My second poetry collection The Gift of the View (Revival Press) was recently launched by poet and Boyne Writer Michael Farry. Sincere thanks to him and to all who attended. Thanks to Meath County Council Arts Office and Creative Ireland for their support. The title of the collection comes from a poem written at Laytown Strand a few years ago called On Beauty.
I’m delighted to share that my poetry collection ‘The Gift of the View’ (Revival Press) will be launched on Sunday, 31st May at 6 pm in Swift Cultural Centre, Trim. Poet Michael Farry will launch the book. The cover is ‘Sunset on Royal Tara’ by Slane artist Pat Doyle.
To honour St. Brigid’s Day and the Bank Holiday in Ireland celebrating Lá Fhéile Bríde, Drawn to the Light Press is pleased to announce the third Little Fires of Brigid Poetry Competition. The competition is now open and closes on Sunday, 11th January 2026 at midnight.
1) Send poems to orla.a.fay@gmail.com using the subject line Little Fires of Brigid Poetry Competition 2026. Poems should be 40 lines or less and previously unpublished.
2) Poems should be on the theme of Brigid, Spirituality, Nature, Spring, Fire and Renewal.
3) Poems are judged anonymously and the poet’s name must not appear on the poems themselves. Details should be included on a separate page or in the body of the email.
4) There is an entry fee of €10 for a single poem entry. Poets may submit as many poems as they wish. Please include your PayPal reference number in your entry email. Those who wish to enter by post may do so by contacting the email address above.
The overall judge is poet and editor Orla Fay. Orla’s first full collection, ‘Word Skin’, was published by Salmon poetry in December 2023. She is the author of the chapbooks, ‘Drawn to the Light’, ‘What Became of the Horses’ and ‘Olde Songs for Sarah’. She is a former editor of ‘Boyne Berries’ and the founding editor of ‘Drawn to the Light Press’. Orla is a Poetry Town laureate for Dunshaughlin in Co. Meath. She holds a MA in Digital Arts and Humanities. Her poetry has been widely published and has won, or been placed in several competitions.
The winning poet will receive a cash prize and their poem will be published in Issue 17 of Drawn to the Light Press. A runner-up will also receive a cash prize and have their poem published in this February Issue.
Winners will be announced on Monday, 2nd February 2026.
Enter here https://drawntothelightpress.com/little-fires-of-brigid-poetry-competition/
The submission period for issue 17, February 2026 is now open. The window will close on Friday, 9th January at midnight.
The theme for this issue is ‘Spring’. As we approach the darkest days of the year the glimmer of new life and the turning of the light offer us hope and courage. Have you words to offer on resilience, rebirth, renewal, or growth? Do you like beginnings? What pleases you about spring? What are your memories of February and March? Do you console yourself in nature? If you do, send up to 3 poems of 40 lines or less. Submissions of art and photography are also sought.
Send all submissions to orla.a.fay@gmail.com
Please do send work in Times New Roman, font 12. Include your work in the body of the email and as a Word document attachment.
Send a short bio of 50 words or less, written in the third person.
Those submitting work should be over 18.
https://drawntothelightpress.com/submissions/
Begin
Begin again to the summoning birds
to the sight of the light at the window,
begin to the roar of morning traffic
all along Pembroke Road.
Every beginning is a promise
born in light and dying in dark
determination and exaltation of springtime
flowering the way to work.
Begin to the pageant of queuing girls
the arrogant loneliness of swans in the canal
bridges linking the past and future
old friends passing though with us still.
Begin to the loneliness that cannot end
since it perhaps is what makes us begin,
begin to wonder at unknown faces
at crying birds in the sudden rain
at branches stark in the willing sunlight
at seagulls foraging for bread
at couples sharing a sunny secret
alone together while making good.
Though we live in a world that dreams of ending
that always seems about to give in
something that will not acknowledge conclusion
insists that we forever begin.
Brendan Kennelly
Langston Hughes wrote,
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Entries are now invited to the ‘Hold Fast to Dreams Poetry Competition 2025’. 10 shortlisted poems will appear in Drawn to the Light Press Issue 16 and the overall winner will receive a cash prize. Please send a single poem of no more than 40 lines (excluding the title) as an attachment to dreamspoetrycomp@gmail.com
Please ensure that your name is not included on the attached poem.
Name and contact details, along with the title of your entry and the PayPal reference number for your entry should be included in the body of the email.
Poems must be previously unpublished.
The competition closes on Sunday, 7th September at midnight.
Poems must be on the theme of ‘dreams’ and we look forward to your interpretations. The judge of the competition is editor Orla Fay. There is a €10 entry fee.
10 shortlisted poems will be announced on Sunday 21st September.
Entry here
https://drawntothelightpress.com/hold-fast-to-dreams-poetry-competition/
To honour St. Brigid’s Day and the Bank Holiday in Ireland celebrating Lá Fhéile Bríde, Drawn to the Light Press is pleased to announce the second Little Fires of Brigid Poetry Competition. The competition is now open and closes on Sunday, 19th January 2025 at midnight. Saint Brigid of Kildare or Saint Brigid of Ireland (Irish: Naomh Bríd; Classical Irish: Brighid; Latin: Brigida; c. 451 – 525) is the patroness saint (or ‘mother saint’) of Ireland, and one of its three national saints along with Patrick and Columba.
1) Send poems to orla.a.fay@gmail.com using the subject line Little Fires of Brigid Poetry Competition 2025. Poems should be 40 lines or less and previously unpublished.
2) Poems should be on the theme of Brigid, Spirituality, Nature, Spring, Fire and Renewal.
3) Poems are judged anonymously and the poet’s name must not appear on the poems themselves. Details should be included on a separate page or in the body of the email.
4) There is an entry fee of €10 for a single poem entry. Poets may submit as many poems as they wish. Please include your PayPal reference number in your entry email. Those who wish to enter by post may do so by contacting the email address above.
The overall judge is poet and editor Orla Fay. Orla’s first full collection, ‘Word Skin’, was published by Salmon poetry in December 2023. She is the author of the chapbooks, ‘Drawn to the Light’, ‘What Became of the Horses’ and ‘Olde Songs for Sarah’. She is a former editor of ‘Boyne Berries’ and the founding editor of ‘Drawn to the Light Press’. Orla is a Poetry Town laureate for Dunshaughlin in Co. Meath. She holds a MA in Digital Arts and Humanities. Her poetry has been widely published and has won, or been placed in several competitions.
The winning poet will receive €250 and their poem will be published in Issue 14 of Drawn to the Light Press. A runner-up will also have their poem published in this February Issue.
Winners will be announced on Monday, 3rd February 2025.
Enter here https://drawntothelightpress.com/little-fires-of-brigid-poetry-competition/
Langston Hughes wrote,
Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Entries are now invited to the ‘Hold Fast to Dreams Poetry Competition 2024’. 13 shortlisted poems will appear in Drawn to the Light Press Issue 13 and the overall winner will receive a cash prize. Please send a single poem of no more than 40 lines (excluding the title) as an attachment to dreamspoetrycomp@gmail.com
Please ensure that your name is not included on the attached poem.
Name and contact details, along with the title of your entry and the PayPal reference number for your entry should be included in the body of the email.
Poems must be previously unpublished.
The competition closes on Sunday, 1st September at midnight.
Poems must be on the theme of ‘dreams’ and we look forward to your interpretations. The judge of the competition is editor Orla Fay. There is a €10 entry fee.
https://drawntothelightpress.com/hold-fast-to-dreams-poetry-competition/
