Poem in Fathers' Anthology

I have a poem in the recently published anthology fathers and what must be said. Copies are available on the Rebel Poetry (Cork) website.

Fathers’ Work

Dreams and bent shoulders,
work and free in the same sentence,
hard iron over their graves,
the nine to fivers, in fact he left
before eight and returned at six,
on Saturdays at one.

Then the home front – conacre,
spade-land, potato-ground, turbary,
gavelkind – potato planting to pitting
in Coleman’s far field, cutting
to toting home on Black’s bog;
temporary holdings.

He lost his hand estate mowing
sliced by his own sharpened blade;
sometimes blamed the first day
of the Somme to interest ladies.
Small compensation, no medals
for such as he.

He lost his leg power from years
on thatched roofs at the damp end
of autumn attempting late repairs
to hold off winter downpours
for farmers who had been
too busy harvesting.

Toil and timekeeping, dawn to
the going down, no time to stare
at the mountain’s changing shades,
wind beat through the gap
silenced by the thrum of tasks,
retirement a guilty luxury.

Michael Farry

Manchester Cathedral Poetry Competition

Manchester Cathedral Poetry Competition 2015 is now open for entries.
Prizes: First: £450 - Manchester Cathedral Poet of the Year 2015
Second: £250. Third: £150

Winners and seven runners-up will be invited to read their poetry at the Manchester Literature Festival event in October. Closing date: Friday 26 June 2015.

Entry criteria
Poems submitted should be broadly religious or ‘spiritual’ in nature and, like all good religious poetry, appeal to those who would not necessarily describe themselves as ‘religious’. We encourage poetry from a range of faith traditions, as well as from those struggling to discover a sense of the sacred. Poems are welcome in any style or form and will be judged solely their merits as poetry.

Judge 2015
The judge in 2015 is Kim Moore. Kim’s first collection 'The Art of Falling' will be published by Seren in April 2015. She won a New Writing North Award in 2014 and an Eric Gregory in 2011. Her pamphlet 'If We Could Speak Like Wolves' was a winner in the 2012 Poetry Business Pamphlet Competition and went on to be shortlisted for a Michael Marks Award.

Picture: Kim Moore reading at Grange-Over-Sands, Cumbria last September.

Full details on the website.

Family Carers Poetry Competition

Calling All Budding Poets: Caring for Carers Ireland in conjunction with Ennis Book Festival are inviting all Family Carers to submit a poem to our nationwide competition.

This Years Theme Is : The Caring Journey ... Who Knows

Poems should be no longer than 30 Lines and please include a brief biographical note. There is no entry fee.

Closing Date is Friday 13th  February 2015. This Competition will be independently judged.

Send Poems to: bbarron@caringforcarers.org or by Post to: B Barron, Caring for Carers Ireland, 2 Carmody Street Business Park, Ennis, Co Clare.

Entries may be submitted from anywhere in Ireland. The Competition is open to Family Carers 18 years or over. Employees of Caring for Carers Ireland are not eligible to enter.

Entries must be in English and the subject is “The Caring Journey… Who Knows”. Entries must not exceed 30 lines (not including title or blank lines).
Entries must be entirely the work of the entrant and must never have been published or have won a prize in any other competition prior to the publication of the competition.
There is no restriction on the number of entries any one competitor may submit.

Prizes
1st Prize a weekend away for two people
Follow up prizes include short Respite breaks and tickets to events at the Ennis Book Club Festival on the weekend of March 6-8th 2015.
The prize winners will be notified by email or telephone at the end of February 2015.
The Prizes will not be awarded to the same person in consecutive years.

Full details on website.

Caterpillar Poetry Competition

The Caterpillar is delighted to announce its inaugural poetry prize – for a single poem written by an adult for children (aged 7–11).

What we are looking for is a stand-out poem to which we can award a prize of €1,000 to celebrate the richness of children’s writing.

The Prize is open to everyone. The work must be original and previously unpublished. The entry fee is €12 per poem and you can enter as many poems as you like.

