Budding Mayo author wins short story competition
Crossmolina National School pupil Eoin Floyd has won the over 10s section of the Specsavers Irish Book Awards’ short story competition.
The 11-year-old Mayo native entered the competition and beat off strong competition to win a hamper of the shortlisted books featured in the recent Irish Books Awards children’s category. He was also awarded €500 for his school library.
The short story competition celebrates Specsavers’ sponsorship of the junior and senior Irish Children's Book of the Year categories at this year’s An Post Irish Book Awards 2021. This year’s theme was based on a magical fortune teller who predicts an amazing adventure. Eoin’s winning story, entitled Time Travel, was full of suspense and creativity which had the judges on the edge of their seat.
Eoin was extremely grateful for the hamper of books that was presented to him at Specsavers Ballina, saying: “I am so happy to have won this competition. It was a lovely surprise. It’s been exciting to come and get my picture taken while being awarded with my prize and the donation for the school library. Thanks to Specsavers for everything.”
Store partner at Specsavers Ballina, Kelley McGrath, added: “We are delighted to award Eoin with his prize. He is such a deserving winner with his very creative story. It’s also our honour to be in a position to support a local school with a €500 donation for the school library. I am sure the school is as proud of Eoin as we are.
“Children have the most creative imaginations and have such a wonderful ability to make us smile. We were so happy to see Eoin win and proudly represent Mayo that we wanted to treat him to an extra gift of €100 book token to ensure he keeps feeding that creative imagination of his and his classmates.”
Speaking about Eoin’s win, his teacher Geraldine O'Malley said: “Eoin’s brilliant story demonstrates his wonderful creative talent and his ability to exhibit it in an eloquent and concise manner. We are all very proud of his achievement.
“Consequentially, Eoin winning the competition created great excitement in the whole school. The €500 prize money is most welcome and will be used to benefit all of our pupils.
“Eoin and his class-mates are especially grateful to Specsavers Ballina for the €100 voucher for Eason. They are making a list of their favourite books and authors to add to the class library.”
To see Eoin read his story, visit Specsavers Ireland on Facebook. For more information about Specsavers Ballina or to make an appointment, call (096) 75446 or visit www.specsavers.ie/stores/ballina.