Michael Colgan has decided to withdraw from this year's programme as he believes his continued involvement could distract from the festival.
The 12 finalists in the Allingham Songwriting Contest are (in no particular order):
Eileen Kane - 'Surf The Waves'
Bri Carr - 'A Little Bit Diva'
Rose Connolly - 'Don't Forsake Me'
Martina Flaherty - 'Maybe'
Blackbird & Crow - 'Ugly Duckling'
Andy Cox - 'Don't Cry Baby'
Elaine O'Dea - 'Swallows'
Michael Tracey - 'Full Moon'
Marion Nolan - 'Easy Lovin'
Mirenda Rosenberg - 'Don't Sacrifice'
Mick Joyce - 'Better Than Beckham'
Dean Maywood - 'Louisiana'
The finalists will battle it out in front of the judges at the Live Final in Dicey Reilly's Pub, Ballyshannon, on Friday November 10th from 10pm. This is always a great evening with music and performances of all styles.
The wait is finally over! The judges had a very difficult task this year as the quality of entries was exceptionally high, but we also received many more entries in both Poetry and Fiction than usual. It's clear that our literary future is in safe hands. Congratulations to all the winners, and well done to all who took part.
We look forward to seeing you at the awards ceremony in the Abbey Arts Centre on Saturday Nov. 11th at 1.30 pm (please note, the Primary School awards will take place at 12.00pm).
UNDER 13 POETRY
'Waterhen' by Sean Livesley, St. Columba’s College, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal.
'Love and Loss' by Olivia Diver, Ballybofey, Co. Donegal.
'Warnings' by Emma Couley, Crana College, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.
Highly Commended
'Friends' by Megan Doherty, St. Columba’s Stranorlar, Co. Donegal.
'Do You Know That Feeling' by Alisha Crawford, St. Columba’s, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal.
'War' by Caitlyn Ellison, Royal Grammar School, Enniskillen.
' Smile' by Ashley Beaumont, Royal Grammar School, Enniskillen.
UNDER 15 POETRY
'Lough Melvin' by Ben Kelly, St. Michael’s College, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh
'Kneeling' by Órnath Ní Fheargaile, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal.
'Water' by Tom Blake, St. Michael’s College, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
'The Earth' by Tommy Fitzpatrick, St. Michael’s, Enniskillen.
'What Age Are You?' by Aoife O Riordan, Crana College, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.
UNDER 19 POETRY
'Uncle' by Luíseach Alexander, Killygordon, Co. Donegal.
'To A Scarlet Woman' by Evie Lunn, Mercy College, Sligo.
'Shoulder to Shoulder' by Lucy Breslin, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
'You' by Klaudia Ptasinska, Collooney, Co. Sligo.
'Nothing Lasts Forever' by Javeria Ramzan, Heather View, Sligo.
'The School Corridor' by Bethan Seymour, Enniskillen Royal Grammar.
UNDER 13 FLASH FICTION
'The Note' by Ella O Connor, Collooney, Co. Sligo.
'Awake' by Maeve Coyle, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.
'Crime Scene' by Kate McGarry, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
'Oscar Abercrombie' by Anna Louisa McCurren, Enniskillen Royal Grammar.
'A Walk in the Woods' by Sorcha Feehilly, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon.
'The Escape' by Cian O Donnell, Crana College, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.
UNDER 15 FLASH FICTION
'You Already Have' by Aoife Devlin, Ursuline College Sligo.
'The Negotiator' by Harry Rees, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School.
'Grandparents' Day' by Molly Lavelle, Crana College, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
'Get Even' by Nadine Melly, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.
'The Battle for the Best' Maebh Kelly, Burnfoot, Co. Donegal.
'A Day for the Ducks' by Amy Carney, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.
'Fatherly Love' by Katie White, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.
'On the Edge' by Amy Gallagher, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.
UNDER 19 FLASH FICTION
'Green (James)' by Emma Elliott, Enniskillen Royal Grammar School, Co. Fermanagh
'Come On Johnny' by Niamh Messenger, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon Co. Donegal.
'The Calamity of Christmas' by Caoimhe Doherty-Craig, Coláiste Cholmcille, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
'The North' by Eva McIntyre, Crana College, Buncrana, Co. Donegal. The North
'Tír Gan Anam' by Laura Ní Dhúibhir, Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dhobhair, Co. Donegal.
'Yet Another Day' by Andrea Mihoc, Crana College, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.
'Compliance' by P.J. McKinney, Crana College, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.
'The Adoption' by Catherine Sweeney, Crana College, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.
'Waves' by Darragh Harkin, Clonmany, Co. Donegal.
The shortlist for the Allingham 2017 Poetry Competition is as follows:
Moyra Donaldson
Frank Fahey
James Finnegan
Siobhán Flynn
Teresa Godfrey
Patrick Holloway
Paul Jeffcutt
John D. Kelly
Olivia Kenny McCarthy
Rose Malone
Karen O'Connor
John Baylis Post
Maresa Sheehan
Well done to all those who entered. This was a record year for entries in the Poetry competition. Best of luck to all those who have been shortlisted. Winners will be contacted in the near future.
The shortlist in the Allingham 2017 Flash FictionCompetition is as follows:
Mary Angland
Amy Campbell
Chris Connolly
Michela Esposito
Patrick Holloway
Louise Kennedy
Paul Lenehan
Róisin Loughrey
Niamh MacCabe
Siobhán McNamara
Una Mannion
Best of luck to all! The shortlist for Poetry
willbe published in coming days.