Cecil Day Lewis Short Story and Poetry Awards 2005

The Heritage Centre in Athy was a suitable location for the annual award ceremony for the Cecil Day Lewis Short Story and Poetry Awards 2005 that took place on Thursday 28 th April.

Now in their 9 th year, Kildare County Council Arts Service co-ordinate the awards, supported by Athy Town Council. For this years competition, they commissioned an emerging local artist, Ian Hollinshead to create glass awards which were presented to the 16 first prize winners in the primary, post-primary and adult categories. The Mayor of Athy Town Council, Cllr. Noel Scully presented over 70 awards, stating that it was marvellous to bring people into the town of Athy for the awards.

Local writer and judge of the awards Mae Leonard gave the crowd of 180 adults and children an insight into the life and work of C D Lewis and encouraged the winners, particularly the winners to continue writing.

Cecil Day Lewis' accomplishments and his craft in the writing of poetry and prose make him an excellent example for aspiring writers. His legacy led to the establishment of the Cecil Day Lewis Short Story and Poetry Competition for children and adults, a suitable celebration of the connection between the celebrated poet and the South Kildare area.

Cecil Day Lewis, born in 1904 was the son of a Church of Ireland minister, then living in Ballinturbbert House, near Athy, Co. Kildare. He was educated in Wadham College, Oxford.

A schoolmaster for many years, he had a restless intellect that led him to writing detective fiction, under the pen name ‘Nicholas Blake'. Day Lewis created the detective Nigel Strangeways in A Question of Proof, which was followed by twenty popular and successful stories.

He enjoyed broadcasting and presenting recitals and lectures in schools and colleges. His enthusiasm embraced children's stories for radio and writing a number of children's books including the popular Poetry for You .

Day Lewis was Professor of Poetry at Oxford for 5 years and in 1968, he was appointed Poet Laureate, a position held until his death four years later.

Junior Primary Poetry category 2005

1 st Prize
Séan Moore
for ‘ My Daddy '

2 nd Prize (joint)
Gráinne Hughes for “Hate Homework”

2 nd prize (jt)
Tara Mulreid for ‘ The Bumble Bee '

3 rd Prize
Megan Nolan for ‘ Winter '

 

Junior Primary Short Story category 2005

1 st Prize
Brian Daly
for
‘ The Dragon's Kingdom '

2 nd Prize
Victoria Matuschka for ‘ My Tarantula '

3 rd Prize
Brian Maher for ‘ My Brother Robert '

 

Middle Primary Poetry category 2005

1 st prize
Niamh Jordan
for
‘ Smushing '

2 nd prize
John Redmond for ‘ Golf '

3 rd prize
Katie Dempsey for ‘ Forest at Night '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Ellen Walsh for ‘ The Monday Club '

 

Middle Primary Short Story category 2005

1 st prize
Rachel Fleming
for
‘ Charlotte's Escape '

2 nd prize
Thomas Mulreid for ‘ The Wizard '

3 rd prize
Shona Anthony for ‘ Are We There Yet ? '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Glen Kelly for ‘ My Summer Holidays '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Adam Burke for ‘ Snow Fight '

 

Senior Primary Poetry category 2005

1 st prize
Laura Dunne
for
‘ Scamall '

2 nd prize
Ciara O' Flaherty for ‘ The Sea '

3 rd prize
Ruth Cannon for ‘ Winters Night '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Aoife Dunne for ‘ The Alien '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Maria Lawler for ‘ Children '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Michelle Thornton for ‘ Hallowe'en '

Special Awards

Primary Poetry category 2005

1 st prize
Genevieve Courtney
for
‘ Bayfield '

2 nd prize
Conor Ward for ‘ Suppertime '

3 rd prize
Aisling Woods for ‘ Summer, Summer '

 

Senior Primary Short Story category 2005

1 st prize
Liley - Beth Griffin
for
‘ One Spooky Night '

2 nd prize
Mary - Louise Fitzpatrick for ‘ The Creature '

3 rd prize
Mark Goodwin for ‘ The tale of Jim Wrickles '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Jennifer Curran for ‘ A Little Raindrop '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Kate Bennett for ‘ The Great Escape '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
David King for ‘ The Crash '

 

Special Awards

Primary Short Story category 2005

1 st prize
Marise Mc Grath
for
‘ No Way Out '

2 nd prize
Jamie Mc Cormack for ‘ The Three Little Figs '

3 rd prize
Glenn Mc Fadden for ‘ The Forbidden Island '

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Mary Davidsons' Class, St. Mark's Special School

 

Junior Cycle Poetry category 2005

1 st prize
Aoife Mc Knight
for
‘ A girl '

Junior Cycle Short Story category 2005

1 st prize
Pat Fitzpatrick
for
‘ The Eviction

2 nd prize (joint)
Aaron Duane for ‘ The Elemental Gain '

2 nd prize (joint)
Sarah Dunne for ‘ Imaginary: The reflection '

3 rd prize
Sammi Oliver for ‘ The Concert '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Róisín Carey for ‘ A Ghost Story '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Emily Mc Gregor for ‘ The Strange Shell '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Caoimhe O' Leary for ‘ Sophie '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Rebecca Hipwell for
‘Frank Fearless and his bowl of fruit in boarding school'

 

Junior Post Primary

Special Awards category 2005

Caroline Byrne for ‘ School '

Keith Hearns for ‘ The Electric Blue Fiend '

 

Senior Cycle Short Story Category 2005

1 st prize
Cian Johnston

2 nd prize
Frances Watchorn for ‘ Tough Love '

3 rd prize
Evelyn Purcell for ‘ Memories of Childhood '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Sarah O' Brien for ‘ Reflections '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
William Mc Grath for ‘ Paranoia '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
John Kilfeather for ‘ Joe and Larry '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Ada Gilchrist for ‘ Starry, Starry night '

 

Senior Cycle Poetry category 2005

1 st prize
Fiona Gillespie
for
‘ Nothing to me '

2 nd prize
Niamh Hearty for ‘ Doll House '

2 nd prize
Aisling O' Donovan for Malignity ( for my brother Ronan)

3 rd prize
Lorenza Araujo for ‘ My Place '

SPECIAL MERIT AWARD
Ciara Muldoon for ‘ Tracks '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Frances Watchorn for ‘ Hell '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Stephen Ramsey for ‘ Victim '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Megan Hyland for ‘ Doing Bishop '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Timothy Maybury for ‘ I can't contain my indifference '

HIGHLY COMMENDED
Austin O' Brien for ‘ My Dads' Car '

 

Senior Cycle One-Act Play category 2005

1 st prize
William Mc Grath
for
‘ People who make the world a better place '

2 nd prize
Catherine Tiernan for ‘ Teenage Troubles '

3 rd prize
Catherine Nolan for ‘ The Short Stay '

 

Adult Poetry category 2005

1 st prize
Maria Wallace
for
‘ The Meenybradden Bog Woman '

2 nd prize
Kate Dempsey for ‘ I could lie '

3 rd prize
Margaret Galvin for ‘ The Disappeared '

 

Adult Short Story category 2005

1 st prize
Eileen Casey
for
‘ Morning Afters '

2 nd prize
Jim Maguire for ‘ Only Those who have Longed '

3 rd prize
Nick Wilkinson for ‘ The Grave Robbers '

 

Adult One Act Play category 2005

1 st prize
James Lawless
for
‘ What are Neighbours for ? '

2 nd prize
James Lawless for ‘ A Father and Son '

3 rd prize
Marie Mac Sweeney for ‘ Duet '