Munster Literature Centre
Ionad Litríochta an Deisceart

Author: James O’Leary

  • O’Donoghue Poetry Competition Open

    O’Donoghue Poetry Competition Open

    The Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition is now open for entries. Line limit: 40Closing date: 30th NovemberEntry fee: €7 per poem or €30 for a batch of five The competition is open to original, unpublished poems in the English language of 40 lines or fewer. The poem can be on any subject, in any style, by a writer of any nationality,…

  • Outsiders, Always by Mary O’Donnell, new poetry chapbook from Southword Editions

    Outsiders, Always by Mary O’Donnell, new poetry chapbook from Southword Editions

    Outsiders, Always by Mary O’Donnell is available now! Buy for €6 here.

  • Fool for Poetry Competition – deadline extended one week

    Fool for Poetry Competition – deadline extended one week

    The deadline for the Fool for Poetry International Chapbook Competition has been extended, from 31st August until 7th September (midnight).

  • 4 mentorships available with Alexander MacLeod

    4 mentorships available with Alexander MacLeod

    Canadian author Alexander MacLeod is the 2023 Frank O’Connor International Short Story Fellow. The fellowship is very kindly funded by Cork City Council and is an initiative of the Munster Literature Centre. There is the opportunity for four Munster fiction writers to be mentored by Alexander, tuition fees covered, between September and November of this…

  • 2023 Mentorship Bursary Recipients

    2023 Mentorship Bursary Recipients

    Mentorships, applied for through open submission, have been awarded to eight writers living in Munster. Poetry Mentor: Thomas McCarthy Thomas McCarthy was born in Cappoquin, Co. Waterford, in 1954 and educated locally and at University College Cork where he was auditor of the English Literature Society. He has published many collections of poetry, including The First Convention,…

  • Alexander MacLeod to judge Ó Faoláin Short Story Competition

    Alexander MacLeod to judge Ó Faoláin Short Story Competition

    The Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition, open until 31st July to original, unpublished and unbroadcast short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or fewer, will be judged by Alexander MacLeod. McLeod will also take up the appointment of Frank O’Connor International Short Story Fellow in October. Alexander MacLeod’s work has appeared in The…

  • Southword 44 out now

    Southword 44 out now

    €10.00 Southword Editions, 2023, 106 pagesISBN: 978-1-915573-02-5 Southword 44 includes new poetry by Abigail Parry, a photo-essay by John Minihan and the winners and shortlistees of the recent Seán O’Faoláin International Short Story Competition (judged by Alan McMonagle ) and Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition (judged by Suji Kwock Kim). Subscribe and order back issues here.

  • Southword Editor’s Poetry Award Open

    Southword Editor’s Poetry Award Open

    The Southword Editor’s Poetry Award Competition is now open for entries. €1000 FOR THE BEST ENTRY OF THREE POEMS Each entrant for their €20 entry fee will receive a complementary postage-free, one-year subscription to Southword. Poems will be read and judged anonymously. The winning poet will have their three poems published in Southword. If you are already…

  • Breda Spaight’s Southword poem on Forward Prize for Best Single Poem Shortlist

    Breda Spaight’s Southword poem on Forward Prize for Best Single Poem Shortlist

    The Curse by Breda Spaight, published in Southword 42, has been selected for the Forward Prize for Best Single Poem 2023 Shortlist. You can read about Breda here, her conversation with the Forward Arts Foundation here, and her poem The Curse here. In 2019 we published Breda Spaight’s debut chapbook, The Untimely Death of My…

  • Southword Literary Essay Competition 2023 Results

    Southword Literary Essay Competition 2023 Results

    This competition was open to original, unpublished, personal essays between 2500 ‒ 5000 words. We were looking for personal, confessional essays which border on memoir ‒ gripping essays full of memories and feelings. The best indicator of the kind of thing which interested us is what we have published in past issues; essays by Kim…