Poetry Competition - Frances Browne Literary Festival

About The Frances Browne Multilingual Poetry Competition
The successful Frances Browne International Poetry Competition, pioneered by Celine Mc Glynn and Dr. Pauline Holland, has been an established event since 2008. The competition is unique in its tri-lingual approach, welcoming poets writing in the English, Irish and Ulster-Scots languages. Since the very first year, the team has been astounded by the volume of entries, and the high quality of the poetry. We realised that it fulfills a real artistic need to for our communities to express themselves in their venacular languages.

The awards ceremony, traditionally held on the Friday night of the festival, is a truly unique and magical night of poetry, song, celebration and friendship. It enshrines the Frances Browne Literary Festival motto 'Treasure each Voice' with live readings of new poetry in all three languages in a single venue. It celebrates and preserves our different voices, helps to brings new talent to the fore, and recognises that we are all connected by our literature and our land.
2023 Frances Browne
Poetry Competition Longlists
Our judges would like to thank everyone who submitted poems to the Frances Browne Poetry Competition. We received more poems than in any previous year and the judges have had a truly difficult time deciding on the longlist. Now, they face the even more difficult task of choosing the final poems for the shortlist, which will be announced on Wednesday 27th October.
Ulster Scots
Chalk, Anne McMaster, Co Derry
Da Wa Beyont, Emma McKervey, Co Down
Freedom, Aileen McCahon, Co. Londonderry
Gowan-Like, Caroline Johnstone, Ayrshire
Postlude, Glen Wilson, Co Armagh
Sheddas, David Atkinson, Co. Londonderry
Sweetay Monae, Niall Iósaf Ó Gallochobhair, Co Donegal
Tha Deeds, Glen Wilson, Co Armagh
Tha Watch-Hoose Atap Tha Cliff, Angela Graham, Co Antrim
The Back Medda, Fionnuala McNicholl, Co. Derry
The Wumman Who Birthed Seaborn, Angeline Kelly, Co. Antrim
Irish
Ar Snámh, Deborah Ní Ghibne, Co na Gaillimhe
Atlantach, Caitriona Lane, Co Galway
Bláth Bán na Bealtaine, Máire Dinny Wren, Co. Dhún an nGall
Cnoc an Bhogha, Niall Iósaf Ó Gallochobhair, Co. Dhún an nGall
Comaoin, Anna Colhoun, Co. Dhún an nGall
Fear Raice, Ailbhe Nic Giolla Bhrighde, Co na Gaillimhe
Foighid, Realtan Ni Leannain, Dublin
Haiku, Cuimhní Cinn, Paddy Donoghue, Donegal
Ionam, Deborah Ní Ghibne, Co na Gaillimhe
Iníon, Eibhlís Carcione, Cork
Tiomna an Chrainn Daortha, Anna Colhoun, Co. Dhún an nGall
English
Cake, A.M. Cousins, Co Wexford
Condy’s Field, Ciaran Cunningham, Co Donegal
Declutter, Averil Meehan, Co Donegal
Disguises, Deirdre Hines, Co Donegal
Dust, Anne Rainey, Co. Antrim
God’s Garden, A.M. Cousins, Co Wexford
Hawthorn, Catherine Kay, Co Donegal
Mrs Dunleavy’s Class, Susan Doherty, Co Donegal
My Grandfather, Seamus McDermott, Co Donegal
Palaver, Eamonn Baker, Derry
Pat Mac, Paul Hoare, Co. Donegal
Taking the Gloves, Paul Hennessy, Co Wexford
The Barber, Douglas Bartlett, Londonderry
TikTok Clock, Sean Collins, Co Donegal
Those Graveyard Sundays, Deirdre Hines, Co Donegal
Travelling Dresses, Anne Rainey, Co. Antrim,
Widdershins from Home, Fionnuala McNicholl, Co. Derry
2023 Poetry Competition - Closed for entries
The 2023 Frances Browne Multilingugal Poetry Competition closed for entries on 20th August 2023.

