For over a decade, the Annual Literary Awards and Creative Writing Showcase has been a highlight in Carlow College, St. Patrick’s calendar. This year is no exception, and we are honoured to have distinguished Belfast poet Michael Longley present our literary awards.
Bringing together the entire College community – first year to fourth year, humanities to social care students – the literary awards and creative writing showcase recognises and celebrates the very best of Carlow College, St. Patrick’s literary talent in poetry and prose over the last year in a spirit of camaraderie and friendly competition.
Jack Phelan, previous Award Winner and Graduate recognises that ‘the literary awards provided a much needed creative deadline amidst all of the standard essays, assignments and presentations’, adding ‘it has been a valuable networking tool…and it really helped me to unlock a more confident artistic mindset.’
Clifton Redmond, Awards Winner and Graduate says of the event ‘What I found most satisfying about the awards was how it brought students from all disciplines together sharing their poems and stories as a literary community.’
Karmel Knipprath, Awards Winner and Fourth Year Student believes ‘The energy, excitement, and encouragement from lecturers and fellow students, has been an invaluable driving force for me to sit and write creatively outside of college, and the Awards night itself is something I very much look forward to each year. I’m very proud to be a part of Carlow College and the wonderful writing community that thrives within it.’’
Organiser and English lecturer Dr. Derek Coyle, speaks ‘of the very high standard of poetry and prose received and in hosting these annual awards Carlow College, St. Patrick’s continues in its commitment to fostering a creative writing culture in Carlow and its environs.’
This year, due to Covid-19 restrictions, our Award Ceremony will take place virtually on Monday the 19th April at 7.30pm.
The night will open with a welcome from Dr. Derek Coyle, followed by a creative writing showcase before Michael Longley presents the awards and winners read their work. Michael Longley will then read from his most recent publication ’The Candlelight Master’ (Cape Poetry, 2020), followed by a Q&A session. This is a wonderful opportunity for Carlow audiences to hear reminiscences, anecdotes, celebrations of place names, occasional verses and the odd standalone quatrain from Michael Longley himself such as: “I am the candlelight master / Striking a match in the shadows. / A smoky wick, then radiance. / I am the candlelight master”. John Banville, Irish Times *Books of the Year* says ‘Michael Longley’s luminous ‘The Candlelight Master’…demonstrate[s] how much poetry matters even in the most terrible of times.’
We very much look forward to an enjoyable evening of creative writing and invite you to join this celebration by booking through Eventbrite at: https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/virtual-annual-literary-awards-creative-writing-showcase-tickets-147596887263?aff=email
