Education News Bits

WIS E-zine

For news and updates on Poetry Ireland Education and the Writers in Schools Scheme read the new WIS E-zine. Click here for more.

POETRY ALOUD 2008

The Poetry Aloud, Poetry Speaking Competition is back this year. For full details about the competition, and a list of the poems for this years competition click here.

Niamh Kenneally (Ursuline College, Sligo) won the Senior and Overall prize for last year’s competition, organised by Poetry Ireland and the National Library of Ireland.

The Junior Winner was John King (Belvedere College, Dublin) and the Intermediate Winner was Sarah Giffen (St Michael’s Grammar School, Armagh).The semi-finals and finals took place in the National Library and the judges for the finals were Brendan Kennelly, Pat Donlon and Tom McCarthy.

We were greatly heartened by the huge response to the competition (over 700 students last year), and it’s evident that poetry is very much alive for many young people - we're hoping to see even more entries this year. 

SCHOOLS AGAINST RACISM

We would like to congratulate the winners of the 3rd Annual Schools Against Racism Competition. Maria Coyle from Eureka Girls Secondary School, Kells, Co Meath took the prizes for Senior and Overall Winner, for her poem, ‘Help!!!’. Kerri Ward, a student at Assumption Girls Secondary School in Walkinstown, Dublin, was the Junior Winner with ‘Dark Satin’. The Guest Language prize (French) was presented to Benjamin Burns from Abbey Community College, Boyle, Co. Roscommon, for ‘Dans un Rayon de Soleil’.

Many thanks to the National Library of Ireland for hosting the ceremony and to President Mary McAleese for presenting the awards. Keep an eye on this site for details of next year's competition!