Poetry and Short Story Competition
Are you a closet author? Or maybe you recite your rhymes out loud and proud.
Either way, the Maria Edgeworth Poetry & Short Story Competition is for you!
Celebrating it’s 27th anniversary, the Longford-based competition is currently taking poetry and short story applications.
The closing date for entries for the Maria Edgeworth Poetry & Short Story Competition is fast approaching- 5pm on February 24. All entries must be the original work of the entrant and must not have been published, accepted for publication, broadcast or honoured by the closing dates for entries. Winners will be announced at this year’s annual Maria Edgeworth Festival of Literature & Arts running from May 4-7.
Maria Edgeworth was a pioneer, as an educator, as a novelist and as a woman. In conjunction with her father, step-mothers and family she worked tirelessly on the family estate, she wrote frequently to family and colleagues, she prompted the education of women and wrote books, plays and poems that influenced many key writers of the 18th and 19th Century.
The event in her honour has grown immensely through the years and now incorporates workshops, talks, adult poetry and short story competitions, historical trails, musical performances, nature walks, theatre performances and an 18th Century Costume Tea Party. It has established itself as one of the best Literary events on the Irish calendar and has attracted visitors from all over Ireland and abroad who share an interest in Literary History.
This year the organising committee have put together an exciting and varied programme with poet Noel Monahan, writer David Butler, author Emilie Pine in conversation with Sinead Hussey, music with Simply Strings, comedy with Jimmy Jest.
There will be writing and horticulture workshops with Aoife Munn and the very successful outdoor performance with the Mostrim Players will once again take place on the Green with an afternoon tea party.
This year, to celebrate the 225th anniversary of the publication of Maria Edgeworth’s ‘Practical Education’ there will be an International Conference with speakers from Ireland, Scotland, UK, Rome and the US.