Strokestown International Poetry



		S T R O K E S T O W N i n t e r n a t i o n a l P O E T R Y F E S T I V A L Féile Idirnáisiúnta Filíochta Bhéal Átha na mBuillí The first weekend in May/Bealtaine ~ 1- 3 May 2009










	Some recent participants in the festival. Above, Simon O'Faoláin, Mary O'Donnell, George Szirtes, Theo Dorgan, Harry Clifton, Paddy Bushe, Ciaran Carson, Sheila O'Hagan. Below: Peter Fallon, Maura Dooley, Seamus Heaney, Eileán Ní Chuilleanáin, Louis de Paor, Peter Sirr, Michael Schmidt, Vona Groarke



		The Strokestown International Poetry Festival 2009 - Competition results!
Festival About the Strokestown Poetry Festival ► The Festival Programme 2009 ► Photo gallery - the director's cut ► Poetry Competitions 2009 Prizes ► Judges for 2009 ► English shortlist ► Irish/Gaelic shortlist ► Schools' Competition ► Prizewinners Poetry Competitions 2008 The judges 2008 ► Shortlisted and winning English language poems ► Shortlisted and winning Irish/Scottish Gaelic language poems ► Past winners and poems ►		English language poem: Ist prize of €4,000 to Padraig Rooney 2nd prize of €2,000 to John Wedgewood Clarke 3rd prize of €1,000 to Juliet Aykroyd ■ Read the winning and shortlisted poems here Irish/Gaelic poem: Ist prize of €4,000 to Pádraig Mac Fhearghusa 2nd prize of €2,000 to Peadar Ó hUallaigh 3rd prize of €1,000 to Seán Ó Curraoin ■ Read the winning and shortlisted poems here Percy French Prize: !st: Sean Lyons 2nd: Peter Goulding 3rd: Raymond O'Sullivan Other backhanders went to: Paraig Higgins, Co.Galway; Charles Linenberg, Philadelphia USA; Eamonn McNally, Co. Galway; Damien Muldoon, Dublin; Padraic Neary, Sligo; Martin Parker, Devon, U.K. Roscommon Schools' competition: Secondary Schools: !st: Emily Cooper, Convent of Mercy, Roscommon 2nd: Catherine James, Scoil Mhuire, Strokestown 3rd: Sarah James, Roscommon Community College National schools: 1st: Amy Curley, Ballyleague NS, Lanesboro 2nd: Saoirse McLaughlin, ballybay NS, Kiltoom 3rd: Jamie McHenry, Croghan NS, Boyle ■ Read their poems here Warm thanks to all who took part in the festival, as readers or audience, and made it such a success. A report and photos will follow when we have gathered our wits... Merrily Harpur Director













		Entry forms/information for the 2010 competitions will be available on this website, or by post from September from: Strokestown Poetry Festival Office, Strokestown, Co. Roscommon, Ireland. Telephone: 071 9633759 (from overseas +353 71 9633759) or 087 2361794 (+353 87 2361794) or 0044 1300 320064 (UK) - from the UK it's 01300 320064
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What they said about past festivals!

"...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, Percy French Prize finalist 2008.	"...Strokestown has been described to me as a marvellous festival in a place that comprises one big house and two small streets like a pair of crossed pencils..." - George Szirtes, reader and adjudicator in 2008. Read more here...



	*"...Coming back from Strokestown Poetry Festival, I find myself unusually lost for words. 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, poet.*