Donegal poets: The inaugural Noelle Vial Tyrone Guthrie Centre Poetry Bursary.

Are you a poet from, or based, in Donegal? Then you may be interested in the opportunity that arises from an inaugural bursary offered by 13th Donegal Bay and Blue Stacks Festival (September 26 – October 6 2013).

Denise Blake reports that Donegal Bay and Blue Stacks Festival is celebrating the memory of the Killybegs poet Noelle Vial with a poetry bursary in her name. It will comprise a week long stay at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Annaghmakerrig, Newbliss, County Monaghan -  see details of the centre here

 

The bursary is aimed at an emerging poet writing in English, or Irish, or both. To qualify, the poet's works must have featured in a number of poetry publications, and they should be preparing either a debut, or a second, collection. 

To be considered for the bursary, poets must submit 6 –10 poems, their CV, and an Artist’s Statement (200 word max). The statement should explain how, and why, a stay at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre  would assist their development as a writer.

Submissions to the Noelle Vial Tyrone Guthrie Centre Poetry Bursary, Donegal Bay and Blue Stacks Festival, c/o Donegal County Library, Rosemount, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, no later than 5.00pm on Wednesday, September 18 next. Or, submissions may also be emailed to traolach@donegalcoco.ie

Winner announced on Friday, September 27th. at an evening of Poetry and Music celebrating the life and work of Noelle Vial, at 22, Main Street, Killybegs.

For further information, please contact Donegal Bay and Blue Stacks Festival at Donegal County Council Arts Service, Tel.  074 9121968  E.traolach@donegalcoco.ie

P.S. The winner of the bursary has now been announced (Friday 27th September 2013), and is Jenni Doherty. Well done Jenni. She's a Donegal born poet living in Derry. Her first collection of poetry, Rain Spill, was published by Guildhall Press in 2012.