PRESS RELEASE

 

FÉILE FILÍOCHTA 2004 RESULTS

 

The results of the 16th Annual Féile Filíochta/International Poetry Competition are now available! 6,076 poems in 9 languages were received and the prizewinners have come from all over the world; Australia, USA, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Spain, Scotland, Wales, England, Sweden and of course Ireland. We now have all the winning poems available for you to enjoy on www.dlrcoco.ie/library

 

It was very encouraging to see that entries in all categories of the English language were up substantially on previous years with nearly double the entries of last year's competition in the Under 12 and 17 categories. The adult entries came to 2,507 which accounts for well over a third of the total amount of poems submitted to the Féile Filíochta. First prize in the Adult category and the Féile Filíochta Award went to David Butler from Dublin for his poem Chartres. Cecilia McGovern, also from Dublin came second with Dispersal with Jennifer Harrison from Victoria in Australia coming third with Clown. In the Under 17 category, Hann-Shuin Yew from Sunnyvale in California won first prize and the Féile Filíochta Award for Chocolate Rain. Second prize went to Laura Halpin from Dublin for Sestina-Hummingbird and Jeanine Chiu from Oak Park in California came third with t1/2=In/k, or half-life. Finally, in the Under 12 category, Seoid Ní Laoire from Gaelscoil Chill Dara won first prize for her poem The Detective. Eoin Kiely from Dublin came second with Welcome to the Haunted House and Siobhán Nic Colla, also from Dublin came third with Síóg.

 

This year, in order to give greater feedback to many of the young poets taking part in the Féile Filíochta, a further 10 runners up in the Under 17 and Under 12 categories were selected to receive certificates. Their names are included on our website on the prizewinners page. Over 20 short-listed poets in the Adult English Category are also included due to the sheer quantity and quality of poems in this category.

 

We are delighted to announce that the prestigious Féile Filíochta Poem of Europe Award goes to our Welsh winner Tony Bianchi for his prize-winning poem Cartref. This trophy is awarded by the Assemblée des Régions d'Europe for the most outstanding Adult Category poem. You can  read his winning poem in Welsh or English on our website.

 

The celebration of winning Féile Filíochta 2004 poems will take place in the County Hall, Dún Laoghaire on Friday 1st April. Tickets are available from 1st March from Marian Keyes, Senior Librarian (Culture) at (01) 278 1788 or email mkeyes@dlrcoco.ie This celebration coincides with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown's Poetry Now Festival (PN05), featuring Margaret Atwood, C.K. Williams, Simon Armitage, John Montague, Máire Mhac an tSaoi, Rody Gorman amongst others. PN05 runs from 31st March-3rd April 2005 and is organised by the County Council's Arts Office. Full details regarding Poetry Now available by emailing arts@dlrcoco.ie ref; Poetry Now or phone (01) 205 4873.

 

Our thanks to all our judges and sponsors for their expertise and support and a special thank you to the many adults, teenagers and children who entered this unique competition. We are particularly grateful to Stena Line who have sponsored travel for our Welsh winners, to and from Holyhead over the last 10 years.

 

The launch of the 17th Féile Filíochta/International Poetry Competition will take place in early June 2005.