Our congratulations to first place winner Lucie Pereira for her poem Late Twenties Hangover, to second place winner Dean Gessie for his poem a force of nature and to third place winner Em Egan Reeve for their poem contents of the underwear drawer I share with my boyfriend.

The selection was made from 500 entries representing 22 countries. Winners and shortlisted entrants will read their poems at Ó Bhéal’s 18th anniversary (and ultimate) event, during the launch of Five Words Vol XVIII (both online and via zoom, on the 14th April 2025). as will a number of regular five word challenge contributors.

Our congratulations go to first place winner Derek Sellen for his poem against cartography, to second place winner Mary Anne Smith Sellen for her poem Gardening in the Otherworld and to third place winner Laura Theis for her poem imagine a field. Remarkably, Derek has won the competition twice before, and Mary Anne has won it once. Marcella Remund, shortlisted beneath, is also listed among our alumni competition winners.

The selection was made from 480 entries representing 16 countries. As per usual, winners will read their entries at Ó Bhéal’s 17th anniversary event, during the launch of Five Words Vol XVII (both online and via zoom, on the 8th April 2024), as will many of the commended (other shortlisted) poets and regular five word challenge contributors.