Submissions for Irish Pages on Seamus Heaney

The Editors of Irish Pages, Chris Agee and Cathal Ó Searcaigh, are currently assembling a special issue entitled "Heaney", in English and Irish, due out in October 2014. There will be a particular focus, of course, on poetry, memoir, reminiscence and literary essays of a non-specialist nature directly relating to the man and his work but the issue will also include outstanding writing of all creative genres, especially poems, from Ireland and overseas, in a posthumous celebration of the enduring literary imagination in general.

Submissions should be sent by the middle of May by email to editor@irishpages.org, or by post to The Editors, Irish Pages/Duillí Éireann, 129 Ormeau Road, Belfast BT7 1SH.

Full details of the journal and its submission procedure can be found at www.irishpages.org.

The Pickled Body - Bull

The quarterly online poetry and art magazine, the Pickled Body is calling for submissions of poetry on the theme Bull.

We’re calling for Bull for Issue 1.3.  Send up to three of your best tothepickledbody@gmail.com .  Please include “Bull” in the subject line of your email submission.  Poems must not have been published elsewhere, and should be included in your email as an attachment (word doc/pdf file).

Deadline for submissions:  May 15, 2014. 

Baffle us with your brilliance or your bull.

Here is their website and go here for an idea of what they like.

The Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award 2014

I have entered this a few times and have been twice commended, never the bride...


The Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award for a first unpublished collection of poems in English is open to poets, born in the island of Ireland, or of Irish nationality, or long term resident in Ireland. The award is now in its 43rd year. Previous winners include Eileán Ni Chuilleanáin, Paul Durcan, Thomas McCarthy, Peter Sirr, Sinead Morrissey, Conor O’Callaghan, Celia de Freine and Joseph Woods.

The winner of this year’s award will receive €1,000.

Closing date for entries is Friday 25th July 2014.

The Award will be presented on the evening of the Friday 26th September 2014 at the opening of the Annual Patrick Kavanagh Weekend in Inniskeen.

Rules and entry form from the Patrick Kavanagh Centre, Inniskeen:

Tel. 00353(0)429378560, Fax 00353(0)429378855 E-mail: infoatpkc@eircom.net

www.patrickkavanaghcountry.com

Free Wee Library Poetry Competition 2014

Buncrana in Donegal has a fantastic project called Free Wee Library where there are gorgeous wee libraries scattered about where you can exchange books. This competition is, I think, to spread the word as well as fund raise.  I'd love to have these around my town.

Check out this link http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-23500788

Poetry Competition for adults and children - English and Irish Language Categories

Prizes will be awarded for 1st 2nd English and 1st 2nd Irish Language for each Category as follows:

• Adults:
• 1st Prize €150 + 250 copies of winning poem printed in bookmark format for distribution throughout the FWLP
• 2nd Prize €75 + 100 copies of winning poem printed in bookmark format for distribution throughout the FWLP.
• Children Over 10:
• 1st Prize €30+ 100 copies of winning poem printed in bookmark format for distribution throughout the FWLP
• 2nd Prize €15 + two book vouchers
• Children Under 10:
• 1st Prize €20 + 100 copies of winning poem printed in bookmark format for distribution throughout the FWLP
• 2nd Prize €10 + two book vouchers

The competition is open to everyone as long as the poem is the original work of the author submitting it.

 Entries must not have been previously published in any media, self published, broadcast, and/or won any competition. Both English and Irish poems are being accepted.

Entry Fee
There will be an entry fee for the adult sections of €5 (for a maximum of 3 poems) Fee made payable by cheque or postal order to Free Wee Library Project C/O The Exchange, Castle Ave, Buncrana, Co Donegal
No entry fee for children’s section.

The entrant’s name should NOT be written on the poem but should be written on a separate sheet with full contact details (name, address, telephone numbers, email address) To ensure fairness writers’ names will not be revealed to the judging panel until winners have been selected.

Poems can be on any subject with a maximum limit of 15 lines per poem. Early entries will be much appreciated.

Closing date 5pm on 30th May 2014.

