A Second Opinion by Caoilinn Hughes

A spectacular encounter in a wintry Galway Bay forces a woman to start imagining a new future for herself. Packed with humanity and humour, Caoilinn Hughes’ story is the fourth contender for this year’s BBC National Short Story Award with the University of Cambridge, and explores grief, female friendship, and things we do in the name of love. Cathy Belton reads ‘A Second Opinion’.

Caoilinn Hughes is an award-winning Irish novelist and short story writer. Her novels include 'The Wild Laughter' (2020), which won the RSL’s Encore Award and 'The Alternatives' (2024). Her short stories have won the Irish Book Awards’ Story of the Year, the Moth Short Story Prize, and an O. Henry Prize. Her story, ‘Two Hands’, was shortlisted for the BBC National Short Story Award, 2025. Caoilinn Hughes grew up in Galway and now lives in London.

The annual BBC National Short Story Award with the University of Cambridge celebrates its 21st anniversary in 2026 with a shortlist of five short stories by multi-award-winning writers and astonishing new talent from across the United Kingdom. Set in locations across the globe, from the Australian bush to Galway Bay, this year’s tender and vivid stories explore the value of human connection across generations and through friendship in a fractured world.
Marking the awards is Di Speirs, who has judged the BBC National Short Story Award since its launch. She will be joined on the judging panel by 2022 NSSA winner Saba Sams and two former NSSA shortlistees, Tahmima Anam (2016) and Will Eaves (2017), and Costa Best First Novel Award winner, Andrew Micheal Hurley.

The BBC National Short Story Award with the University of Cambridge was established to raise the profile of the short form and this year’s all-female shortlist join an impressive list of alumni.

From 14 to 18 September, all five of the shortlisted stories can be heard at 3.30pm each afternoon on Radio 4. The winner of the 21st BBC National Short Story Award with the University of Cambridge will be announced live on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row at 7.15pm on Tuesday 29 September 2026.

Reader: Cathy Belton
Writer: Caoilinn Hughes
Abridged and produced by Justine Willett