Waterford City & County Council invites entries for Waterford Poetry Prize 2025
Waterford City & County Council Arts Office is pleased to announce that entries are now being accepted for the Waterford Poetry Prize 2025.
The Waterford Poetry Prize is open to all writers currently living on the island of Ireland. This prize has emerged from the influence of the late Waterford writer Seán Dunne whose poetry continues to inspire.
The winners of the Waterford Poetry Prize 2025 will be announced at the closing event of the Waterford Writers Weekend on Sunday, October 26th 2025.
This year the Arts Office is pleased to welcome poet, essayist and librettist, Jessica Traynor as adjudicator. Jessica is the author of three critically acclaimed books of poetry and poetry editor at Banshee. Her third poetry collection Pit Lullabies was a Poetry Book Society recommendation. Her awards include the 2024 Tundish Award from Field Day for contribution to the arts in Ireland and the 2023 Laurence O’Shaughnessy Award for Irish Poetry. Her fourth poetry collection, New Arcana, is forthcoming from Bloodaxe Books in September 2025.
There is no age limit and no entry fee for the Waterford Poetry Prize 2025. First prize is €500 plus attendance at a writing course under the auspices of the Molly Keane Writers Retreat, Ardmore. Second prize is €400, and third prize is €300. Closing date for receipt of entries is 12 noon on Friday August 15th.
Online entries only will be accepted on the Waterford Submit link https://submit.link/3Qv or via this QR code.
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For further information:
Margaret Organ, Arts Officer, Waterford City and County Council
