Limerick Writers’ Centre Opens 2026 Gerald Griffin Competition for First Original Adult Fiction

Limerick Writers’ Centre is now accepting entries for The Gerald Griffin Competition for First Original Adult Fiction 2026, a unique opportunity combining mentorship, publication, and community for emerging novelists.

A Competition with a Difference

The competition offers more than just a prize. Ten aspiring authors will participate in an intensive four-week novel writing course led by acclaimed poet and novelist Ciaran O’Driscoll, running over four Saturdays in March 2026 in Limerick.

To enter, writers submit 1,500 to 2,000 words – the opening of a new work of fiction. Ten writers selected from these submissions will join the course (€95 participation fee) where O’Driscoll will mentor participants through every aspect of crafting longer fiction, with each writer developing a 15,000-word initial manuscript.

Following the course, six participants will be invited to submit completed works of 30,000 to 45,000 words for final adjudication. The winning novel or novella, selected by O’Driscoll and an external judge, will be published by Limerick Writers’ Centre in October/November 2026 as part of their community publishing programme.

How to Enter

The closing date for initial submissions is Sunday, 21 February 2026. No entry fee applies for the first submission stage.

The competition welcomes writers of any nationality or residency. Submissions must be original works in English, begun specifically for this competition – either in the initial 1,500/2,000-word submission or during the 15,000-word manuscript stage. Previously published work or existing unpublished manuscripts are not eligible.

Submissions should be emailed to limerickwriterscentre@gmail.com in Word doc, docx, or PDF format.

About the Mentor

Ciaran O’Driscoll, a Limerick resident and member of Aosdána, has published ten poetry collections including Angel Hour (2021), a childhood memoir A Runner Among Falling Leaves (2001), and two novels: A Year’s Midnight (2012) and The Golden Ass (2024).

About the Competition’s Namesake

Gerald Griffin (1803-1840) stands among Limerick’s most celebrated writers. His novel The Collegians, based on the true story of Ellen Hanley’s murder, became a literary sensation that inspired stage adaptations, a musical, and the silent film Lily of Killarney. The book was admired by poet Walt Whitman and it also  helped establish Killarney as a major tourist destination.

About Limerick Writers’ Centre

Founded in 2008, Limerick Writers’ Centre is a not-for-profit organization supporting writers from or living in Limerick through readings, workshops, and publishing activities. Led by a voluntary board of directors, the Centre has strengthened the literary community in Limerick and the surrounding region.

Contact

For further information, media inquiries, or competition details, visit www.limerickwriterscentre.com or contact Dominic Taylor at limerickwriterscentre@gmail.com.

Rules

1. The competition is open to writers of any nationality or residency over the age of 16.
2. Entries should be completely the entrant’s own work written in English, original, unpublished, and not entered into any other competition, nor submitted for publication, or another award which overlaps with this competition. (No simultaneous submissions).
3. One entry per person. Submissions must be original fiction, i.e. neither a reprint nor adaptation of a previously-published work – (including on any website, public blog, online forum or broadcast medium).
4. Entries must be between 1,500 and 2,000 words long, no other lengths will be judged.
5. Entries should be typed on a Word document in Arial font size 12, in double spacing, with consecutively numbered pages and submitted as a Word doc or PDF file.
6. Submissions should be sent only via email to limerickwriterscentre@gmail.com. All entry submissions will be acknowledged by AUTOMATIC email. No other form of communication will be undertaken.
7. No entry fee is required for the initial submission.
8. Ten submissions will be chosen to progress to the second phase. They will be the ones who are deemed to have written the Best Beginning of a Novella (1500 to 2000 words).
9. The second phase will be a four week course on the Art of Writing a Novella, during which the successful candidates will be expected to advance their novella significantly.
10. The third phase will be the completion of the novella with (or without) the aid of mentoring. Novellas will then be submitted to the judges for final adjudication.
11. The novella deemed the best will be published by Limerick Writers’ Centre in Oct/Nov 2026.
12. The deadline for submissions is (IRISH TIME (GMT) 12.00) Friday, February 21st 2026.

 

NOTE: Pseudonyms are not allowed.  The novella should be mostly written during the course, with flexibility to modify the beginning. Up to 7000 words of relevant unpublished material can be included as vignettes.

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE RULES WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION