonlara writers are among them.

Marion Fenton from Doonass in Clonlara was runner up in the beginners short-story category for ‘Death, The Leveller’ which sees the former wife, few friends and acquaintances of the late Paddy Finnegan gather to bid farewell to the man who lost his long battle with alcoholism.

Married with two grown up children, Marion recently retired from nursing and has done some courses in creative writing. She has written a few short, autobiographical fiction stories in recent years but this was her first entry in a writing competition.

Tipperary native Liam Cahalan who now resides in Aughboy, Clonlara was runner up in the memories section. He is married to Deridre, they have four adult children and three grandchildren. Since retiring in the last five years, Liam has been writing on and off, he is a previous winner in the memories section of the Ireland’s Own Writing Competition and a runner up on two other occasions. He describes himself as a keen hill walker who plays the guitar and concertina.

Liam’s story ‘The Sunday Game’ is about the weekly card games played in neighbours houses and all the attached rituals which were part of the social fabric of the time.

Related News

Four Courts, Dublin
High Court dismisses €1.6bn data centre opponents' leave to appeal application against the court clearing all legal hurdles for project
aerialcourtslarge
Planning permission granted to refurbish Killaloe-Ballina Tennis Club
central b&b kilrush 1
42 new houses have been approved to be built in Kilrush by Clare County Council
Photograph by Eamon Ward
Clare Businesswomen Connect and Inspire at LEO Event
Latest News
Photograph by Eamon Ward
Clare Businesswomen Connect and Inspire at LEO Event
tom o'callaghan 02-03-26 1
Councillors give their support to joining a group to implement Local Economic and Community Plan 2024-2030
Clare-County-Council-Chamber-2-PF
The Draft Local Enterprise Plan 2026-2028 receives overwhelmingly support
Marie Keating Foundation Show Garden at Bloom 2026 71
Clare man marks 10 years since Stage 4 Lung Cancer diagnosis at Marie Keating Foundation Bloom Garden
LEO-Clare-Logo-(2018)
Clare Local Enterprise Office is planning the creation of 105 jobs in the county before the end of 2026
Premium
Clare Co Council legal spend on re-possessions more than doubles in 2025 to €52,530
Éire Óg & Corofin relegated from Clare Cup as Clooney/Quin claim last quarter-final place
One of Carrigaholt Post Office robbery accused secures bail
Avenue Utd annihilate Sporting Ennistymon to qualify for Clare Cup final
Restrictions on Main Street but extra parking planned in Miltown Malbay for Willie Clancy week

Annual Subscription!

The Clare Echo annual subscription for just €69.99 a year. 

Prefer to pay monthly? Click the monthly option and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. 

Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.