The competition, which boats €1,000 in prize money, is organised by Kilbegnet Historical Society and takes place during Creggs Harvest Festival.
Announcing the winners, Larry Kilcommins of Kilbegnet Historical Society said, ‘This year we had tremendous interest in the Bard of Connacht, which his now in its third year. Over 50 entries were received from all over Ireland and beyond. Judges have been busy in recent weeks and it was a difficult task as the standard of entries was so high.’
The winner of this year’s Bard of Connacht will receive the Vincent Keaveny Memorial Trophy and a cheque for €500. Second, third and fourth placed poets will receive €250, €150 and €100. The theme of this year’s competition is ‘Loneliness’, inspired by a line from a Percy French song.
Ten finalists have now been chosen: Frank Brandon (Creggs ), ‘The simple sound of living’; Finn Cassidy (Les Hautes Alpes, France ), ‘The Readying’; John Corbett (Ballinasloe ), ‘Suffering son of Adam’; Gerry Donlon (Suffolk, England ), ‘Place of no smiles’; Desmond Donnelly, ‘Dance little wave’ (Loughrea ); James Hesnan (Athboy, Co Meath ) ‘Loneliness in its many forms’; Daniela Krause (Spiddal ), ‘When You Cry Alone’; Veronica Mee-Smyth, ‘Dark and deep’; Simon Thorpe (Southampton, England ), ‘No more goodbyes’ and Dominick Tobin (Creggs ) ‘The Postman didn’t call today’.
The ten finalists or their representatives will present their poems at an event in Creggs National School at 5pm on Bank Holiday Monday, and only then will the identity of the Bard of Connacht 2024 be revealed.
