Celebrating the young literary stars of Carlow at the Awards Night for the Short Story Competition

Carlow County Council’s Local Enterprise Office in association with the Carlow County Library is delighted to announce the success of the first Right to Read Primary School Short Story Competition. 

This Right to Read Campaign is an initiative of Carlow County Council Local Enterprise Office to demonstrate our firm commitment to literacy skills development and to strengthen active engagement in literacy support for all. This short story competition invited 5^th and 6^th Class students to write about their favourite local business and what career they would like to have in the future and why.

Opening the Awards ceremony, Cllr. Tom O’Neill, Mayor of Carlow said ‘The Right to Read Campaign is more than just a program; it is a manifestation of our dedication to providing a nationally coordinated framework for literacy support, aligning with the principles outlined in the Programme for Government. This campaign is an integrated approach that complements existing programs, ensuring continuity in literacy development beyond the formal education setting’. Cllr. O’Neill concluded by saying ‘a message for our young people here tonight. You see, each one of you is a shining star with boundless potential and unique talents. As a society, it is our duty to provide you with the tools and opportunities needed to turn those talents into something extraordinary. That tool, my friends, is education’.

Speaking about the campaign Melissa Doyle, Business Advisor, Carlow Local Enterprise Office said ‘We received 292 Applications with 17 Primary Schools in Carlow taking part with 151 applications in 6^th Class and 141 applications in 5^th Class. The Awards Night is a celebration of the dedication and hard work exhibited by our primary school students. We are immensely proud of the creativity and imagination displayed by the students in this year's Short Story Competition. This event not only highlights their literary talents but also reinforces the importance of fostering a love for reading and storytelling from a young age’.

John Shortall, County Librarian, Carlow County Library, said ‘From the library service point of view, this was a wonderful project on many different levels. It allowed us to collaborate closely with our colleagues in the Local Enterprise Office to encourage the young people of our county to engage their creativity and imagination through language and story in expressing their pride and love for their own localities and the wonderful local businesses and enterprises that help County Carlow thrive. It was a pleasure to be involved and great to see such a marvellous response from so many talented and enthusiastic Carlow children’.

The 17 schools who participated in the Right to Read Short Story Competition received a Certificate of Participation for their school:

1. Scoil Mhuire Lourdes Tullow
2. St Columba’s National School Tullow
3. Bennekerry National School
4. St. Joseph’s National School Hacketstown
5. Leighlinbridge National School
6. Myshall National School
7. Carlow National School
8. Scoil Mhuire gan Smál Green Lane Carlow
9. St Patrick’s National School Rathvilly
10. Ballinabranna National School
11. Ballon National School
12. St Brigid’s National School Muine Bheag
13. St. Brigid’s National School Clonegal
14. Tinryland National School Carlow
15. Scoil Molaise Old Leighlin
16. Rathoe National School
17. St Brigid’s National School Grange

It was a formidable challenge to read through 292 applications and select only 26 shortlists, a testament to the exceptional quality and diversity of the submissions by our young storytellers with 3 overall winners from 5^th class and 3 overall winners from 6^th class announced on the night. Each shortlist received a Certificate of Participation and a €20.00 Love Carlow Voucher. The first prize winner received a €200 Love Carlow voucher, the second prize winner was awarded a €150 Love Carlow voucher, and the third prize winner received a €100 Love Carlow voucher.

6th Class             

6th Class 1^st Place             Seana O'Neill - Myshall NS

6th Class 2^nd Place            Kate Butler - Hacketstown NS

6th Class 3^rd Place             James Broughan - St Bridget's NS Muinebheag

5th Class             

5th Class 1^st Place             Orlaith Keating - Myshall NS

5th Class 2^nd Place            Charlie Carter - Ballinabranna NS

5th Class 3^rd Place             Tori MacDonnell - Carlow NS

For further information contact Kieran Comerford on 086-8252037 or e-mail kcomerford@carlowcoco.ie