Festival

►About the Strokestown Poetry Festival
►The Festival past - May 2009
►Photo gallery - the director's cut
►Festival workshops

Poetry Competitions 2010

►Prizes
►Judges
►Rules
►Enter by post
►Enter online

Past poetry competitions
►2009 results and poems
►Previous years' competition results and poems

►Schools' poetry

►Contact

The Strokestown International Poetry Competitions & Festival 2010

Dear Poets,

The 2010 competition is now closed.

Thank you very much for your all your entries.

They will all be read by each of the judges in the relevant section, and the names of the shortlisted poets will be published here shortly after the 24th March, along with their poems.

Choosing the poems for the final places is such a hard decision for the judges, and so many fine poems which might have made it in different weather fall by the wayside, that we have decided to publish an additional list of highly commended poets whose work almost made the final few.

 Whether or not your name is among them we would very much like to meet as many of you as possible at Strokestown Poetry Festival over the first weekend in May. All events are free, and the shortlisted poets will be reading a selection of their work.

The provisional programme details will appear on this web site shortly, so please visit again soon.

Merrily Harpur
Director

Strokestown International Poetry Festival
Strokestown, Co. Roscommon, Ireland.
www.strokestownpoetry.org
071 9633690

 "A tremendous festival, such a privilege and terrific opportunity to read with Big Names and meet fellow short-listed poets in such a friendly and welcoming atmosphere in the beautiful but homely Strokestown House. The gold on the wall paper glinting behind the poets reading in the evenings, the lambs peering in during the day-time readings, everyone sitting on the sofas, the lovely garden tour and the last night hoolie in the Victorian kitchen are some happy memories. I loved the way the whole community was involved…" Read it all at http://stephaniegreensblog.blogspot.com/2009_06_01_archive.html"

...A marvellous festival in a place that comprises one big house and two small streets like a pair of crossed pencils..." -  George Szirtes

"How do I begin to describe my most enjoyable literature festival experience to date?
A small town, with a big repossessed manor house in which to host events – ceilings two floors high; windows from floors to those ceilings; old oak panelling; roaring fires.  Generously provisioned reception parties at either end. An astonishing number of talented poets – from both Gaelic and English traditions - reading in the space of just three days... "  -  Ros Barber

"...I have never before encountered such a warm and inclusive atmosphere as I did in Strokestown... I was bowled over by the sense in which the involvement of the local community was integral to the event."   -  Chrissie Charvill