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On Friday 29 November at a ceremony in the Pavilion Theatre, Dun Laoghaire, 'Dead Bait' by Mattie Brennan, UL Creative Writing MA graduate, was announced as the winner in this year’s RTÉ Short Story Competition 2024 in honour of Francis MacManus. 

The winning stories were selected by writers Claire Kilroy, Neil Hegarty and Kathleen MacMahon, from a shortlist of 10 stories which was announced earlier this month. All the stories including Mattie's winning story are available to read and listen to on the RTE website. Professor Joseph O'Connor, Frank McCourt Chair of UL Creative Writing, commented: 'Coming a couple of days after our dear friend and colleague Donal Ryan's Eason Best Novel of the Year Award for 'Heart, Be at Peace' at the Irish Book Awards, this is an absolutely outstanding achievement for Mattie, a writer of wonderful gifts. Entries for the Francis McManus Award number several thousand stories. 

All of us at UL Creative Writing send him our very warmest congratulations.' 'Dead Bait' was chosen as the overall winner, in the words of the judges, for 'its mastery of storytelling, triumph of detail and sense of jeopardy that grows as the story nears its gripping conclusion'. As winner, Mattie received a cheque for €5,000.