Boyle Poetry Competition

I'm just back from reading my highly commended poem Waterlogged at the poetry competition at Boyle Arts Festival in Co. Roscommon. I was delighted with the commendation. I was also highly commended two years ago when another member of our group, Brendan Carey Kinane, won first prize.

The adjudicator for the competition this year was Bristol-born but Galway-resident poet, Pete Mullineaux, and he gave a poetry reading today at the Royal Hotel at 12.30pm. The reading was followed by the presentation of prizes to the winner and runners up and by readings of the winning and highly recommended poems.

I bought Pete's recently published book of poems on the basis that it's the least I can do after he takes notice of a poem of mine. His book is entitled A Father's Day and is available from Salmon. From what he read it seems very interesting. Poems of his, A Chair here and Mowing here. and Father's Day here.

Boyle Poetry Competition 2009 Results: Winner: Joe Fulham. Four Runners Up: Anna Colhoun, Jessamine O'Connor, Peggy Gallagher and Mike Casey. Highly Commended: Christine Broey, Padraig Higgins, Mary Turley, Mags Traynor, Seamus Harrington, Michael Farry, Mike Casey, Joe Fulham.

I presume the winner is the same Joe Fulham we published in Boyne Berries. If so he lives in Ratoath, Co. Meath, has had poems published in Cyphers and had a poem included in the Oxfam Poetry calendar for 2007.