Munster Literature Centre
Ionad Litríochta an Deisceart

Category: Latest News

  • 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    The Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition, open until 31st July to original, unpublished and unbroadcast short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or fewer, will be judged by Alexander MacLeod.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…

  • Applications open for mentorships in poetry & fiction

    Applications open for mentorships in poetry & fiction

    Our five mentors this year will each mentor two individuals. Candidates may apply to a maximum of two mentors, but no successful candidate can receive more than one mentorship. Mentorships will consist of four face-to-face, two-hour sessions. Complete guidelines and submission details are available at southword.submittable.com. Deadline for submissions: 14th July 2023 (midnight) Mentorship in…

  • Southword Subscribers’ Competition Results

    Southword Subscribers’ Competition Results

    Every year we hold a free-to-enter flash fiction competition and poetry competition exclusively for subscribers to Southword. For each category, all current subscribers are emailed a link and may submit up to three poems and/or three pieces of flash fiction; winners are published in our summer issue and receive the following: 1st Prize €150, 2nd…

  • Fool for Poetry Chapbook Competition Open

    Fool for Poetry Chapbook Competition Open

    The Fool for Poetry International Chapbook Competition is now open for entries. Page limit: 16 – 24Closing date: 31st August (midnight)Entry fee: €25 per manuscript The competition is open to new, emerging and established poets from any country. At least one of these winners will be the highest scoring manuscript entered by a poet with no solo…

  • Farmgate Café National Poetry Award Winner

    Farmgate Café National Poetry Award Winner

    With sponsorship from one of Cork’s most loved restaurants, the Farmgate Café, this award is €2000 for the best full-length poetry collection in English published in 2022 by a poet residing in Ireland. Judges this year were Colm Breathnach, Eleanor Hooker and Thomas McCarthy. Limited places are available for a cosy reception at the Farmgate…