Published: Wednesday, 2nd June, 2010 5:00pm

Windows National Poetry Award winners celebrated

Winning words... Jack Keyes, County Manager; Heather Brett, Windows editor; award recipients, Jane Clark, Michelle O'Sullivan, Grace Wells and Jennifer Mooney; and Noel Monahan, Windows editor. 270510 Windows6 CC.

The 18th National Poetry Awards from Windows Publications saw a 300-strong crowd gather in the Cavan Crystal. Poets travelled from as far away as Tipperary and Limerick to receive their awards and join in the celebratory atmosphere of the night. Jack Keyes, Cavan County Manager, welcomed visitors, Noel Monahan spoke of the 2,000 entries to the competition and for the Irish category sponsors Glór Bhréifne, Padraig ó Cuinneagáin also addressed the crowds.

Heather Brett thanked other sponsors Cavan Crystal, Oxigen, Declan Sheridan, Donal Keogan, arts officer Catriona O'Reilly, Easons and Jimmy Scanlon for their continuing support - "without it the competition could not take place".

"It was a real privilege to hear the winning poems," said Heather, and she applauded everyone who took part in the competition.

Winners

Irish category: 1st Gormlaith Maynes, Drogheda; 2nd Rebecca Courtney, Loreto Cavan; 3rd Ciara Fitzpatrick, Convent of Mercy, Belturbet.

Junior Category: Joint 1st Jack Gilsenan, Crubany NS, Cavan and Shauna McNally, St Joseph's, Longford; Joint 2nd Riely McCann, Kill NS, Cavan and Francine O'Meara, St Joseph's, Longford; Joint 3rd Lauren Cooley, Convent of Mercy, Belturbet and Orla Clarke, Cortown, Kells, Meath.

Senior Category: Joint 1st Elizabeth Tubito, Dublin and Derbhail Ni Chuirc, Dublin; Joint 2nd Thomas Kerins, Ballyjamesduff and Reuben Steenson, Lisburn; Joint 3rd Amy Driver, St Clare's, Ballyjamesduff and Lisa Fitzpatrick, Loreto College, Cavan.

Adult winners: 1st Michelle O'Sullivan, Mayo; 2nd Grace Wells, Tipperary; Joint 3rd Jane Clark, Dublin and Jennifer Mooney, Longford.