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Colmcille
is a partnership programme between Foras na Gaeilge and Bòrd na
Gàidhlig, promoting the use of Irish Gaelic and Scottish Gaelic in
Ireland and Scotland and between the two countries. Colmcille aims
through its work to foster understanding of the diverse experience
and culture of the Irish and Scottish Gaelic communities, and to
encourage debate on common concerns in social, cultural and economic
issues with a view to building self-confidence within the Gaelic
language communities. |
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| Colmcille
Prize 2011: Adjudicator Colm Breathnach from Cork, congratulates
shortlisted poet Heather Clyne from Glen Finnan, a student at
Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, on the Isle of Skye |
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About the
Strokestown-Colmcille Competition for poetry in Irish/Scots Gaelic....
For nearly a decade Colmcille has funded the superb
prizes in the iconic Strokestown-Colmcille Poetry Competition.
Initiated by poet Paddy Bushe, then Director of the
Strokestown International Poetry Festival, with the aim of creating a
competition of equal prestige to Strokestown's English language version,
the prize has become the most prestigious in these islands, offering a
total of €7,000 in prize money annually.
Equally
importantly the competition gives a platform for six poets shortlisted
each year to read their work to large audiences - for which they are paid
a generous reading fee. They are selected anonymously by the adjudicator/s
who are distinguished poets and writers drawn from both the Irish and
Scots Gaelic traditions. If there are two judges each reads all the
entries.
As a result the competition attracts a large entry, and shortlistees
invariably include some of the most famous names in Irish/Gaelic poetry,
as well as poets from Canada and the USA. However the shortlists also
usually include, significantly, students new to the language and native
speakers new to poetry. In this way we encourage writing and performance,
while at the same time creating new and appreciative audiences for
Irish/Gaelic poetry. A glance at
some of the comments we
receive from the festival audiences shows how valuable - and enjoyable -
they find the tri-lingual readings.
Colmcille's input into
the Irish/Gaelic half of the festival
means that it has become perhaps the most
high-powered tri-lingual experience to be found anywhere in these islands.
Certainly it is one of the most fun. Below is a small picture gallery of
the Irish/Scots Gaelic poets, adjudicators, sponsors - and their ever
expanding audiences - who have graced the Strokestown Poetry Festival over
more than a decade. |
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