Penguin Ireland

A message from the new editor, Claire Hennessy at Penguin Ireland tells me to spread the word that they are actively seeking children’s and YA submissions at the moment, particularly fiction for 7+.

As with all submissions to publishers, agents or magazines, read the submission requirements very carefully and adhere to them to the letter.

We strongly encourage submissions via email, to: submissions@penguin.ie.
If you wish to submit electronically, please send a Word document consisting of a cover letter, short synopsis (no more than 500 words) and the work itself. The cover letter should include a brief summary of your book (a couple of sentences – not a synopsis) and a short note on yourself. Please do not send separate documents: all three elements should be included in a single document.

More details here

Also do your homework, what else have they published recently?

So if you have something, buff it up and send it to Claire. 

Dublin Launch of Galway Magazine Skylight

As you may know the Galway launch of Skylight Issue 4 was a success. The poet Helen Mort, who launched the issue that evening, was very kind in her words of praise about the issue. There were quite a few readings by contributors and the editor, Nicki Griffin, finished the evening very fittingly by reading a poem by Kevin O'Shea, which is printed on the last page of the magazine. 

But they're not finished yet ... On November 15th at 12.30, in Pearse Street Library, they are having their Dublin launch. If you couldn't make the Galway launch, this is a great opportunity to join them and celebrate the release of the issue - and, very importantly, get your hands on a copy.

They hope to see as many of you as possible there!

Gregory O'Donoghue International Poetry Prize

The Gregory O'Donoghue International Poetry Prize is now open for submissions! This is a prize for single poem, named in honour of a late Irish poet long associated with the Munster Literature Centre. 

Note that this competition has a history of giving the prizes to international poets, often in the academic tradition. My own personal opinion. I'd love to win...

First prize is 1,000 Euro (on 7 October 2014 approx. USD 1263 or GBP 784), a week-long writer’s retreat at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre and publication in Southword Literary Journal. 

The author who takes first prize will have the chance to read the winning poem at the Cork Spring Poetry Festival in February 2014. 

There will be a second prize of E500, third prize of E250, and ten runners-up will each have their poems published and receive Southword’’s standard fee of E30.  (http://www.munsterlit.ie/Southword/issues_index.html)

 

Deadline 30 November 2014 

Judge is poet Matthew Sweeney 

More information, including submission guidelines, may be found on the website: or via their Facebook group:  https://www.facebook.com/odonoghue.poetry.competition

Dublin City Council Arts Grants

Dublin City Council invites applications for funding towards arts projects and programmes in the city which are complementary to the following objectives:

• Stimulating public interest in the Arts,
• Promoting knowledge, appreciation and practice of the arts, or
• Improving standards in the arts within its functional area (Dublin City)

** So nothing about supporting artists here specifically.

Application forms, guidelines and criteria may be obtained from:

City Arts Office, Dublin City Council, The LAB, Foley St., Dublin 1
Tel: 222 7843 
or E-mail: victoria.kearney@dublincity.ie

OR DOWNLOAD CRITERIA & APPLICATION FORM HERE:

Deadline: Monday 10th November 2014 at 5pm 

2nd Ó Bhéal Winter Warmer Festival

Great Line up at Cork's Winter Warmer Poetry Festival.

They didn't ask me though.

Details here

21st – 22nd November 2014

Ó Bhéal’s second Winter Warmer festival weekend. Over twenty excellent poets will read and perform in the amphitheatre at Sample Studios, some of whom will be accompanied by musicians. Snatch Comedy Improv will be performing a set of poetry-focused comedy games,Sawa-Le will be performing poetry-theatre, a selection of poetry-films from around the world will be presented by Malgorzata Kitowski (from PoetryFilm), and these will be followed with a judges selection from the 2014 Ó Bhéal poetry-film competition. There will also be a closed-mic for ten local poets.

