International Writing Competition discovers talented new London Irish writer

A panel of world famous Irish writers has awarded a major literary prize to a London mother of two in an international writing competition run by Virtual Ireland -- the Internet site that serves the Irish community at home and abroad.

Bridget Whelan of Islington, North London won the first prize of $4000 for her short story Fathers Day.
The judges included Mary A. Larkin (The Wasted Years), Colin Bateman (Divorcing Jack), Marie Jones (Stones in His Pockets), Paddy Logue (Being Irish), Keith Baker (Lunenburg), and Eamonn Mallie (Endgame in Ireland). Bridgets story reveals the thoughts of two fathers forced to say goodbye to their daughters -- one because she is pregnant, the other because she is entering a convent on the other side of the world. Neither father is able to articulate his grief and both know that they will never see their child again.

www.virtualireland.co runs an on-line music store, pen pal service, and genealogy section. It described Bridgets entry in its first literary competition as 'a subtle and thought provoking story that they would like to see developed into a fully-fledged novel. The first prize is one of the highest awarded in creative writing competitions.

Bridget is second generation Irish; her mother is from Kerry and father from Offaly. She lives in Islington, London with husband and two teenage sons and works as a newspaper researcher on Dr Miriam Stoppards Daily Mirror column. She has also worked for investigative journalist Paul Foot and agony aunt Marje Proops.

Contact:

Virtual Ireland    
Allister Mulligan or
Neil O Brien +44 (0) 28 9057 9022

Bridget Whelan    
020 7293 3697 Office
020 7263 7334 Home