• 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

  • How to submit your entry

    Online

    1. Go to the online store below and complete the entry fee payment
    2. Complete the online entry form where you can also upload your poems.
    3. Ensure your uploaded documents comply with our competition terms. See 'Submission Instructions' below.

    By email

    1. Go to the online store below and complete the entry fee payment, or email us for other payment options
    2. Download and complete the entry form.
    3. Send the completed entry form, along with your poems to info@francesbrowneliteraryfestival.com
    4. Ensure your emailed documents comply with our competition terms. See 'Submission Instructions' below.

    By post or in person

    1. Download the entry form or collect a copy from the Finn Valley Voice (FVV) offices
    2. Complete the entry form and post it, or bring it to the FVV offices, along with your poems.
    3. Firmly attach the entry form to the poems and the payment.
    4. Ensure your documents comply with our competition terms. See 'Submission Instructions' above.
    5. Make your payment by cash, cheque, or bankers draft. Note: do not sent cash in the post.
  • Pay your competition entry fee online here

  • Past Poetry Competitions

  • 2022 Poetry Competition

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    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

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    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

     

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    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

    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.

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