ENTER ONLINE HERE 

Or simply send your poem(s) along with a cheque or postal order made payable to The Moth Magazine Ltd. and an entry form (downloadable HERE) or a cover letter with your name and contact details and the title of poem(s) attached to: The Caterpillar, Drummullen, Cavan, Co. Cavan, Ireland.

The competition will be judged anonymously by the publishers of The Caterpillar and The Moth, Rebecca O’Connor and Will Govan.

Please make sure you READ THE RULES before entering the competition.

CLOSING DATE 31 MARCH 2015

The winning poem will feature in the summer 2015 issue of The Caterpillar. Commended poems may also be published in the same issue.

The best of luck!

Strokestown International Poetry Festival

The 2015 Strokestown International Poetry Festival is taking place this year from 1 to 3 May.  The closing date for entries for the Poetry Competitions is Friday 27 February.

Poems not exceeding 70 lines may be entered in the following categories:

The 2015 Strokestown International Poetry Award, for poems in English is being judged by poets Eva Bourke and Vincent Woods, with a first prize fund of €2,600.

Duais Filíochta Dhúbhglas de hÍde-The Douglas Hyde/Irish Language Poetry Prize with prize fund of €1,000 is being judged by poet Paddy Bushe

The Percy French Award for Comic Verse will be judged by the Strokestown Wit Committee.  The emphasis is very much on fun and the judges will be looking out for comic and witty verse for which a prize fund of €1,000 is being offered.

The Roscommon Poets Prize is for a poem in Irish or English of not more than 70 lines submitted by a resident of County Roscommon or a member of a County Roscommon Writers Group. Judge to be announced.

All poems entered will be read by the judges and shortlisted poets will be invited to read their work at the festival.

The entry fee per poem is €5 euro/ £5 sterling/ $5 US dollars for postal entry and you can also enter online at www.strokestownpoetry.org

Photo: Reading my poem at the Cyphers launch during Strokestown Festival 2014.

Playwriting Workshops with Deirdre Kinehan

Continuing the Meath County Council Arts Office FEACH professional training and mentorship programme, the Arts Office is pleased to announce a two day Literary Associate Writer’s Programme for emerging writers from Meath with acclaimed playwright Deirdre Kinehan.

The focus of playwriting workshops is 'Story'. How to generate and exploit story for drama and conflict- How to keep an audience engaged and guessing - How to manipulate story to its greatest effect keeping the drama vibrant, shifting and surprising.

During the course the participants will devise a new character and story completing a tiny play over the two days.

Deirdre Kinehan is actively involved in the Irish Theatre Sector both as Playwright and Producer. Her latest play, Spinning, premiered at the Dublin Theatre Festival 2014.  She is currently under commission to Manhattan Theatre Club New York and Fishamble Theatre Company.

Deirdre is co-writing her first feature film with the support of the The Irish Film Board and has another feature in development with BLINDER films, Dublin. She is published by Nick Herne Books.

This playwriting programme is an excellent opportunity for writers in Meath to discuss their work and professional development with an experienced and acclaimed writer. The workshop will run from 10.30am – 3.30pm daily in the Blackwater Suite of the Headfort Arms Hotel, Kells.

Places are limited to ten participants and the fee is €80 for the course. All bookings are through artsoffice@meathcoco.ie or 046 9097414

Poets Meet Politics Competition

The Poets Meet Politics competition closing date is 25 January 2015. This competition is for poems on political themes (however interpreted). There will be one prize of €500, and the winning and commended poems will be published on 14 March 2015.

Up to three poems, each maximum 40 lines, may be submitted per entry for the entry fee of 10 euro. You may submit as many entries as you wish.

The judge, Derek Sellen, is a widely published poet whose work has won awards or been placed in various national and international competitions over many years, including the National Poetry Competition. His poems have most recently appeared in Cinnamon Press anthologies. He is a past winner of Poets Meet Politics.

