Dromineer Literary Festival 1.

Drove to Dromineer yesterday to collect my highly commended certificate, two actually. Well worth going for the great welcome, I was remembered from two years ago when I took second prize, met old and new friends and heard and talked much about writing and poetry.

I met both the first and second poetry prizewinners earlier this year, Connie Roberts at the Poetry Ireland Introductions and Richard Halperin at the Goldsmith Festival and the iYeats Competition. Richard has just had his first volume of poetry published by Salmon. Connie won second prize in the Patrick Kavanagh Competition in 2007 and Geraldine Mitchell won the Patrick Kavanagh in 2008 and has had a book published. Tough competition indeed. Fellow Boyne Writer Evan Costigan was also Highly Commended.

Opening ceremony and prizegiving in Dromineer last evening. The usual capacity crowd in the impressive venue, the yacht club. Interesting speeches stressing the difficult times for the arts as regards funding but also being positive as regards the importance of the arts in these times.

There were prizes for under age poetry competitions and the winning entries were read by the judge Mary Arrigan. Then the senior prizewinners were announced by judges David Rice (prose) and Dave Lordan (poetry). Both judges spoke of the process.

Dave Lordan spoke of the need for poets to speak that which is not otherwise heard and that which is not expected to be said. He was generous in his praise of the highly commended poems saying it was important that good entries be noticed and that these poets be encouraged to continue to write.

He commented on each of the prizewinners saying of Richard Halperin's something like My head didn't understand it but my heart/soul did. He praised Connie Roberts winning poem for dealing with a difficult subject in a direct way, full of righteous anger.

The highly commended each got a copy of Dave Lordan's most recent book of poetry - nice touch!

Photos: First and second prize winners being presented with their prizes by John Kennedy, Mayor of North Tipperary.

Results:
Short Story
1. The Birthday Invitation by Sharon Black, Sandymount, Dublin.
2. Whatever Happens by Frances Browner, Greystones, Wicklow.
3. The Train by Mike Roycroft, Nenagh, Tipperary.

Poem.
1. Litany by Connie Roberts, New York.
2. Blue Day by Richard W Halperin, Paris.
3. Typewritten by Geraldine Mitchell, Louisburgh, Mayo.

Highly Commended Poets:
David McLoughlin, Castleconnell, Limerick. (2)
Richard W Halperin, Paris (2)
Michael Farry, Trim, Meath. (2)
Marie Coveney, Monkstown, Cork.
John Walsh, Inverin, Galway.
Patrick Maddock, New Ross, Wexford.
Nichola Griffin, Caher, Clare.
Evan Costigan, Moyvalley, Kildare.
Mae Newman, Rathfarnham, Dublin.