1st Place: ‘You and I’ by Niamh Busby

I saw you on the train yesterday.  I haven’t seen you since junior school; since GCSEs and the endless clouds of Linx and stifling assembly halls. Maybe that’s why it took me so long to recognise you, to actually see you. Ten years can change people in many ways but you more than most, youContinue reading “1st Place: ‘You and I’ by Niamh Busby”

2nd Place: ‘When The Mugs Don’t Match’ by Abbie White

There was something extra-terrestrial about the blue in his veins and the unsymmetrical bruising of his hand. As a child it made me squeamish, awaiting his papery skin to pucker above the cobalt seams and sprout an inky blue that would stain our hands. As the years stubbed out the futuristic blue of his bloodContinue reading “2nd Place: ‘When The Mugs Don’t Match’ by Abbie White”

3rd Place: ‘War’ by Mary Coleman

Galway’s pavements were melting. 99s in every hand and the air was thick with the smell of factor 50. Everyone was diving from the Blackrock tower, building sandcastles and talking about football. Everyone except me. It had been a few weeks since I’d had contact from any of the lads. And it would be aContinue reading “3rd Place: ‘War’ by Mary Coleman”