We are pleased to announce that three poetry books have been shortlisted for the 2023 Pigott Poetry Prize. This prize is Ireland’s largest monetary prize for a poetry collection with the winner being awarded €12,000, and the two shortlisted finalists each receiving €1,000.
Over 50 poetry books were submitted for this year’s award and adjudicators Martin Dyar and Clodagh Beresford Dunne selected the shortlist on behalf of Listowel Writers’ Week.
Speaking on behalf of the adjudicators, poet Martin Dyar commented: “Drawn from a truly distinguished field of submissions, this shortlist reflects the depth, inventiveness and enriching musicality of contemporary Irish poetry. These books will delight readers through their wealth of compassionate understanding, their narrative strength, their verbal grace, and their exemplary levels of craft and technique. Here are poets who draw you in and ultimately make you want to share their work with others.”
Catherine Moylan, on behalf of the Board of Listowel Writers’ Week, stated, “We are very grateful to all the poets who have submitted wonderful collections for this year’s competition. Congratulations to Tara, Tom & Nithy on being selected for the shortlist and sincere thanks to Mark Pigott KBE celebrating Irish Poetry with the Pigott Poetry Prize.”
The three shortlisted poetry books are:
Nithy Kasa, Palm Wine Tapper and the Boy at Jericho (Doire Press)
Tara Bergin, Savage Tales (Carcanet Press)
Tom French, Company (Gallery Press)
The winner of the Pigott Poetry Prize will be announced on the 31st of May 2023 during our opening night ceremony.
The Pigott Poetry Prize is generously sponsored by Mark Pigott KBE. Mr Pigott shared, “It is a blessing to be able to support this wonderful literary award and recognise the leading poets of Ireland. This is the 10th year of the prize, and the competition is world class. I would like to thank our adjudicators, Martin Dyar and Clodagh Beresford Dunne for their hard work and thorough review of all the entrants and congratulate them on their excellent selection of this year’s shortlist which showcases the beauty, diversity and strength of Irish Poetry”.