28th February 2024
We are thrilled to announce the winners and shortlisted entries from Ó Bhéal’s 11th Five Words International Poetry Competition, judged by Theo Dorgan.
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.
Congratulations to the shortlisted poets, and our sincere thanks to all who entered!
against cartography | by Derek Sellen (England) 1st | |
Gardening in the Otherworld | by Mary Anne Smith Sellen (England) 2nd | |
imagine a field | by Laura Theis (England) 3rd | |
Inheritance | by Alison McCrossan (Ireland) | |
Storm Glass | by Brian Kirk (Ireland) | |
self-care für unsichtbare | by Laura Theis (England) | |
To Be Done Before Anything Drastic | by J.A.Speta (USA) | |
A Tale for No Tail | by Mary Louise Kiernan (USA) | |
Out of the Woods | by Kevin Conroy (Ireland) | |
Rapture | by Marcella Remund (USA) | |
For Sam Lawler, Who Used His Gun | by Tracy Newlands (Australia) | |
Leaving Ursa Minor | by John D. Kelly (N.Ireland) |
The 12th Five Words International Competition will commence at noon on Tuesday the 9th of April 2024, and will continue until the 28th of January 2025.
August and November 2023
from Coventry: Devjani Bodepudi and John Watson
from Cork: Cathal Holden and Rosalin Blue
In August 2023 Ó Bhéal welcomed Coventry poets Devjani Bodepudi and John Watson for two readings at Ó Bhéal and DeBarra’s Spoken Word as part of the twin cities exchange. Cathal Holden and Rosalin Blue represented Cork for a reciprocal visit and were hosted for two readings in Coventry during early November, also with a visit to the Lord Mayor, hosted by Ó Bhéal’s partner Here Comes Everyone / Fire & Dust. Reviews, images and links from each poet follow.
26th November 2023
We are thrilled to announce that Kate Sweeney from England, with her gorgeous film To Be Two has won Ó Bhéal’s 11th poetry-film competition, as announced at the 11th Winter Warmer Poetry Festival awards ceremony.
To Be Two was chosen from 208 submissions received from 168 filmmakers in 33 countries. The 2023 shortlist represents 14 countries: Belgium, England, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, Namibia, New Zealand, Scotland, The Netherlands, UK, Ukraine and USA. You can view the shortlist and screenings here.
Poem: To Be Two
Synopsis – An origin story of becoming – two mothers, a son, a family. Bringing together the moments and the materials from the everyday, it focusses on the ways we, as a family formed through adoption, have made our bonds. To Be Two is a collage of video recordings, poetry, and animation painted with inks and dyes made from mud, rust, blackberries, nettle milk and river water gathered and adapted from my immediate and intimate surroundings. to describe how we imagine and manifest our selves through each other beyond the language of blood and DNA.
Director: Kate Sweeney (UK)
Kate Sweeney is an artist, video maker and writer based in the North East of England. Her video pieces have screened and been exhibited nationally and internationally including Sydney International Film Festival, Zebra Film Festival in Berlin, Manchester Animation Festival, AnimaTricks in Helsinki and International Poetry Festival in London. Kate is currently a research associate at Newcastle University, and has previously taught Fine Art, Animation and lectured in poetry-film. She has just completed her PhD exploring video practice in literary archives at Newcastle University, UK (2016 – 20).
“What struck us primarily was how the beauty of the words “richter white paint stroked through a candle/ time blown backwards by a brush” were as captivating as the visual journey of this film. The pacing was extraordinary, the stunning stop motion animation of a child on a pushbike coming towards you, and then you might have a sheet of white vellum paper just for a few moments, all under-layered with a child crying or laughing. One is transported into extraordinary shifts in perspective, via a striking variety of stylised animations and abstract videography. A fantastic and worthy winner. ”
Ó Bhéal’s 11th Winter Warmer (and 3rd hybrid) festival presented over 30 poets from seven countries. Most of the featured guests appeared in-person at Nano Nagle Place, while others appeared virtually.
The festival included two poetry workshops with Dylan Brennan and Jessica Traynor, a poetry-film workshop with Colm Scully, three music/poetry fusions from Rónán Ó Snodaigh, Aindrias de Staic and Alistair Mackay (with Rody Gorman) (all in-person), an Open-Mic Showcase featuring four Cork-based regular open-mic events, poetry-films from the verse of the late Macdara Woods, plus a Closed-Mic set for poets from Ó Bhéal’s regular open-mic sessions during 2023.
Other guests included Eiléan Ni Chuilleanáin, Fred D’Aguiar, Sarah Clancy, Vona Groarke, Lauren O’Donovan, Emma Must, Kim Shuck, Alejandro Murguía, Gormfhlaith Ni Shiochain Ni Bheolain, Laima Vincė, Jason J. Fisher and S’phongo.
The shortlist and prize-giving for Ó Bhéal’s 11th International Poetry-Film Competition was screened and simulcast, along with an additional, special selection of poetry-films made in Ireland.
The festival poster is available HERE.
