Gaoth Dobhair's Máire Dinny Wren wins top poetry prize

Gaoth Dobhair's Máire Dinny Wren, a poet who has won many notable literary awards in the past has won first place in Comórtas Filíochta Chultúrlann McAdam Ó Fíach. 

The poetry awards took place in Belfast over the course of the weekend. The work that secured the first place for the poet is called Íocshláinte Tigh Hiúdaí - a poem which was penned in fond remembrance of Cití Hiúdaí Bhig, who sadly passed away last year.  

The poem describes a night Tigh Hiúdaí bhig where a session of music is playing. The poem will resonate with many who are familiar with the much-loved Gaeltacht-based sessions.

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Máire Dinny Wren has achieved a lot through her writing of both short stories and poetry. 

In 2020, Máire was shortlisted for the Gradam Uí Shúilleabháin awards. The awards are part of the literary competition which are run annually by Oireachtas na Gaeilge. 

Work that is shortlisted for the Gradam Uí Shúilleabháin award is recognised as being among the best work to be published recently, on the Irish market.

Her book, entitled Tine Ghealáin is published by Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde's company Éabhlóid in Gaoth Dobhair. 

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Éabhlóid published her collection of short stories, Go mbeinnse choíche saor, in 2016. Her work has been published in Duillí Éireann, Comhar, an tUltach, Feasta, Poblachd na mBárd The Bramley, Strokestown Poetry Anthology 3 and four of her stories were published by Éabhlóid in the short story collection, Go dtí an lá bán, in 2012. Her work has also featured in Bláth na dTulach which was awarded Leabhar na Bliana 2022 and also won Gradam Uí Shúilleabháin.

In 2011, Máire won Comórtas Filíochta Uí Néill, the Gael Linn poetry competition Ó Phéann na nGael in 2016, comórtas filíochta Focail Aniar Aduaidh/North West Words, in 2017.

One of her poems was on the short list for Duais de hÍde in 2019. Her exquisite poem Ag Iompar na nAmhrán won first place in the Irish poetry category at the Kinsale Literary Festival.