Prizes presented for Scoil Bhride murder mystery stories

Competition winner Raven Evans, with her father Reuben, author Alison Weatherby, and Dawn Behan of Woodbine Books.

When the author of the Common Criminals Club series of books for children, Alison Weatherby, visits schools, the pupils get a real kick out of seeing her and hearing her tips on how to write a good murder mystery, writes Brian Byrne. But it's a two-way street, and Alison says she gets fabulous fun from it too.

When she did a workshop with the 5th and 6th classes in Scoil Bhride last month, arranged by the school's Mr Macken, a competition was organised in association with Woodbine Books for the pupils to write their own murder mysteries. Alison was in Woodbine this afternoon to present the winners with their prizes, and spoke highly about the creativity of the children. 

"They have so many great ideas, especially at that age. Their imaginations are all over the place, and it's so much fun to hear what kind of crazy ideas they have. The second place winner was talking about her mystery and how the guy in it had an allergic reaction to mustard, and I said, 'Just keep those crazy ideas in there'. They're so excited at that age too."

The winning story was Me and Miley Mystery by Raven Evans, with the runners-up SSK Agency by Méabh Behan and Murder at Dusk by Olivia Baryla. The full list of winners and highly commended stories can be found here. 

Some of the entries in the competition, from 5th and 6th class Scoil Bhride pupils.

Alison hails originally from Seattle and came to Ireland in 2017. She usually writes for young adults, but when she found that there was very little in the mystery genre for younger children and teens, she wrote Death Before Detention as the first in what is now the Common Criminals Club series. "It's set in the west of Ireland, about a bunch of Irish kids solving murders." The next book, School Trip Survival, will be out in February.

Living in Dun Laoghaire, with two daughters in second-level school, Alison says that listening to them and their friends talking gives her a sense of the word choices for the characters in her books, including the slang that they use today. “Obviously, I want the books to reflect their age group, so it's good for me. I love talking to the kids — it's handy to pick up the lingo from them."

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Scoil Bhride murder mystery winners

On 5th June, author Alison Weatherby visited the 5th and 6th classes of Scoil Bhríde to talk about her new cosy crime mystery “The Common Criminals Club: Death Before Detention”, writes Dawn Behan of Woodbine Books. Alison described how to write a murder mystery, and the important parts you need to include for a good story (victim, sleuth, motive, red herring, twist). 

As part of Alison’s talk, we organised a competition for the pupils to write their own murder mystery.

We have finally managed to read all of the entries and can now reveal the winners! All prizes can be collected from the bookshop and Alison Weatherby will be here on Monday afternoon to sign books too if you would like to meet her.

Winner: Me and Miley Mystery by Raven Evans.

Runner Up 1: SSK Agency by Méabh Behan.

Runner Up 2: Murder at Dusk by Olivia Baryla.

Highly Commended:

Murder Behind Manor Walls by Angelika Wojcik.

The Dramatic Death by Imogen Fitzpatrick.

What Happened in Room 17B by Niamh O’Brien.

Was She Murdered? by Alannah Leahy

Gone Missing by Milita ?.

The Story That Was Never Told by Finn Wright.

Messy Murder by Liam Egan.

Footsteps by Kateryna Shylova.

Someone at the Party was Murdered by Eve Hall.

Too Late for You by Reece ?.

Left Alone by Caden Maxwell.

The Killer in the Friend Group by Michael ?.

Gerry’s House by Drew Martin.

The Killer in the Dark by James Conn.

 

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Woodbine Open Mic a brilliant night of craft and talent

Dawn Behan presents Anne Coakley with her writing prize.

It was like Sunday Miscellany on steroids, writes Brian Byrne. The rota of performers at the Woodbine Books Open Mic night presented an evening of excellent writing and music, in extraordinary variety. The full gamut of emotions and a world of experiences combined to make two hours of brilliant entertainment. 

The now annual summer event also marks the end of the season for the Woodbine Creative Writers Group, now in its third year of existence and forging ahead in enabling the members to develop their writing craft. And, as was very evident at the event, their confidence in their work and themselves. 

Woodbine proprietor Dawn Behan opened the evening on a sad note to mark the recent passing of one of the group's founding members, John Martin. "A brilliant writer and always so generous with his feedback," she recalled. "And he was always willing to go on first, so I didn't need to strong-arm someone else. We are all so much better off for having known him."

Amanda Durkan.

To begin the evening, prizes were handed out for a recent competition organised by the group, funded under the Brigid 1500 programme by Kildare County Council. The competition was judged by Ilona Blunden, a former moderator of the group who now teaches creative writing in Maynooth. Among the winners, who received books that were shortlisted in this year's An Post Book Awards, were Anne Coakley and Amanda Durkan. Both read their winning pieces, Anne her poem Rain with Love on the Cousane Gap, and Amanda her very dark flash fiction piece, Salach. 

Raven Evans.

The next presentation was from the youngest person present, Raven Evans, who read — with a presence beyond her years — four of her poems. In very skilled p, she revealed colour and richness in nature to be found in various everyday environments. If it is her preferred direction, this young lady is going to create some writing waves in the coming years.

