Donegal poets feature on France Browne poetry longlists

The longlists for the 2023 Frances Browne Multilingual Poetry Competition have been announced and there are plenty of Donegal poets who have won a place on the coveted list. 

Judges say they received more poems this year than in any previous year and they have had a truly difficult time deciding on the longlist. 

The Frances Browne Poetry Competition Awards evening takes place on Friday, October 13 at 8pm in Stranorlar. This free event is a delight for poetry lovers offering the chance to hear emerging voices and experienced poets all in a room together. People can listen to live readings of poems in all three languages by their authors. 

This year the Ulster Scots writing group ‘Sheddas on tha Page’ will be present. They will be introduced by Anne Mc Master, their tutor and a renowned poet. She will share some of their new work with those present. They recently performed at the Linen Hall Library in Belfast.

Donegal poet Niall Iósaf Ó Gallochobhair has been longlisted in two categories with Sweetay Monae in the Ulster Scots language category and Cnoc an Bhogha in the Irish language category. Bláth Bán na Bealtaine has also ensured a place for Máire Dinny Wren on the Irish language longlist. 

Anna Colhoun has also placed on the list twice with her poems Comaoin and Tiomna, an Chrainn Daortha as has Ailbhe Nic Giolla Bhríde with her poem Fear Raice. Haiku, Cuimhní Cinn by Paddy Donoghue is also on the Irish language longlist. 

Condy’s Field, by Ciaran Cunningham, Declutter by Averil Meehan and Hawthorn by Catherine Kay are on the English poetry longlist. 

Deirdre Heines features twice on the English language longlist with Disguises and Those Graveyard Sundays. Mrs Dunleavy’s classes has ensured a place on the list for Susan Doherty as has My Grandfather for Seamus McDermott. 

Paul Hoare’s Pat Mac features alongside TikTok Clock by Sean Collins.  

The final poems for the shortlist will be announced on Wednesday, September 27.