The winning poets will be notified by 20th June 2014 and will be invited to read their poems at a prize- giving in The Exchange, Buncrana, Co Donegal during Feel Good Fortnight. (Date TBC)

Copyright remains with the poet, but Free Wee Library Project reserves the right to first publication or broadcast of the winning poem.

Bristol Short Story Prize

The Bristol Short Story Prize is an annual international writing competition open to all published and unpublished, UK and non-UK based writers. They publish an annual anthology of the winning stories as well as presenting cash prizes.

Closing date is midnight on 30th April. 

20 stories will be published in our 7th anthology, 
1st prize £1000, 2nd prize £700, 3rd prize £400. 17 further prizes of £100. 

Sara Davies leads the judging panel with literary agent,Rowan Lawton, and celebrated writers, Sanjida O’Connell and Nikesh Shukla.

The maximum length of submissions is 4,000 words (does not include title)

There is an entry fee of £8 for each story submitted. 

Entry can be made online or by post. Please click here for more details.

Highlands & Islands Short Story Competition

The Highlands & Islands Short Story Competition has a first prize of £400. Second and third are £50 each and there are several high commended places. All of these stories will be published on their website. The first prize also includes an offer of a writing retreat in Wales, worth almost £600.

The deadline is the 31st of July 2014.

They are looking for short stories of up to 2,500 words.

Entry Fee: £5 per story or £12 for three.

Open theme, with no link to Scotland required by either entrant or theme.
They say, “We enjoy both conventional and unusual story lines, and positively encourage the latter.”
The competition is for amateur writers.

More information is available here.

Poetry Divas at Feile na Bealtaine

The Poetry Divas are excited to be featuring down in lovely Dingle at Feile na Bealtaine this May bank holiday weekend.

Saturday 5th May 7pm
with singer Sophie Coyle 
TIG UÍ CATHÁIN, BAILE AN FHEIRTÉARAIGH
Admission: €8

Sunday 4th May – 5pm 

Along with Ann Connolly, a BBC slam poetry finalist, a grandmother, a published poet, and a rusty speaker of Irish having long ago left these shores for Scotland.The Dingle Bookshop, Green Street
Link here

Also

Thursday & Friday 1st & 2nd May

After a series of six eclectic creative writing workshops, a voluntary group of students from Transition Year in Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne will perform their work in the Youth Bus on 1st and 2nd May as part of Féile na Bealtaine.

Venue: The Youth Bus, Dingle, Co. Kerry

Friday 2nd May 5pm
A poetry reading by one of Northern Ireland's foremost contemporary poets, Michael Longley. Known for using classical allusions to cast provocative light on contemporary concerns—including Northern Ireland’s “Troubles”—Longley’s poetry is also marked by sharp observation of the natural world, deft use of technique, and deeply felt emotion.
Venue: An Díseart / Centre of Irish Spirituality and Culture, Dingle
Admission: €8


Saturday 3rd May  11am
'Dick Mack's Poetry Morning', an annual event featuring an array of inspirational and talented poets and musicians from Dingle and across the globe. Special guests this year include Chill Pill slam poets, Justin McCarthy, and Susan Kiehl.
They say "Our annual poetry morning is always bursting at the seems and oozing with talent so get yourselves in early. We host an array of inspirational and talented poets and musicians from our own hometown and across the globe. This is a morning with an atmosphere you won’t forget."
Venue: The Dick Mack Cafe, Green St, Dingle


Saturday 3rd May  1pm
A poetry reading by Gerry Stembridge.
"A highly entertaining performer in his own right, Gerry will read from his recent novel, “The Effect of Her” which is partly set in the Dingle Peninsula."
Dingle District Court
Admission: €8

Saturday 3rd May  6:30pm
A reading with Nuala Ní Dhomhnall accompanied by music from Mark Crickard.
Venue: An Lab

Saturday 3rd May  11pm
A night of slam poetry with the Chill Pill Slam Poets, made up of Simon, Deanna, and Raymond. They say "Chill Pill have long wowed Londoners with their bespoke Spoken Word nights, and now they’re going to try and conquer Dingle."

Venue: Dingle District Court, the Mall, Dingle
Admission: €8


and lots of amazing art and music. So get yourself to Kerry for a weekend of fun.