• The Frances Browne Multilingual Poetry Competition

    The successful Frances Browne International Poetry Competition, pioneered by Celine Mc Glynn and Dr. Pauline Holland, has been an established event since 2008. The competition is unique in its tri-lingual approach, welcoming poets writing in the English, Irish and Ulster-Scots languages. The awards ceremony, traditionally held on the Friday night of the festival enshrines the Frances Browne Literary Festival motto 'Treasure each Voice' with live readings of new poetry in all three languages.

  • 2025 Frances Browne Poetry Competition

    Placed Poems

  • 2025 Frances Browne Poetry Competition

    Short-list announcement

  • Past Poetry Competitions

    2024 Poetry Competition - Placed Poems

    Congratulations to all the 2024 placed poets. And a heartfelt thank you to all the poets who took the time to send us their work. It was yet another extraordinary year for the festival and we look forward to sharing the poems with you in the coming weeks.

  • 2023 Poetry Competition - Placed Poems

    Ulster Scots

    First: Chalk, Anne McMaster, Co Derry

    Second: The Wumman Who Birthed Seaborn, Angeline Kelly, Co. Antrim

    Third: Postlude, Glen Wilson, Co Armagh

    HC: Gowan-Like, Caroline Johnstone, Ayrshire

    HC: Sheddas, David Atkinson, Co. Londonderry

    HC: Tha Deeds, Glen Wilson, Co Armagh

    HC: Tha Watch-Hoose Atap Tha Cliff, Angela Graham, Co Antrim

    HC: The Back Medda, Fionnuala McNicholl, Co. Derry

     

    Irish

    First: Fear Raice, Ailbhe Nic Giolla Bhrighde, Co na Gaillimhe

    Second: Foighid, Realtan Ni Leannain, Dublin

    Third: Atlantach, Caitriona Lane, Co Galway

    HC: Haiku, Cuimhní Cinn, Paddy Donoghue, Donegal

    HC: Iníon, Eibhlís Carcione, Cork

    English

    First: Disguises, Deirdre Hines, Co Donegal

    Second: Taking the Gloves, Paul Hennessy, Co Wexford

    Third: God’s Garden, A.M. Cousins, Co Wexford

    HC: Dust, Anne Rainey, Co. Antrim

    HC: Hawthorn, Catherine Kay, Co Donegal

    HC:Those Graveyard Sundays, Deirdre Hines, Co Donegal

    HC:Travelling Dresses, Anne Rainey, Co. Antrim,

    Local Category

    Ulster Scots (1st): Sweetay Monae, Niall Iósaf Ó Gallochobhair, Co Donegal

    Irish (1st): Tiomna an Chrainn Daortha, Anna Colhoun, Co. Dhún an nGall

    Irish (HC):Cnoc an Bhogha, Niall Iósaf Ó Gallochobhair, Co. Dhún an nGall

     

    English: The Eilish Carroll McBride Award (1st)

    My Grandfather, Seamus McDermott, Co Donegal

     

    Treasure Each Voice Award

    Glen Wilson, Co Armagh 

    Spirit of the Festival Award

    Angeline Kelly, Co. Antrim

     

  • 2023 Poetry Awards - Readings

    The motto of the Frances Browne Literary Festival is 'Treasure Each Voice'. A really important part of our Festival is hearing poets read their own works. We invite all our poets to attend our annual Awards event, where Highly Commended and Winning poets read to a live audience. We also ask them to make a special recording so they can share their works direct with you. You will find some of these recordings below.

     

    Some of these poets are experienced and even published authors. Many are not.

  • 2022 Poetry Competition

    Thank you to everyone who entered our 2022 poetry competition.

    Yet again we were overwhelmed by the number and standard of the entries. With poets from all over the world taking part we are delighted that our competition is not only multilingual but multinational.

    Spirit of the Festival Award

    Hills - Jennifer Leong, Singapore

    Treasure Each Voice Award

    Meid - Anthony Doogan, Moville, Co. Donegal

    Irish

    1st Place - An chéad áit - An Bhean san Uisce, Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha, Co Donegal

    2nd Place - An Fear a Leag an Sceach Gheal. Eibhlís Carcione, Cork

    3rd Place - Ainmhí - Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha, Co Donegal

     

    Ardmholadh

    Gealfhinne Máire - Anthony Doogan, Co Donegal

    Ulster Scots

    1st Place - Threads - Stephen Dornan, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

    2nd Place - Draim Leid - Glen Wilson, Co Armagh

    3rd Place - Whit Wid Mamie Think? - Fionnuala McNicholl, Derry

     

    Highly Commended

    For a rebal maun scrieve on his rubber - Alan Millar, Co. Antrim

    Ma Wee Dug - Elizabeth Kearney, Glasgow

    English

    1st Place - The Beloved - Tony Devlin, Dublin

    2nd Place - You and Bonny Mary - Margaret Galvin, Co Wexford

    3rd Place - Portballintrae - Glen Wilson, Co. Armagh

     

    Highly Commended

    Her Story - Laura Ní Néill, Co Waterford

    Money Back Bottles - Seamus McDermott, Co. Donegal

    Mountain of Desire - Clare McKay, Co Antrim

    The Carer - Noreen Hunter, Co. Donegal

    The New School - Breda Logue, Co Donegal

  • 2021 Poetry Competition

    Thank you to everyone who entered our 2021 poetry competition.

     

    Irish

    1st Place - An chéad áit - An Bhean san Uisce - Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha, Co Donegal

    2nd Place - An Fear a Leag an Sceach Gheal - Eibhlís Carcione, Cork

    3rd Place - Ainmhí - Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha, Co Donegal

     

    Ardmholadh

    Gealfhinne Máire - Anthony Doogan, Co Donegal

    Ulster Scots

    1st Place - Apsley's Newsagents Est 1903, Angeline King, Co. Antrim

    2nd Place - Aa life is breath, Anne McMaster, Co Derry

    3rd Place - Granda's Smittie Tongue, Fionnuala McNicholl, Derry

    English

    1st Place - Takings - Caroline Bracken, Dublin

    2nd Place - Benedictus - Sandra Mary Chambers, Staffordshire, England

    3rd Place - Indigenous - Ruth O'Shea, Limerick

     

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