‘Bubble’ by Dublin writer Jamie Samson has been announced as the winning story in this year’s RTÉ Short Story Competition 2026 in honour of Francis MacManus.
The announcement was made live on RTÉ Radio 1’s Arena as part of an RTÉ Short Story Competition Special hosted by Rick O’Shea in Poetry Ireland / Éigse Éireann in Parnell Square, Dublin – listen back here.
As winner Jamie Samson received a cheque for €5,000 from judge Jan Carson. His short story, ‘Bubble’ follows a student’s night shift at a rundown Dublin off-licence, where an armed robbery takes a strange turn. Talking about the story, Jamie said, “I wanted to explore, in a tongue-in-cheek way, how life or death situations force us to decide what we’re willing to fight and risk everything for.”
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Listen to ‘Bubble’ by Jamie Sampson
Jamie Samson’s writing has appeared in The Irish Times, Channel, The Four-Faced Liar, Sans Press and The Stoney Collection; he was previously shortlisted in the RTÉ Short Story Competition in 2023. He is working on a novel set in West Cork during the 1920s.
Along with all the shortlisted stories, ‘Bubble’ is available to read and listen to via RTÉ Culture.
Second Prize went to ‘James Langley Was in Love with Sean Harris’ by Stephanie O’Connor, a research officer with the RCSI, originally from Bangor Co. Down, now living in Wicklow; she was presented with a cheque for €4,000 by judge Aingeala Flannery.
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Listen to ‘James Langley Was in Love with Sean Harris’ by Stephanie O’Connor
Third Prize went to ‘A Fork in the Road’ by Paul Edmondson, from Salford, England, now retired and living in Waterford, who was presented with a cheque for €3,000 by judge Tristan Rosenstock.
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Listen to ‘A Fork in the Road’ by Paul Edmondson
The seven runners-up received €300 each.
The winning short stories were selected by this year’s judges, Jan Carson, Aingeala Flannery and Tristan Rosenstock from a shortlist of 10 short stories listed below (shortlisted from almost 2,500 entries).
Commenting on this year’s shortlist and winners, Sarah Binchy, series producer said: “Our sincere congratulations to this year’s winners, and to all the writers on the shortlist. As the series marks 40 years on air, it’s heartening to see such a vibrant and varied range of stories on this year’s shortlist.
“Thanks to our reading panel and our thoughtful and insightful judges, Aingeala Flannery, Jan Carson and Tristan Rosenstock, to our fine array of renowned actors who have been bringing the stories to life on air and on podcast, and to our Late Date and Arena colleagues and colleagues in RTÉ Sound and RTÉ Listen, as well as our digital, marketing and comms teams for their great support for the competition.”