‘Up To Us’ Poetry Competition 2014

by Trish Groves, Campaigns Officer

Trócaire and Poetry Ireland proudly launched our third joint poetry competition on Monday 10th February 2014. This year’s theme is sustainable living, as part of Trócaire’s ‘Up To Us’ campaign.

Entries are invited from both published and emerging poets, in English and Irish, with special categories for younger entrants and a new Spoken Word category for performance poetry. Poets can submit up to THREE poems, and entry is free.

Curtear fáilte roimh iontrálacha le haghaidh an tríú comórtas bliantúil filíochta Trócaire Éigse Éireann ar an téama ‘It’s Up To Us!’

The closing date is Monday 7th April 2014, and winners will be notified by Friday 9th May 2014. Entries will be judged by poets Mary Shine Thompson and Nuala Ni Dhomnaill, and Trish Groves from Trócaire.

Prizes for adults include choices such as a stay at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Annaghmakerrig, a year’s subscription to Poetry Ireland Review, or professional feedback on your poetry through Poetry Ireland’s Critical Assessment Service. Younger entrants can win a Kindle or book tokens, and a visit to your school by a writer.

Enter the competition via Poetry Ireland’s website.

Watch highlights from last year’s competition:

The winning poems are also published in booklet form, and distributed to arts festivals and community events, and through schools and poetry readings. Winners and runners up are invited to read at our lunchtime awards ceremony at the National Library of Ireland in Dublin, and many past winners have gone on to read at events around Ireland, including Culture Night and All Ireland Poetry Day. This is a genuine opportunity for new and emerging poets to find new readers, while exploring this year’s theme of global sustainability: It’s up to us  to conserve our precious resources and protect our environment.

Read the work of last year’s winning poets.

Visit Trócaire’s Up To Us web page for lots of practical suggestions and inspiration for your poetry competition entry.

Enter the poetry competition via Poetry Ireland’s website.

For updates about the competition, please Like our Facebook page www.facebook.com/trocaireireland and follow us on 

Twitter @trocaire.