For details of conditions and how to enter, click here .

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everybody.

Some poems for the day and time here at Poetry Foundation.
My favourite has to be this one by Richard Hoffman.

December 31st
BY RICHARD HOFFMAN

All my undone actions wander
naked across the calendar,

a band of skinny hunter-gatherers,
blown snow scattered here and there,

stumbling toward a future
folded in the New Year I secure

with a pushpin: January’s picture
a painting from the 17th century,

a still life: Skull and mirror,
spilled coin purse and a flower.

Happy Christmas

HAPPY CHRISTMAS!

Our First Christmas Tree 

The countryside his common
wealth: holly, ash plants
his to harvest as required,
kindling in spring,
mushrooms in summer,
blackberries in autumn.

That winter we insisted,
so he took his saw
into starless dark
far beyond the stables,
guided by barbed wire,
returned with a trophy tree.

We crowned it with a silver-paper-covered
cardboard star, hung homemade ornaments
and tissue paper novelties,
pretended to be happier.

I bought one this Christmas
daylight, sized and packaged,
legal, lacking the challenge
of something on the margin,
the tang of trespass,
infant irritant
on the noisome
vain empire of excess.

from Asking for Directions (2012)

West Cork Literary Festival

The programme of workshops for the 2015 West Cork Literary Festival has been announced. If you book a place on one of these workshops before January 5th, you can avail of a special early bird price.  

The Festival has a new Director for 2015. Eimear O'Herlihy was formerly General Manager and Executive Director of the Everyman Theatre in Cork as well as Manager of the Cork Film Festival. The full programme will be announced in the New Year.

Workshops at the 2015 West Cork Literary Festival: Monday 13 - Friday 17 July 2015. Bantry.

Writing a Novel with John Boyne.
The Short Story with Tessa Hadley.
Poetry with Leanne O'Sullivan.
Memoir with Carlo Gébler
Investigative Reporting with Nick Davies
Playwriting with Deirdre Kinahan
Words Allowed with Dave Lordan
Wild Women Writing with Magi Gibson
Travel Writing with Anthony Sattin

For more details or to book online, go to Workshops.

Online booking is the only booking method available until January 5th 2015.

It will be possible to book by ringing the Festival office from January 5th onwards on +353 (0) 27 52788
Please note - the Early Bird price of €160 is for bookings made online before January 5th. The price is €175 for all bookings made from January 5th onwards.

Poetry Ireland Introductions

Poetry Ireland Introductions Series is a showcase for emerging poets working towards a first collection and with a track record of publication in journals and magazines.

This series offers emerging poets writing in Irish or English a public reading in the Irish Writers’ Centre in May or early June.

Introductions readers are chosen by an independent established poet who will lead a workshop focusing on form and craft.

A second facilitator will lead a workshop/master class focusing on the art of reading/performing poetry in public.

Submit now! For the 2015 Introductions Series. Deadline: 31 January 2015. Full details here.

To apply: Send a short covering letter accompanied by no more than 10 pages of poems. Poems may be previously published or unpublished. Poets submitting must ideally have work published in journals and magazines.

Applications should be sent to: Ayoma Bowe, Introductions Series, Poetry Ireland, 32 Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Selected applicants are usually informed within two months and, depending on the number of submissions, approximately 12 poets are selected each year.

Bealtaine Writers Launch Second Anthology of Poetry

In the Irish Writers Centre on Wednesday, 10 December, at 6.30pm the Bealtaine Writers will launch their Second Anthology of Poetry.

The Bealtaine group have been meeting at the Irish Writers Centre every month for the past fifteen and a half years.

Macdara Woods says in the Foreword of the Anthology: "They are an autonomous, serious, supportive group of writers, who believe in poetry, there are many truly marvelous realities at large in these pages and for the reader the joy of finding them."

All are welcome to come along and celebrate the launch with them on Wednesday 10 December at 6.30.

Congratulations to the group and especially to member, Tom Dredge, who is also a member of Boyne Writers Group.

Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize

Just four weeks left to enter the Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize and win €10,000, or one of the three runner-up prizes of €1,000! You can write on any subject and there's no line limit.

The Prize is open to everyone, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished. The entry fee is €12 per poem, and you can enter as many poems as you like.

This year’s competition will be judged by the poet Michael Symmons Roberts. His most recent collection, Drysalter, has been widely praised. It won the Costa Poetry Prize and was shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot prize. Guardian review here. He read at the Mountains to the Sea Festival in Dun Laoghaire this year and was very impressive.

You can enter online or by post. Closing date: 31 December 2014.   Full details, rules, entry on the website.

Cavan Literary Night - 2 December

AT The Edge, Cavan, proudly presents: The Cavan Literary Night with Three Border Poets: Noel Monahan, Kate Ennals and Dermot Maguire

Tuesday 2 December 2014, 6.30pm – 8pm in Johnston Library, Farnham St, Cavan

Followed by Open Mic (one poem or one page of prose – register at 6.30pm –  first come, first served. Further information from kateennals@live.co.uk )

The evening also includes the launch of a pamphlet of the Cana House Poets, 3rd series.

Event Free. Everyone welcome.
Supported by Cavan Arts Office

November "The Co Club".

Friday 28th November 2014. Creans Bar, Oldcastle, Co.Meath. 9:00pm - the November edition of  "The Co Club".

Music on the night will come from Brian Mooney and Dylan Tighe.

Art on the night will be displayed by local artist Michelle Boyle

Local award winning poet and publisher, Peter Fallon, is the special guest and he will read some poems from his latest collection 'Strong My Love'

It will be a night to remember so come along and enjoy a night of music, art and poetry. Free Admission

Francis Ledwidge Awards Results

The Francis Ledwidge International Poetry Competition results have been announced. This is an annual competition organized by the Inchicore Ledwidge Society.

I was delighted to have my poem, Tidying after Visitors, highly commended. Last year's winner was Mairéad Donnellan of LitLab and this year three LitLabbers made the lists, Pat Devaney, Andy Jones and myself. A good show as well by Doghouse poets.

Winner: Ann Moriarty, Co Limerick. Poem:  Preparation.
Second Place: Orla Martin, Dublin. Poem: The Poets.
Third Place: Liam Ryan, Co Laois. Poem: Orpheus.

Highly Commended:
Kevin Lynch. Dublin. Catherine Ann Cullen, Dublin. Christine Broe, Dublin. Eamonn Lynsky, Co Dublin. Denise Ryan, Dublin. Mari Maxwell, Co Galway. Karen O’Connor, Co Kerry. Michael Farry, Co Meath. Dawn Sullivan, Co Kerry. Ray Mullen,  Dublin.

Commended:
Gerry O’Donnell, Dublin. James Conway, Dublin. Aine Lyons, Dublin. Patrick Devaney, Co Cavan. Mary Melvin Geoghegan, Westmeath. Mary Jo Gibbons, Co. Meath. Patrick Waters, Dublin. Andy Jones, Co Cavan. Gearoid O’Brien, Co Westmeath. Margaret Zheng, Dublin.

The Awards Ceremony will take place at Donoghues, The Glen of Aherlow, 29 Emmet Road, Inchicore, Dublin, on Thursday 27 November 2014 at 8.00pm.  All are welcome.

Cafe Writers Poetry Competition

 Cafe Writers Poetry Competition 2014. Closing Date 30 November 2014.

Prizes: 1st  £1000; 2nd £300; 3rd £200; Six Commended Prizes of £50.

Entry Fee: £4 per poem; or £10 for 3 poems and £2.00 per poem thereafter.

The judge is David Morley, Professor at Writing at Warwick University and adjunct Professor at Monash University, Melbourne. His collections include The Gypsy and the Poet (Carcanet, 2013), a PBS Recommendation and a Morning Star Book of the Year, and Biographies of Birds and Flowers: Selected Poems (Carcanet, 2015).

