North West Words 2017 English and Irish language adult poetry competitions

North West Words has launched two 2017 English and Irish language adult poetry competitions sponsored by Aurivo and Ealaín na Gaeltachta.




The 2017 English poetry competition is now in its sixth year and is open to original and previously unpublished poems in English. The prize is €250 and a perpetual cup also donated by Aurivo. The English poetry competition will be judged by poet Kate Newmann from Summer Palace Press.

This year, we again have a second Irish language poetry competition. North West Words believes it is important to recognise the wealth of contemporary Irish language poetry in the country. The group, partnered with Ealaín na Gaeltachta (the body responsible for the development of the Arts in the Gaeltacht regions), have combined for a third year to develop an Irish language competition that champions new poetry written in Irish. The competition will have the same format as its English language counterpart with a prize of €250 to be awarded to the entrant who composes the best poem as Gaeilge. The winner will also receive a perpetual trophy sponsored by Aurivo, and it is judged by poet Proinsias Mac a’Bhaird.

North West Words is a non-profit organisation run on voluntary effort. The competition fee of €5 per entry (for up to three poems) goes towards the administrative costs of the competition. Deadlines for entry are 3oth November 2017 for poems in English, and 31st December 2017 for poems in Irish. Payment may be made via Paypal (see below) or by Cheque, Postal Order, Money Order (by post to the address in the rules document)

Download the rules document here in English and in Irish

Entry is €5.00

Payment by Paypal, please click on the link below.

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