Maria Edgeworth Poetry & Short Story Competition 2019!

Maria Edgeworth Poetry & Short Story Competition 2019!

The closing date for this one is the 8th of March so still plenty of time. You can submit up to five poems or a short story with the poems limited to 40 lines and the short story limited to 2000 words. Each submission is €5. Poems can be uploaded or posted by regular mail to: Competition Secretary, Edgeworthstown Literary Society, Old Schoolhouse, Ballymahon Road, Edgeworthstown, Co. Longford. Full details are on the Poetry Ireland website, link to the right. The prizes are: 1st Prize - €250, 2nd Prize - €100 and 3rd Prize - €50. But check out rules of entry and other details on site. 

Lisa O'Neill :: Rock The Machine (This Ain’t No Disco)

I came across this song on late night radio (RTE) and this girl has to be one of the best folk singers out there, so wherever you are in the world give a listen. Comes from Ballyhaise in County Cavan I believe. For credits read the comments on youtube! With thanks to Myles O' Reilly who posted and the share button!

Listowel Writers Week 2019!

Listowel Writers Week 2019!

The above runs from the 29th of May to the 2nd of June and there are any number of writing events and competitions to whet your interest. Their website looks really interesting and the link to is as below. Contact number and email are as follows. Tel: 068 21074 and info@writersweek.ie 

Website: https://writersweek.ie . Give a look and be sure to watch out for closing dates on competitions! 

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure!

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure!

On a theme of ~ New Voices ~ the night began with an intro as to your introduction to poetry in school . Which brought in more than a few interesting insights and thoughts. The first poem read was by Radclyffe Hall, Our Dead which was followed by Feelings on Looking At The Moon, by Bai Juyi, a Chinese poet who lived from (772-846). Kate Tempest's, Ballad of a Hero was followed by Hannah Hodgson's, It's Not My Fault, a meditation on illness. A Prayer of Summer by Max Ehrmann, who would be best known for Desiderata was next, followed by To a Grandmother by Ruairi Somers who has just returned from China. A Wise Old Owl, which was first published by Punch in April 1875 and is an old English nursery rhyme was also read, followed by I married a man from the County Roscommon, or the back of beyond by Gillian Clarke followed by Toilet by Hugo Williams. I read the poem from the film Fracture, The Waiting Place which is an edited down version of a poem by Dr. Seuss, "Oh The Places You'll Go" and couldn't resist slipping in Tears in Rain by Rutger Hauer where he goes off script in The Blade Runner (1982). A piece that has been described as perhaps the most moving death soliloquy in cinematic history. Sean Reilly finished off the night with a song, I'll Remember You Love In My Prayers. I'm getting a number of credits on that, so will have to chase it up with Sean? The theme for February is Poems of The Heart. Cinema night in An Tobar is Friday January the 25th at 7.30 pm.

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure!

An Tobar ~ Poetry for Pleasure

The first meeting of the Poetry for Pleasure group (2019) takes place this Tuesday night coming in An Tobar Ardbraccan, Navan with a guiding theme of "Unknown Poets" though someone is sure to have come across one or two of them in their travels. Should make for an interesting evening. For further details please contact Jim Owens at 087 967 6728 or Jackie Smyth (An Tobar) at 046 789 73. All are welcome and light refreshments will be served.  

Trim Poetry Festival 2019!

Trim Poetry Festival 2019!

To coincide with the launch of the 25th issue of the Boyne Berries literary magazine the Boyne Writers Group are holding a poetry festival on the 15th and the 16th of March with guest readers, Peter Fallon, Ron Carey and Enda Wyley. There is also a poetry competition accepting submissions from the 1st of January to the the 7th of February with an entry cost of €5 for one poem or €10 for three. Must be entered as a single attachment (One document) and sent to trimpoetry@gmail.com with payment through PayPal.

Details in body of the email.

(1) The entrants name 

(2) Address

(3) Phone number

(4) Titles of poems

(5) Paypal transaction number

(6) Times New Roman 12 point, single spacing

(7) Less than 60 lines per poem.

(8) Must not be previously published or broadcast anywhere

(9) Entrants must be 18 years or older.

The judge are Orla Fay and Michael Farry with €500 to the winner. All details can be found on their website for the competition. Trim Poetry Festival . Also info on Orla's website link to the right. The judges will read all entries.

Stephen A. DiBiase Poetry Prize!

Fourth Annual Stephen A. DiBiase Poetry Prize.

Here's one to start the new year and free to enter I believe but check out for further details over on the home page or on the Poetry Ireland website ( Competitions ) link to the right. The closing date is January the 15th so only a week or so to get your entry in. Details as below!

(1) Your name

(2) Your mailing address

(3) Your e-mail address

(4) The title of you poem

(5) A ten word description of yourself

Mail to Bob Sharkey at 19 Hunter Avenue Latham NY 12110 USA.

Or submit to riverrun@nycap.rr.com  (One poem only and no rules or limitations!) 

Prizes: $ 500 for first place

            $ 400 for second place

            $ 300 for third place

            $ 200 for fourth place

Also cash awards for honorable mentions!