Charlie Gregova.

Charlie Gregova was next to the podium, with Swallow Song, a brooding piece about the discrepancy between instilled childhood belief and adult reality. This was followed by David Murray in his favourite fantasy space, this time about a broken knight finding redemption in a second chance. Moving from dark places, it was then Phil Cummins who returned us to the land of smiles with his beautifully acted monologue about his family's life with dogs and how they react to the moods and dynamics of the household.

David Murray.

Phil Cummins.

David Scott and Pud Barrett.

There was music then from David Scott and Pud Barrett, with some seriously listenable songs and guitar playing, their choices and presentation perfectly matched to the evening's intimate gathering — Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive, Slip Away, The Fool on the Hill, and Saturday Night at the Movies.

Celia Murphy.

Celia Murphy's piece next, The Winding Stair, brought us to the famous Liffeyside bookshop-café, watching Dublin and the Ha'penny Bridge from its window and pondering on stories and ghosts from the past that live on in the night-time reflections on the river. Then there were three poems from Brian Fogarty, musing on literary pretension, the overload of modern life, and unrequited love.

Brian Fogarty.

Orla Ní Sheaghaidh.

Orla Ní Sheaghaidh presented one of her typically delicious pieces, about a plane flight from the mainland to Inishmore, mining her panic for comedy. Henry Murphy then did something similar with a mock email to a supervisor, this time building comedy out of officialese language seeking his due overtime payment. After that, we found where young Raven had likely got her writing inspiration, as her dad, Reuben Evans, read from Talisman the Unicorn, a story he had written in children's book form with, literally, hundreds of endings, each step in the road to them decided by periodically asking members of the audience a two-choice question about where to go next.

Henry Murphy.

Reuben Evans.

Geraldine Gahan.

Geraldine Gahan's memoir brought the listeners through her recollections of a multi-generational gardening family and what they had taught her about food self-sufficiency. Bernadette Murray provided a short poem, A Path of Memory, taking us from the happy games of youth to awareness of growing older in a tapestry of life to be carried on like the music notes of an old song. Bernie Ahearn's The Emerald Ballroom was an evocative recollection, from a newcomer to Kilcullen Open Mic nights, of rural community dancing in the times just before the showband era changed everything — romance and missed chances, shy men, family expectations, and relationships that might have been in a time when emigration was the only option for life change. A short poem from Anninka Shimshek described the images that come into her mind when she says colours out loud, including in other languages that she speaks.

Bernadette Murray.

Bernie Ahearn.

Anninka Shimshek.

Sean Corrigan.

Sean Corrigan, introduced by Dawn as another "brave soul who doesn't know anybody here", stepped up next with Do Not Call Me a Poet, a wonderfully crafted rap recalling college days when he was often introduced to friends as a poet, where his preference would have been just, "Sean plays GAA". You have to have been there to appreciate it. 

Mary Barber.

A piece from Mary Barber recalled the story of Thornton Lace, a famine-relieving enterprise established by an Englishwoman, Elizabeth Roberts, in a townland outside Kilcullen. A story now 'lost in the shadows of forgotten history' and waiting to be spoken of again 180 years later. Then Celia Murphy returned with a memoir of a lifelong passion and dream fulfilled when she got to visit Nashville, experiencing an almost childlike excitement as she toured the country music capital's landmarks. Kayleigh Treacy then read a poem, Twenty-three, which outlined an emotional path from a toxic relationship and emotional abuse to reclaiming autonomy.

Keyleigh Treacy.

A parting gift of a recipe for their favourite garlic bread, with a baked example, was given by Charlie Gregova, who is leaving after a year in Kilcullen, made "wonderful" by the writing group and involvement in many other parts of the community. Then David Murray, to dispel the 'unfortunate rumour' that he can only write fantasy, closed off the written presentations with a short poem, One Small Hour, about unspoken love and secret admiration. The event concluded with several other songs from David Scott and Pud Barrett, which included Blackbird, its theme of recovery and growth appropriate to much of the experience of the evening.

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Open Mic at Woodbine Books tonight

Woodbine Books is hosting an Open Mic evening TONIGHT, Wednesday, 10 June, at 7:30 pm, with local writers and musicians sharing their work. 

Organised by the shop’s Creative Writing Group, the event includes short presentations of poetry, short stories, essays, flash fiction, and music. 

Attendance is open to all, with audience members and supporters welcome.

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Meet the Writers at JuneFest

The Newbridge June Fest will host a free literary evening at Riverbank Arts Centre on Sunday 7 June, writes Brian Byrne, featuring a “Meet the Writers” panel discussion and the announcement of the winners of the June Fest National Short Story Competition. The event, which starts at 7pm, will also include a pop-up bookshop by Woodbine Books.

Moderated by Mary Linehan, the panel will bring together Kildare-linked writers John MacKenna, Ed O’Loughlin and Martina Smith to discuss their writing journeys, the publishing world and the challenges of the craft. 

