FÉILE RAIFTEIRÍ POETRY COMPETITION 2025
Huge congratulations to our amazing winners in this year's poetry competition! There was so much talent on display — a big thank you to everyone who participated and shared their beautiful poetry with us.
Section A: recitation: Isla Ní Fhuada and Michael Ó Dónalláin ( Irish School Riabhach)
Section B - primary school students: Aaila Azraai (Gaelscoil Riabhach)
Section C - secondary school students: Ellen Keane Keady (Corrib College)
Section D - adults: Cúán de Búrca
- There are two competitions in Section A open to primary school students in:
- 1st & 2nd class
- 3rd & 4th class
- A maximum of two people from each school will be accepted.
- Schools are asked to organize in-school competitions to select two people to represent the school.
- The contestant must engage in small conversation and then recite a piece of poetry.
- They must demonstrate the richness of Irish in rhythmic, precise, fluent speech that will impress the audience.
- Each contestant will have two minutes and it will be up to the contestant to ensure that he/she does not exceed the time limit.
- The poetry doesn't have to be newly written.
- Teachers must send the names of the contestants, as well as the teacher's contact details to naoise@gaeilgelochariach.ie before 18.00 Thursday, 2 October 2025.
- The competition will take place on the morning of the awards ceremony on October 11th at 10:30 in Loughrea.
- Section B of the competition is open to primary school students.
- The theme of this year's competition is ' Who are you? ' and Irish language poems related to that theme are welcome.
- Teachers must select 5 poems from each class and send the poems, along with the teacher's contact details, to naoise@gaeilgelochariach.ie before 18.00 on Thursday, 2 October.
- The shortlist for the award will be announced on October 6th .
- The winners will be announced and the awards ceremony will be held on October 11th at 10:30 in Loughrea.
- Contestants have a chance to win goodie bags.
- Section C of the competition is open to secondary school students.
- The theme of this year's competition is ' Who are you? ' and Irish language poems related to that theme are welcome.
- If you are a school teacher, you must select 5 poems from each class and send the poems, along with the teacher's contact details, to naoise@gaeilgelochariach.ie
- If you are an individual, you can send your entry to naoise@gaeilgelochariach.ie along with your contact details. The maximum number of poems accepted from any individual entrant is one.
- The competition deadline is 18.00 Thursday, 2 October 2025.
- The shortlist for the award will be announced on October 6th .
- The winners will be announced and the awards ceremony will be held on October 11th at 10:30 in Loughrea.
- Voucher to be won!
- Each entry must be the applicant's own original work and must not have been previously published, whether in the media or self-published.
- Caithfaidh na dánta a bheith scríofá ar an téama ‘Cé thú fhéin?’.
- One poem, not exceeding 30 lines, is the maximum number that will be accepted from any candidate. An entry form must be completed for this.
- Your name, address and contact number and/or email address must be written on the entry form, along with the title of the poem.
- Do not put your name or any other personal details on the page(s) on which the poem is written.
- Entries must be submitted with their entry form (Word or PDF document) to naoise@gaeilgelochariach.ie before 18.00 on Thursday, 2 October 2025.
- All choices and decisions made by the judges will stand and no contact or communication with them regarding their decisions is permitted.
- The shortlist for the award will be announced on October 6th .
- The winners will be announced and the Awards ceremony will be held on October 11th .
- By submitting an entry, the entrant will be deemed to accept the rules and conditions of the competition.
- More information at: naoise@gaeilgelochariach.ie