29th February 2020
We’re thrilled to announce the winner of the 7th Five Words International Poetry Competition, for his poem Betty Fox is Skipping, is English poet Derek Sellen – and the first poet to win the competition for a second time!
Judges Afric McGlinchey and Michael Ray made their selection, along with the full shortlist of twelve poems, from 595 entries. All going well, Derek will read and take part in Ó Bhéal’s 13th anniversary event (13th April 2020), as will a number of other shortlisted poets at the launch of Five Words Vol XIII.
Congratulations to all of this year’s shortlisted poets and for two highly commended entries from Cliona O’Connell (Ireland) and Rosemary Norman (England).
| Betty Fox is Skipping | by Derek Sellen (England) winner |
| Evolution | by Cliona O’Connell (Ireland) highly commended |
| Automaton | by Rosemary Norman (England) highly commended |
| Father’s Day | by Janice Bethany (USA) |
| Wise and Luminous | by Ada Volynska (Ukraine) |
| Smoke Flares, Pyro Prayers | by Lucy Holme (Ireland) |
| The Boat Crane | by Sharon Phillips (England) |
| 6am. River. Girl. | by Fiona Ritchie Walker (England/Scotland) |
|
To Paint Death as The Mountain Pine Beetle |
by Michele Ring (France) |
|
Bottled Lines, Excellent Spirits |
by Ada Volynska (Ukraine) |
|
A Small Bee Came to Rest Upon My Hand |
by Margaret McCarthy (Ireland) |
| La Rue des Touettes | by David W Evans (Jersey) |
Shortlisted poems will appear in Five Words Vol XIII, to be launched at Ó Bhéal on Monday the 13th of April 2020, along with the award presentation and readings from contributors.
The 8th Five Words International Competition will commence at noon on Tuesday the 14th of April, 2020. Due to a significant increase in submissions, the competition will be increasing its prize money.
The 7th Winter Warmer festival saw an marked increase in audience numbers in the KINO and Hayloft Bar over three days. The festival featured 23+ poets, poetry-films, poetry set to music, live performance with film, workshops and a poetry film panel discussion.
The Friday afternoon workshops were fully attended with Kimberly Reyes leading a poetry session while Marie Craven and Claudia Larose-Bell discussed poetry-film. Corn Uí Riada winner and acclaimed sean-nós singer Máire Ní Chéileachair opened the festival, accompanied by Cork musicians Con O’Drisceoil (accordion) and Johnny McCarthy (fiddle, flute).
2019 has a strong poetry-film theme as acclaimed Australian poetry-filmmaker Marie Craven also led a panel discussion, presented a curated screening and directed a live audiovisual poetry performance featuring Australian actor/writer Claudia Larose-Bell. Later into the Friday evening local trio Dourga blended music, song and spoken word.
The Saturday afternoon featured a closed-mic set for ten local poets. Events on Sunday 24th took place at Ó Bhéal’s regular home in The Hayloft Bar (Winthrop St), starting with a selection from Ó Bhéal’s 2019 Poetry-Film competition, followed by a multilingual Many Tongues of Cork session curated by Joanna Dukkupati to celebrate diversity through writing (and translation), featuring six female voices who represent a wide range of Cork communities. The session also included sign language interpretation from Ray Greene, with projected translations.
There’s a fine and comprehensive online review of the festival by Dr Cornelia Gräbner from Lancaster University here. Festival photographer Linda Ibbotson also put together an excellent photographic review on her blog, here.
[L-R] Liz Berry, Afric McGlinchey, Aifric MacAodha & Anne Frater 
With thanks to the festival sponsors and to the fabulous, ever-expanding team of volunteers. A truly communal effort and brilliant result. With thanks to Lovisa Cosgrave for the excellent videography and editing, and to poet/photographer Linda Ibbotson for the gorgeous photos – all available on our facebook page, at this link.
The Kino, The Long Valley Bar, The Arts Council, Foras na Gaeilge, Dunnes Stores, Forum Publications,
Colmcille, Arc Publications, Isaacs Hotel, Cork City Council, Poetry Ireland, UCC English Dept,
Café Torino and Paradiso.