Poetry Categories and Prizes
We welcome poems in the following categories from poets all over the globe.
For 2023 we are introducing an additional three new 'local' prizes in each of the categories!
English Language - First Prize - €250, Second Prize - €100, Third Prize, €50
Irish Language - First Prize - €250, Second Prize - €100, Third Prize, €50
Ulster Scots Language - First Prize - €250, Second Prize - €100, Third Prize, €50
The Eilish McBride Award - English Language - Local - Sponsored by Edel MacBride - Winning Poem €100
Irish Language - Local - Winning Poem €100
Ulster Scots Language - Local - Winning Poem €100
Definition of 'Local'
The ‘Local’ category is open to individuals who were born in and/or are currently living in the Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District of County Donegal. For details of this area please refer to the link o the Donegal County Council website, or contact the festival committee for confirmation. The Frances Browne Literary Festival Committee reserves the right to verify the information provided by the entrant as eligibility for this category. As the entry fee is per poem, there is no additional fee for entering poems in both the main and local categories.
How to submit your entry
Online
Go to the online store below and complete the entry fee payment
Complete the online entry form where you can also upload your poems.
Ensure your uploaded documents comply with our competition terms. See 'Submission Instructions' below.
By email
Go to the online store below and complete the entry fee payment, or email us for other payment options
Download and complete the entry form.
Send the completed entry form, along with your poems to info@francesbrowneliteraryfestival.com
Ensure your emailed documents comply with our competition terms. See 'Submission Instructions' below.
By post or in person
Download the entry form or collect a copy from the Finn Valley Voice (FVV) offices
Complete the entry form and post it, or bring it to the FVV offices, along with your poems.
Firmly attach the entry form to the poems and the payment.
Ensure your documents comply with our competition terms. See 'Submission Instructions' above.
Make your payment by cash, cheque, or bankers draft. Note: do not sent cash in the post.
Pay your competition entry fee online here
2023 Instructions and Terms & Conditions
Submission instructions
Poems must be accompanied by an entry form. The entry form can be completed via our online form, or MS Word document that can be either emailed or printed.
There is no limit to the number of poems that can be entered.
Each poem must be submitted as a separate file or document.
Poems must be typed of very clearly written in black ink on one side of paper only.
Online and emailed entries should have one of the following file formats: .doc, .docs or .pdf
The name of the entrant must not appear on the poem itself.
Deadline for submissions
All entries must be submitted by midnight on 20th August 2023, regardless of the method of entry.

Entry Fee
The entry fee is EUR €5 / GBP £4 / USD $5 per poem.
No entry will be accepted until the appropriate entrance fee is paid.
Payment for entries must be received by midnight on 20 August 2023.

Longlist, Shortlist and Award dates
The judges' longlists will be announced in the Finn Valley Voice and online on Wednesday 13th September 2023
The judges' shortlists will be announced in the Finn Valley Voice and online on Wednesday 27th September 2023
Winning entries will be announced and awarded on Friday 13th October 2023 in person at the Frances Browne Poetry Competition Awards Ceremony in Kee's Hotel, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal
Other terms and conditions
All poems must be the unpublished, original work of a living author.
Poems must not have been previously published, self-published, published on a website or broadcast.
No alterations can be made to the poem once it has been submitted, and it is regretted that no entries can be returned.
The judges' decisions are final and no correspondence can be entered into regarding those decisions.
Copyright will remain with the competitor, but the Finn Valley Voice in association with the Frances Browne Literary Festival reserves the right to arrange first publication or broadcast of selected poems as it sees fit.
No Frances Browne Literary Festival committee member or judging panel for the Frances Browne Poetry Competition may enter into the competition.
Data Protection and Publicity
By submitting your entry along with your personal details, you agree to the Frances Browne Literary Festival and Poetry Competition committee storing and processing your contact details for the purpose of running the Competition. Your details will not be shared with any third-party organisations.
You may opt out at any time. You may request deletion of your personal data at any time.
You may request a copy of the personal data held on our files by emailing info@francesbrowneliteraryfestival.com
Publicity
In order to celebrate the Frances Browne Multilingual Poetry Competition, we undertake a range of online and other promotional activities.
For longlisted poets, this activity may involve the publication of your name, county/ country on our website, social media channels and in the Finn Valley Voice
For shortlisted poets and winners, this activity may involve the publication of your name, county/ country, your photograph and any online recording you or we make of you reading your poem(s). This activity may take place during in the run up to, during or after the 2023 Frances Browne Literary Festival. It may be on our website, social media channels and in the Finn Valley Voice.
On your entry form you will be asked to confirm if you consent to your information being shared in this way. If you opt in at the time of entry, you may opt out of some or all of this publicity at any time by informing the Frances Browne Literary Festival Committee by email at info@francesbrowneliteraryfestival.com

Before submitting your entry, and paying the entrance fee, please ensure you have read all the entry instructions, and the full terms & conditions below. You will be asked to confirm this on your entry form.
View full Terms and Conditions
Past Poetry Competitions
2022 Poetry Competition

Thank you to everyone who entered our 2022 poetry competition.
Yet again we were overwhelmed by the number and standard of the entries. With poets from all over the world taking part we are delighted that our competition is not only multilingual but multinational.