The Arts Council of Ireland, Cork City Council, Foras na Gaeilge,
Poetry and Politics II @ University of Vigo, Dunnes Stores, Forum
Publications, Colmcille, Arc Publications, Cork City Libraries, Poetry Ireland,
Paradiso, The Long Valley and the UCC School of English and Digital Humanities.
6th March 2023
David Ross Linklater
We are delighted to announce the winners and shortlisted entries from our 10th Five Words International Poetry Competition, judged by Victoria Kennefick. Our warm congratulations to first place winner David Ross Linklater for his poem Lighthouse / Mother, to second place winner Alison McCrossan for her poem Walking alone and to third place winner Glyn Matthews for his poem Terms of Endearment.
The selection was made from 481 entries representing 24 countries. Winners will read their entries at Ó Bhéal’s 16th anniversary event, during the launch of Five Words Vol XVI (both online and via zoom on the 10th April 2023), as will most of the shortlisted poets and our regular five word challenge contributors.
Congratulations to all the shortlisted poets and our sincere thanks to all who entered!
Lighthouse / Mother | by David Ross Linklater (Scotland) 1st | |
Walking alone | by Alison McCrossan (Ireland) 2nd | |
Terms of Endearment | by Glyn Matthews (England) 3rd | |
Shive | by David W Evans (Jersey) | |
Gifted | by Laura Theis (England) | |
After Eunice | by Jill Munro (England) | |
Scut | by John Baylis Post (England) | |
Fump | by Phoebe Colby (Canada) | |
It Isn’t Inevitable, Just Likely | by Dante Miller (USA) | |
In praise of liminality | by Gabrielle Deakin (Spain) | |
The University Of Brattleboro And The Uncluttered Table | by Rolf Parker-Houghton (USA) | |
Then There Was Only One Foetal Heartbeat | by Mandy Beattie (Scotland) |
The 11th Five Words International Competition will commence at noon on Tuesday the 11th of April 2023 and continue until the 30th of January 2024.
August and November 2022
[L-R] Sujana Crawford, John Bernard, Dean Browne and Victoria Kennefick
with photos and reviews from Cork and Coventry poets
In August 2022 Ó Bhéal and Here Comes Everyone resumed our in-person twin cities exchange. Sujana Crawford and John Bernard were invited to Cork for readings at Ó Bhéal and DeBarra’s Spoken Word, along with a visit to the Lord Mayor’s chambers, while Dean Browne and Victoria Kennefick represented Cork for a reciprocal visit and were hosted for two readings in Coventry during early November, also with a visit to the Lord Mayor, hosted by Ó Bhéal’s partner Here Comes Everyone / Fire & Dust. Reviews, images and links from each poet follow.
27th November 2022
We are delighted to announce that Jelle Meys from Belgium, with his beautiful film La luna asoma (The moon appears) is Ó Bhéal’s 10th poetry-film competition winner, as announced at the 10th Winter Warmer Poetry Festival awards ceremony.
Jelle’s film was chosen from 173 submissions received from 100 filmmakers in 33 countries. The 2022 shortlist represents 17 countries: Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, Germany, Ireland, Isle of Man, Northern Ireland, Philippines, Portugal, South Africa, The Netherlands, Ukraine, UK, USA, Wales and Zimbabwe. You can view the complete shortlist and screenings here. We’re very grateful to all the poets and filmmakers who submitted this year.
La luna asoma
(The moon appears)
(6:10)
Poem: La luna asoma (The moon appears)
by Federico García Lorca
Synopsis – An animated interpretation of the mysterious poem ‘La luna asoma’ by the Spanish poet Federico García Lorca.
Director: Jelle Meys (Belgium)
Jelle Meys (°1986) is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer, as well as a visual arts teacher, working and living in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium. He got his degree of ‘Master in visual arts: graphic design and illustration’ in 2009 at School of arts Ghent, in 2010 he also got his teacher’s degree there. In 2017 he started taking the film and animation course at the art academy in his home town Sint-Niklaas. Since finishing his work on ‘La luna asoma’, he started working on a new ambitious animation project under the work title of ‘Sally’, a comical story about a man and his unique relationship with a cactus.
“Having tried my hand at animation myself, I know the work the work that goes into something like this.The guitar music and soundscape, like the perfectly timed crunch of an apple being bitten, weld it together. The film moves and grows as if a secret is unfolding before us. Its made all the more amazing when you read the credits and realise how few people Jelle needed help from in completing the project. It’s a worthy winner.”
“A gorgeous film. Image, music, voice and poem, gloriously wed.”
Ó Bhéal’s 10th Winter Warmer (and 2nd hybrid) festival presented over 30 poets from seven countries. Most of the featured guests appeared in-person at Nano Nagle Place, while others appeared virtually.
For the second time the festival hosted two poetry workshops, along with song from the brilliant Fiona Kelleher, a reading and round table discussion centered on relationships between Human & Non-Human Life in Port Cities Poetry, and a Closed-Mic set for poets who have featured in Ó Bhéal’s regular open-mic sessions during 2022.
