Poetry Competition
Hosted by Bere Island Writing Retreats
Closing Date: Friday 8th August 2025
Bere Island Writing Retreats Poetry Competition Judge
Born in Cork, Theo Dorgan has just published his second novel, CAMARADE, with Mercier Press. He is an award-winning poet, novelist, documentary screenwriter, translator, essayist and editor, with ten collections of poetry published; the most recent, ONCE WAS A BOY, received the accolade of One City, One Book 2024 in his native city. Among his translations are three volumes from the French of Syrian poet, Maram al Masri and a translation into Irish of GYPSY BALLADS by Federico García Lorca, BAILÉID GIOFÓGACHA. He devised and co-edited AN LEABHAR MÓR/THE GREAT BOOK OF IRELAND. He scripted and presented the multi-award-winning Alan Gilsenan documentary for TG4, AN BUACHAILL GEALGHÁIREACH/THE LAUGHING BOY. Many of his poems have been set to music, and two of his long poems, SAPPHO'S DAUGHTER and ÉRIU & AMERGIN, have been performed to music by Colm Mac Con Iomaire. Translations of his work in book form have been published in Greek, Italian and French. He is a member of Aosdána.
Bere Island Writing Retreats International Poetry Prize
Judged by Theo Dorgan
Sponsored by Creative Places West Cork Islands
Stipulation: The word Sea must appear somewhere in the poem (either in the body of the poem or in the title).
Prizes: €300 (1st), €200 (2nd), €100 (3rd).
Conditions of Entry
The competition closes at midnight (GMT) on August 8th, 2025.
Entries must be written in English.
Poems should be no longer than 40 lines, typed, and single-spaced.
All submissions must be the original, unpublished work of the entrant and must not be under consideration for publication elsewhere before the closing date.
Entrants may submit multiple poems, with a €5 entry fee per submission.
Each entry will receive a confirmation of receipt. If you do not receive confirmation within 48 hours, please contact us.
Entries must be submitted via the form below. The author’s name and contact information must not appear in the same field as the poem.
After submitting the form below, you will be prompted to click a separate link to complete your payment.
All poems will be judged anonymously. The judge’s decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
No edits or alterations can be made once a poem has been submitted.
Bere Island Writing Retreats reserves the right to publish selected entries on its own website or that of the Bere Island Arts Festival, as well as in associated festival publications. Copyright remains with the author.
The three prize-winning poets will be invited to read their work at the Bere Island Arts Festival on Saturday, September 20th, 2025.
The word Sea must appear somewhere in the poem, either in the title or the body of the text.
By submitting a poem, entrants agree to all terms and conditions outlined above.