Competition Rules: Maximum of 40 lines per poem (excluding title). Entries must be entirely the work of the entrant, in English, and must never have been published, self-published, published on any web-site or broadcast. Enter by post or online using Paypal.

Prizewinners will be notified in writing by 31st January 2015.

Full details on website.

New Poetry Anthology - Fathers

I'm delighted to have a poem included in this anthology, fathers and what must be said. Thanks to the editors Michael Corrigan and Michael H Clay.

The launch date is Saturday 29 November at the Spinning Wheel in Castletownroche, County Cork.

Here is the full list of poets whose poems have been chosen for the anthology:
Bradley R Strahan; John Davis; Jim Gustafson; Liam Aungier; Peadar O’Donoghue; Helene Cardona; Joe Baldwin; Paul Ó Colmáin; Greagoir ODuill; Jim Lewis; Michael Farry; Nessa O’Mahony; Si Philbrook; Pete Mullineaux; Robert Lipton; Alan Halford; Andrea Potos; Rachel Davies; Jim Hart; Joe Healy; Karen Foster; Hugh McFadden; Tyler Tsay; Tim J Brennan; Derek Coyle;Philip Quirke; Muesser Yeniay; Nicki Griffin; Harry Man; Robert Harper; Simon McCormack; Janice Windle; Amanda Bell; Harry Owen; Ruairi Gough; Gene Barry; Anna Tannam; Roy Marshall; Saskia Stehouwer; Ronnie McGinn; Jeannie E. Roberts; Anne Elezabeth Pluto; Gina Nemo; Maurice Devitt; Michael Corrigan; Karen O’Connor; Michael H Clay; Shirley Bell; Miceál Kearney; Tory Campbell; Marie O’Halloran; Michael Brown; Erin Murphy; Rita Chapman; Liam Ryan; John Saunders; Darren Donohue; May Leonard; Steven F Klepeter; George Harding; Maria Whelan

Reading: War Poets and War Poetry

In Flanders Fields - War Poets and War Poems An evening of history, poetry and poems with an introduction from guest poet and historian Dr. Michael Farry.

All Welcome. Come along and read your favourite war poem.

Venue: The Yeats Memorial Building, Sligo. Date: Tuesday November 11th. Time: 8.00pm

I was delighted to be asked to contribute to this - any excuse to spend some time in Sligo and the Yeats Society readings are always welcoming and friendly.

Not easy to decide what to say and read but I have decided to talk a little about what the term "War Poetry" covers and how this has changed since 1914. I'll talk about which poets are now regarded as belonging to the canon of War Poets. I'll read some lesser well-know war poems, some by women including Irish authors and some local Sligo writers.

Being in the Yeats Memorial Building I'll also make some reference to Yeats' attitude to war poetry and the war poets.

Lots of discussion and poems available online. For example:
First World War Poetry Digital Archive.
At the Poetry Foundation.
http://www.warpoetry.co.uk/
Female Poets of WW1 Blog.

Fish Short Story Competition

Short Story Prize: €3,000. The ten best stories will be published in the 2015 Fish Anthology.

This year's judge, Jennifer Johnston, has been described by Roddy Doyle as "Ireland's greatest writer." She is the recipient of many awards, including The Whitbread Award for The Old Jest, and a Lifetime Achievement from the Irish Book Awards, and has been short-listed for the Booker Prize. She has published 16 novels and five plays.

Closing Date: 30 November 2014; Word Limit: 5,000; Results: 17 March 2015; Anthology Published: July 2015; Submission Fee: €20 for first, €10 thereafter.

Critique of your story (optional): €45, available year round.

First Prize: €3,000; Second Prize: A week in residence at Anam Cara Writers Retreat in West Cork.

Please read the Full Details before entering. Read stories from previous Fish Anthologies

Writing tips at Fish

Submissions may also be sent by post to Fish Publishing, Durrus, Bantry, Co. Cork, Ireland.