TO MARK the second All Ireland Poetry Day, Galway City Council Arts Office and Galway County Arts Office are jointly organising a major poetry competition to be judged by acclaimed poet Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill.
The competition is open to anyone resident in Galway city or county. Entrants are invited to write a poem, in any style or any length, in English or Irish, on the theme of Eyre Square. The closing date is September 20, 2009. The first prize is €1,000. Runners’ up prizes are a week's residency in the artists' retreats, the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Annaghmakerrig and Aras Eanna on Inis Oirr.
In the week leading up to All Ireland Poetry Day, a shortlist of poems will be drawn up and these will be displayed publicly in and around Eyre Square, in the centre of Galway city. On Poetry Day, October 1, there will be a public reading at Eyre Square itself with Nuala ni Dhomhnaill and Galway City Writer in Residence, Michael O'Loughlin, who will announce the winner. During the day, there will be related events in Galway schools.
All entries should be sent to Eyre Square Poetry Competition , Arts Office, City Hall, College Road Galway.
