Poetry Ireland Introductions

Applications are now open for Poetry Ireland Introductions 2021, which will offer poets in the early stages of their careers, writing in Irish or English, the opportunity to showcase their work through workshops and performance.

The poets selected for Introductions 2021 will participate in a workshop focused on poetic form and craft, as well as a masterclass on the art of reading and performing poetry in public. A third workshop will be offered on preparing a first collection.

Poetry Ireland Introductions 2021 will culminate in a number of public readings during the prestigious International Literature Festival Dublin.

Poetry Ireland is delighted to announce that poet Séan Hewitt will select this year’s participants and will also lead the form and craft workshop, which will take place in April. The performance workshop will be led by Jessica Traynor, and a workshop on shaping and maintaining your day-today practice as a poet will be led by Annemarie Ní Churreáin.

Alumni of the Introductions series include: Caoilinn Hughes, Andrew Jamison, Eleanor Hooker, Martin Dyar, Doireann Ní Ghríofa, Kerrie O’Brien, Jane Clarke, Victoria Kennefick, Erin Fornoff, Alvy Carragher, Stephen Connolly, and Stephen Sexton.

Introductions poets have subsequently been published by Dedalus Press, The Gallery Press, Salmon Poetry, and Carcanet Press, and their work has gone on to win numerous awards, including the Rooney Prize, the Michael Hartnett Award, and acknowledgement at the Irish Book Awards. Former participants have also received invitations to read nationally and internationally, from Cork to New York, Belfast to Mumbai.

How to apply:

Interested poets should submit their work to be considered for selection for Introductions 2021. Applicants are required to submit:
A short biography and covering letter.
A selection of published or unpublished poems (no more than 10 pages in total).
Your cover letter and selection of poems should be emailed in one attached Word or PDF document to info@poetryireland.ie
Multiple attachments WILL NOT be accepted. If you do not follow these guidelines, your submission will be immediately disqualified.

Note:
Submitting poets should ideally have had work published in established journals and magazines, and will be working towards a first collection.
While there is a minimum age requirement of 18, there is no upper age limit; emerging poets of any age are welcome to apply.
Only poets resident on the island of Ireland or Irish poets living abroad may apply. Successful applicants must be available to attend both the workshops and the reading in Ireland in the spring. We cannot cover any travel expenses from abroad.
Applications are assessed by an independent, established adjudicator.
Selected applicants are usually informed within four weeks of the deadline and, depending on the number of submissions, approximately 12 poets are selected each year.
We encourage submissions from poets who are currently underrepresented in Irish poetry, including but not limited to: poets of colour, people with varied gender and sexual identities, poets with disabilities, and ethnic, cultural, and religious minorities.




Application Deadline: 
Sunday 7 February 2021    

If you have any questions, please email elizabeth@poetryireland.ie