During the awards ceremony, this year’s short story competition adjudicator, John MacKenna, will announce the winner and runner-up, with the winning writer invited to read an extract from their work.

The event is free to attend, but booking is essential. 

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Deadline looms for June Fest short story competition

With just one week remaining until the submission deadline on 7 April, writers should finalise their entries for the Newbridge June Fest National Short Story Competition. 

Participants should submit a 2,000-word story for a chance to win writer-specific prizes. The winner will receive a week’s residency at the renowned Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Annamakerrig, Monaghan, while the second prize offers a workshop of the winner’s choice with the Kildare Writing Centre. 

Entries will be judged by writer John MacKenna, whose latest book is The Lock-Keeper’s Wife. 

With the bank holiday weekend approaching, writers are encouraged to complete their final edits to ensure their submissions are ready on time.

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Woodbine Books hosts launch of writers group book

"I knew I could write, but I never finished anything. I didn't know anything about the craft of writing, so when I was recommended to take the course at Maynooth run by John MacKenna and Angela Keogh, I thought maybe it was time ..."

So, Paula Kavanagh, well known to patrons of Woodbine Books in Kilcullen, became one of 17 people like her who completed the 2024/2025 Maynooth University Certificate in Creative Writing for Publication, run by author John MacKenna, writes Brian Byrne. Last Friday, an anthology of works from the group was launched at the bookshop, with MacKenna doing the honours. The book's title, Indent, reflects his constant emphasis on the importance of formatting to hold the reader's attention, especially indentation. That also inspired the group's name.

"When we graduated last year, we had all got on so well that we didn't want it to end, so we had already formed this writing group, called The Indentations. Then we asked ourselves, why not publish a book and have something concrete from all we had done on the course?" One module led by Angela Keogh, who runs Harvest Press with MacKenna, had explored the publishing industry, including discussions on self-publishing. Karen Brown, a member of the group who has published on Amazon, prompted them to consider this option. The outcome is a very professional publication of 32 stories, available in hardback, paperback, and as an eBook on Amazon.

"It was a massive team effort," Paula Kavanagh said. "We selected pieces we had completed during the course. Some of us handled editing and proofreading. Another member, Cáit Bohan, has a friend, Tríona Walsh, who is an illustrator, and she designed the cover, posters, and invitations for the launch. Stephen McDonagh, member Sandra Linnie's husband, built our website, took photographs, and is managing our social media. All of this has been a labour of love, and I’ve gained an incredible group of friends from the course."

For John MacKenna, who has published 26 books, including novels, short-story collections, memoirs, and biographies, the biggest reward of running this course over more than two decades has been "meeting several hundred people interested in writing and spending time with people who love books." He estimates that around 20 course participants have actually published their own books over that time. "It's not just about the books, though. It's about people being committed to beginning and middling and finishing something, even if it doesn't get published. That they have the discipline to work on it — that's brilliant too."

He says working with course participants energises him personally and also brings satisfaction in seeing people flourish. "It could be someone who's been carrying a story in their head since they were 15. They might be in their 50s now and never had the time or confidence to do anything with it." He describes the launch night for Indent as 'brilliant' for this latest group. "They've worked phenomenally hard. It's not just the writing; they've put the whole book together. Edited it, printed it, produced it. It’s amazing, and perhaps the first step on a new road for some of them."

Introducing the evening, Paula Kavanagh described the group as creative, collaborative, and wonderful people who put their words, hearts, and energy into creating something special from day one. "We’ve laughed and cried together. We've listened respectfully. We've slagged unmercifully. We've come together like no other group I've been part of. I'm so proud of us."

John MacKenna admired that the group did not see writing as a competition but rather as a communal effort. "Yes, of course, writing is a solitary act. It's about being on your own, telling your stories, making your own way of writing, meeting characters, and getting to know them over weeks, months, perhaps years. But with a writing group, there also needs to be a sense of cooperation and community, which was present last year. Once the course ended, the group didn’t. They kept writing, meeting, and then they put together this book. A book is a tiny thing and a huge thing. Every book is important because it has an effect on somebody else, and doubtless this one will have an effect on many people who will read it, but it also had an effect on those who wrote it. They are not just writers, they created this work — they sat down and decided, ‘We’re going to do this.’"

The evening continued with a unique 'pop-up' set of readings from the 11 members of The Indentations present. Each read around 90 words from their piece to keep the launch lively and swift. Closing the event, Paula Kavanagh thanked the School of Adult Education in Maynooth for hosting the course, and John MacKenna and Angela Keogh, along with Kilcullen's own Ilona Blunden, who also teaches on the course. "We owe them a debt of gratitude, because we are a product of their legacy, turning writers into authors."

Finally, presentations were made to John MacKenna, Tríona Walsh, Stephen McDonagh, Karen Brown, and Dawn Behan of Woodbine Books, before Paula said the magic words: "It's not over yet, there's booze left ..." 

If there was one valuable lesson the writers had learned from the course, it was how to end a story properly.

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