Kilkenny students are encouraged to participate in ‘Poetry Aloud,’ an annual poetry speaking competition. This event is open to all post-primary students on the island of Ireland. It is organized by the National Library of Ireland and Poetry Ireland, with support from University College Cork.
To allow more students to participate, the competition has extended its submission deadline to October 21, 2024.
Sinéad McCoole, Head of Exhibitions, Learning and Programming at the National Library of Ireland, expressed her enthusiasm for the event. “Poetry Aloud is one of the highlights of our year. Young people recite poetry in the great tradition of the bard in Ireland,” she said. She noted that the competition, which began in 2006, has fostered a talented group of alumni.
Liz Kelly, Director of Poetry Ireland, also shared her excitement. “We are thrilled to work again with the National Library of Ireland, UCC, and schools across Ireland on this national poetry speaking project,” she stated. “I look forward to hearing from young people throughout the country by the end of this month.”
‘Poetry Aloud’ aims to engage students with spoken poetry. It helps build confidence and pride in Ireland’s literary heritage. Participants compete in three categories: Junior, Intermediate, and Senior. Each student learns one prescribed poem and selects another poem from chosen anthologies. They will compete in regional heats, semi-finals, and a national final at the National Library of Ireland.
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