The shortlist and prize-giving for Ó Bhéal’s International Poetry-Film Competition were also screened, as was an additional, special selection of poetry-films made in Ireland.
This year’s Winter Warmer also hosted the 2022 All-Ireland Poetry Slam Championship Final, featuring 12 poets (three from each province) who competed over three rounds. Our congratulations to the new All-Ireland Slam Champion Leon Dunne, as well as to runners up Helen Hastings and Jim Crickard.
The Arts Council of Ireland, Cork City Council, Foras na Gaeilge,
Poetry and Politics II @ University of Vigo, Dunnes Stores, Forum
Publications, Colmcille, Arc Publications, Cork City Libraries, Poetry Ireland,
Paradiso, The Long Valley and the UCC School of English and Digital Humanities.
28th February 2022
We are thrilled to announce the results of our 9th Five Words International Poetry Competition, judged by poet Maurice Riordan. Our warm congratulations go to first place winner Marcella Remund for her poem Caught, to second place winner David W Evans for his poem Finding Nero and to third place winner Peter Arvan Manos for his poem Bleeding Kit.
The selection was made from 617 entries (27 countries). Winners will read their entries at Ó Bhéal’s 15th anniversary event, during the launch of Five Words Vol XV (both online and via zoom on the 11th April 2022), as will a number of shortlisted poets and regular five word challenge writers.
Congratulations to all the shortlisted poets and our sincere thanks to all who entered!
Caught | by Marcella Remund (USA) 1st Place | |
Finding Nero | by David W Evans (Jersey) 2nd Place | |
Bleeding Kit | by Peter Arvan Manos (USA) 3rd Place | |
…stream… | by Peter Longden (England) | |
Small Blues | by Cindy Botha (New Zealand) | |
Bathing Mother | by Marcella Remund (USA) | |
A Barrow From The Marketplace | by Chris Reed (New Zealand) | |
Lines from the lateral canthus | by Rosemary Norman (England) | |
Sleep Lessons From Birds | by Laura Theis (UK) | |
The Complete History of the Lyric | by Kyle Vaughn (USA) | |
Foregone Conclusions | by Dean Gessie (Canada) | |
With Blackbirds and Pirates | by Eoin Hegarty (Ireland) |
The 10th Five Words International Competition will commence at noon on Tuesday the 12th of April 2022 and continue until the 31st of January 2023.
28th November 2021
We are thrilled to announce and convey our heartfelt congratulations to poet & filmmaker Janet Lees from the Isle of Man, whose film What I fear most is becoming “a poet” is Ó Bhéal’s 9th poetry-film competition winner, as announced at the 9th Winter Warmer Poetry Festival awards ceremony.
Janet’s film was chosen from 184 submissions received from 122 filmmakers in 32 countries. The 2021 shortlist represents 13 countries: Canada, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Perú, Romania, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, UK and the USA. You can view the complete shortlist and screenings here. Our warm thanks to all the poets and filmmakers who submitted this year.
Poem: What I fear most is becoming “a poet”
Synopsis – Katerina Gogou (1949-1993) was Greece’s greatest modern anarchist poetess. Her poems have become synonymous with the radical culture of Greece and with Exarcheia, the Athens neighbourhood known as the anarchist quarter. Born into the Nazi occupation of Greece, she lived through the years of far right military junta oppression and the country’s resurgent anarchist movement in the 1980s. An activist herself, she became a prophet of the movement and her poems anthems for it. She died of an overdose on 3 October 1993. This poetry film was produced by the Institute for Experimenal Arts and commissioned by the art platform filmpoetry.org, as part of the Digital Culture Programme, Ministry of Culture / Greece.
Director: Janet Lees (Isle of Man)
Janet Lees is an artist, poet and poetry filmmaker. Her film-based work has been selected for many festivals and screenings, including the Zebra Poetry Film Festival, the International Videopoetry Festival and the Aesthetica Art Prize. As an artist she has exhibited in group shows around the world. She represented the Isle of Man at the Festival Interceltique in France, with a full-scale solo exhibition of art photography, experimental film and poetry. Janet’s poetry is widely published and anthologised. She has had two books published: House of water, a collection of her poems and art photographs, and A bag of sky, the winning collection in the Frosted Fire Firsts prize hosted by the UK’s Cheltenham Poetry Festival.
“There were so many beautiful filmpoems entered into the competition, I loved watching every single one of them, and appreciated all of the work, imagination and innovation that went into making them. In the end, the piece called What I fear most is becoming a poet stood out as a stunning example of filmpoetry as a unique art form. Janet Lees has created a powerful visual rendering of Katerina Gogou’s poem. I was both floored and inspired by it. Comhghairdeas ó chroí!”
“This is such an evocative and moving piece. Katerina Gogou’s poem, enormous in itself which speaks so intimately about the poet’s world of peril and uncertainty, met with this filigreed balance of soft pianissimo and perfectly-paced typography, the haunting, completely captivating visuals, the almost hesitant text (in places), and the very absence of voice bringing us so much closer to the poet’s inner sanctum… all just masterfully done. A highly worthy winner.”