Poetry Competition

Now open for entries

This year’s poetry competition judge is Liam Carson.

Liam Carson’s memoir call mother a lonely field, won extensive critical praise on its publication in 2010, and was short-listed for the Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize in 2013. It is described by poet Martina Evans as ‘A unique poetic meditation on an Irish-speaking family which draws fine threads between language and history and the life-saving properties of a wide-ranging selection of narratives, including family lore, folk songs, comic books and the heroics of mythology which underpin the Irish language. Liam Carson pours an astonishingly concentrated draught of wisdom into one slim volume.’

His latest book is Belfast Twilight, a collection of haiku that explore landscape, nature, family life, and memory. Presented in haikai (or haiku sequences), it creates kaleidoscopic montages that evoke various worlds – from Belfast’s docklands at twilight to windswept islands off the west of Ireland.

Bere Island Arts Festival International Poetry Competition

Entries welcome in both Irish and English.

Tá fáilte roimh dánta atá scríofa mar fhreagra ar an íomha thuas - i nGaeilge nó i mBéarla

Judged by Liam Carson

We welcome original, unpublished poetry that responds to, reflects on, or is inspired by the image above.

Prizes:  €250 (1st), €150 (2nd), €100 (3rd).

Conditions of Entry

  • The competition closes at midnight (GMT) on August 23rd, 2026.

  • Entries must be written in English.

  • Entrants must be over 18.

  • Poems should be no longer than 40 lines, typed, and single-spaced.

  • All submissions must be the original, unpublished work of the entrant that responds to, reflects on, or is inspired by the image above.

  • All work submitted must be entirely your own human creation. The use of generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Claude, or similar Large Language Models) to outline, draft, write, refine, or edit any part of a poem is strictly prohibited. Any submission found to be generated, in whole or in part, by AI will result in immediate disqualification. By submitting, the entrant warrants that the work is original to them and not generated by artificial intelligence.

  • Entrants may submit multiple poems, with a €7 entry fee per submission.

  • Each entry will receive a confirmation of receipt. If you have not received a confirmation email within 72 hours of submitting your entry, please check your spam or junk folder before contacting 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 Arts Festival reserves the right to publish selected entries on its own website 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 19th, 2026.

  • By submitting a poem, entrants agree to all terms and conditions outlined above.

COMÓRTAS FILÍOCHTA IDIRNÁISIÚNTA FHÉILE OILEÁIN BHÉARRA

  • Tá fáilte roimh dánta ata scríofa mar fhreagra ar an íomha thuas. 

  • Ní mór iontrálach a chur isteach roimh an 23 Lúnasa 2026.

  • Ní mór don iarrthóir a bheith os cionn ocht mbliana déag d’aois

  • Fáilteofar roimh dhánta scríofa i nGaeilge nó i mBéarla. Ní ceart go mbeadh níos mó na 40 líne sa dán/sna dánta. 

  • Ní mór gach iontráil a bheith ina saothar úrnua de chuid an iarrthóra féin. Ní cheadaítear Intleacht Saorga (AI) a úsáid. 

  • Ní mór d’ainm, do sheoladh agus d’uimhir theagmhála agus/nó do sheoladh ríomhphoist a scríobh ar an fhoirm iontrála, mar aon le teidil na ndánta.

  • Ná cuir d’ainm ná aon sonraí pearsanta eile ar an leathanach/na leathanaigh a bhfuil na dánta scríofa orthu.

  • Gearrfar táille €7 ar gach iontráil N.B. Ní ghlacfar le hiontráil mura bhfuil an táille chuí léi. 

  • Seasfaidh gach rogha agus cinneadh a dhéanfaidh na moltóirí agus níl cead aon teagmháil ná cumarsáid a dhéanamh leo maidir lena gcinntí.

  • Má chuirtear isteach iontráil, glacfar leis go nglacann an t-iarrthóir le rialacha agus coinníollacha an chomórtais.

  • Tá cead ag an bhféile na dánta a fhoilsiú ar líne agus i bhfoilseacháin na féile. Is leis an bhfile an cóipcheart. 

  • Ní mór iontrálacha a chur isteach san fhoirm thíos

Entry Form