Claire Keegan, Scéalta contributor, won first prize in the Francis McManus Irish short story award.

'There is much to admire, not least the lyrical writing, which at times creates a dream-like atmosphere ... In a modern world where feeling and emotion are frequently contained and packaged for safe consumption, the kind of raw passion and danger on offer here is certainly worth engaging with.' Derek Hand, The Irish Times

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For breakfast we met a girl who did not introduce herself. There was a sickening smell of hot, dead fat. I fled outside. A group of born-again Christians were singing in the garden next door. Back in the kitchen the girl was now wiping the remains of her breakfast from her face with the back of her hand.

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