Spirit of the Festival Award
Hills - Jennifer Leong, Singapore

Treasure Each Voice Award
Meid - Anthony Doogan, Moville, Co. Donegal

Irish
1st Place - An chéad áit - An Bhean san Uisce, Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha, Co Donegal
2nd Place - An Fear a Leag an Sceach Gheal. Eibhlís Carcione, Cork
3rd Place - Ainmhí - Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha, Co Donegal

Ardmholadh
Gealfhinne Máire - Anthony Doogan, Co Donegal

Ulster Scots
1st Place - Threads - Stephen Dornan, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
2nd Place - Draim Leid - Glen Wilson, Co Armagh
3rd Place - Whit Wid Mamie Think? - Fionnuala McNicholl, Derry

Highly Commended
For a rebal maun scrieve on his rubber - Alan Millar, Co. Antrim
Ma Wee Dug - Elizabeth Kearney, Glasgow

English
1st Place - The Beloved - Tony Devlin, Dublin
2nd Place - You and Bonny Mary - Margaret Galvin, Co Wexford
3rd Place - Portballintrae - Glen Wilson, Co. Armagh

Highly Commended
Her Story - Laura Ní Néill, Co Waterford
Money Back Bottles - Seamus McDermott, Co. Donegal
Mountain of Desire - Clare McKay, Co Antrim
The Carer - Noreen Hunter, Co. Donegal
The New School - Breda Logue, Co Donegal
2021 Poetry Competition

Thank you to everyone who entered our 2021 poetry competition.

Irish
1st Place - An chéad áit - An Bhean san Uisce - Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha, Co Donegal
2nd Place - An Fear a Leag an Sceach Gheal - Eibhlís Carcione, Cork
3rd Place - Ainmhí - Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha, Co Donegal

Ardmholadh
Gealfhinne Máire - Anthony Doogan, Co Donegal

Ulster Scots
1st Place - Apsley's Newsagents Est 1903, Angeline King, Co. Antrim
2nd Place - Aa life is breath, Anne McMaster, Co Derry
3rd Place - Granda's Smittie Tongue, Fionnuala McNicholl, Derry

English
1st Place - Takings - Caroline Bracken, Dublin
2nd Place - Benedictus - Sandra Mary Chambers, Staffordshire, England
3rd Place - Indigenous - Ruth O'Shea, Limerick
2021 Poetry Competition Entries

Aiféala an Éisc
Aa Life is Breath
The Broighter Boat
2023 Poetry Competition
This year's Poetry Competition will open on 20th June. Sign up here to get a notification when the competition goes live.
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Guide to the
Frances Browne Multilingual Poetry Competition

There are three categories: English language: Irish language: Ulster Scots language. Each category offers a 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize.

Entries can be made online, by post or in person at the Finn Valley Voice office, Navenny Street, Ballybofey, Co Donegal.

There is a small entry fee per poem entered.

Full entry details, competition T&Cs and entry form will be available to download from our website. Alternatively you can contact us to arrange for the forms to be sent by email. Hard copies may be collected from the Finn Valley Voice office, Navenny Street, Ballybofey, Co Donegal.

Poets may enter as many poems as they wish and may enter more than one category.

All poems must be the unpublished, original work of a living author. Poems must not have been previously published, self-published, published on a website or broadcast.

Copyright will remain with the competitor, but the Finn Valley Voice in association with the Frances Browne Literary Festival reserves the right to arrange first publication or broadcast of selected poems as it sees fit.

No Frances Browne Literary Festival committee member or member of the judging panel may enter the competition.

The Frances Browne Literary Festival

The Frances Browne Literary Festival

The Frances Browne Literary Festival

About The Frances Browne Multilingual Poetry Competition

2023 Frances Browne

Poetry Competition Longlists

Ulster Scots

Irish

English

2023 Poetry Competition - Closed for entries

How to submit your entry

Online

By email

By post or in person

Pay your competition entry fee online here

2023 Instructions and Terms & Conditions

Past Poetry Competitions

2022 Poetry Competition

2021 Poetry Competition

2021 Poetry Competition Entries

Aiféala an Éisc

Aa Life is Breath

The Broighter Boat

2023 Poetry Competition

This year's Poetry Competition will open on 20th June. Sign up here to get a notification when the competition goes live.

Guide to the

Frances Browne Multilingual Poetry Competition