Free Admission to all events. Includes Eleanor Hooker,James Harper, Mary O'Donnell, Sarah Clancy, Thomas McCarthy,Louis de Paor, Alan Jude Moore, Paula Meehan

Donegal Creameries North West Words Poetry Prize

The Donegal Creameries North West Words Poetry Prize is in its third year.

Judge: Kate Newmann of Summer Palace Press 

Deadline: 14 November

Prize: €250 and perpetual Donegal Creameries North West Words Poetry Cup
Fineprint here

The maximum number of poems per entrant is 3. 

Entry fee: €5 (covers maximum entry of up to 3 poems)

I think an entry of 3 poems is a very good idea. One poem is such a lottery.

Send your poem(s) along with a cover letter with name, address, and phone number and/or email address, and title(s) of each poem submitted. 

Post entries to North West Words Poetry Prize 2014, 54 Thornberry, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. 

No on-line submissions so I would imagine the number of entries will be lower, greater chance of winning? A shortlist but only one prize.

A shortlist will be published on www.northwestwords.com on North West Words’ Facebook page and at North West Words’ Christmas event in Café Blend mid-December. 

The winning poet will be notified on Thursday, 15 January 2015

The winner of the competition will be announced and prize awarded at North West Words in Café Blend, Letterkenny, on Thursday, 29 January 2015. 

Cuisle Limerick City International Poetry Festiva

Cuisle

This year Cuisle Limerick City International Poetry Festival celebrates its twentieth anniversary with a special five day run, October 15 to 19, 2014.

Some of Ireland's best loved and most celebrated poets will join guests from their sister festivals across Europe. A special series of 'Poetry in Public Places' events honours Limerick City of Culture 2014. Cuisle establishes Limerick City as a centre of excellence for poetry locally, nationally, and internationally. Cuisle are delighted to host important figures from the world of contemporary poetry, including Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin, Macdara Woods, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, and Paddy Bushe. Newer names like Ed O’Dwyer and Caleb Brennan light the way for the next generation. Special guests John Davies and Sam Riviere from the UK join celebrated European poets Iztok Osojnik and Veronika Dintinjana.

The Cuisle Festival includes writing workshops, an open mic night, special tributes to Samuel Beckett, and the launch of the annual Stony Thursday Book, this year edited by Peter Sirr. Additionally, Tim Cunningham will launch his new poetry volume. There is a substantial education programme, including readings and workshops for schools. Poets Geraldine Mitchell, Conor O'Callaghan, Tom French, and Bridget Wallace round out the roster.

The 'Poetry in Public Places' initiative has four components. For "A Door Into The Dark" a dozen artists from Limerick Printmakers responded to the work of poets who have previously read at Cuisle. The resulting work is installed along Patrick Street. "Ghost Sonata" has been specially created by Mark Whelan. It consists of one long poem written on the windows of Roches Street. In cooperation with RTÉ Lyric FM, "Poems on the Air" places recordings both on the airwaves and in various retail spaces. Finally, Shedman will bring his famous travelling shed to Limerick. As he tells us: "My shed is very accessible. Anyone can come in to tell me their shed stories, to bring anecdotes and poems, pictures and photos, recollections and fantasies." A popular favourite!

The poetry of Samuel Beckett is a special feature of Saturday's festival. At 4pm join Cuisle for "Roundelay", a staged reading by the Fourfront Poets, previously featured in both Ireland and the UK. At 7pm Gerry Dukes will talk on Beckett, followed by noted actor Barry McGovern performing Beckett's poetry for stage. Not to be missed!

Lunchtime readings will be scheduled Thursday and Friday at 1pm (Sunday at 3pm) in the intimate surround of the Captain's Room at the Hunt Museum. Evening readings are located at 69 O'Connell St., Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7pm.

All events are ticketed, on the door, at an accessible €5. For the complete schedule and more information, including contributor bios and photos, please visit www.cuisle.org.

Download the CUISLE brochure here.