Saolta Arts is seeking entries for its annual poetry competition. The poetry competition is run in conjunction with the Poems for Patience series as part of Cúirt International Festival of Literature, which takes place from April 21st – 26th. The closing date for the competition is Wednesday, March 25th 2026.
The prize as part of the annual poetry competition includes: the winner will have their poem published and displayed on the Arts Corridor of University Hospital Galway as part of the 2026 Poems for Patience series. Poems for Patience is a long running series which over the past twenty two years has featured poems by leading Irish and international poets such as Seamus Heaney, Philip Schultz, Jane Hirschfield, Michael Longley, Naomi Shihab Nye, Vona Groarke, Tess Gallagher and many more. After their initial exhibition on the Arts Corridor, the poems are displayed in waiting areas throughout Galway University Hospitals and, in 2026, will also be shared across our public hospitals in Ballinasloe, Castlebar, Roscommon, Sligo, and Letterkenny.
For the first time, the series will also be displayed in Tallaght University Hospital, and we are delighted to collaborate with them on this expanded presentation.
The winner will also be:
- invited to read his or her winning poem at the launch of the 2026 Poems for Patience at Cúirt International Festival of Literature in April,
- provided with accommodation in Galway if travelling for one night during the festival,
- given a copy of their poem printed and framed as a Poem for Patience poster.
Margaret Flannery Arts Director said, ‘Now in its fourteenth year, the Poems for Patience competition is a cherished part of the Saolta Arts programme. It offers poets a meaningful opportunity to share work that can uplift, steady, and encourage those who encounter it, providing moments of reflection, imagination, and comfort for our hospital community.”
Saolta Arts welcomes back competition judge Susan Millar DuMars who will make a shortlist by Thursday April 9th and reveal the winning entry on Monday April 13th.
Criteria details include: poems entered in the competition should be no more than 32 lines long. They must be the original work of the entrant. Poems previously published in magazines or poetry collections are eligible. Multiple entries are accepted; poets can enter as many poems as they wish.
Entry fees: to enter one poem the fee is €10. If you enter two or more poems the entry fee is €7.50 per poem i.e. to enter two poems it costs €15, to enter three poems €22.50 and so on. Payment can be made online or alternatively by cheque or postal order payable to Saolta Arts.
Entries should be sent by email to saoltaarts@hse.ie or by post to Saolta Arts, c/o University Hospital Galway, Newcastle Road, Galway.
Please include your contact details – name, address, email address, telephone and title of poem(s) within the body of the email and attach each entry separately. If you are posting your entry do not put your name on the poems; please include your contact details on a cover letter. This is to keep all poets anonymous during the judging process.
The closing date for the competition is Wednesday, March 25th, 2026.
Saolta Arts will announce the short list on Thursday April 9th and reveal the winning entry on Monday April 13th.
For any other queries contact Margaret Flannery, Arts Director, Saolta Arts, Galway University Hospitals, Newcastle Road, Galway Tel: +353 (0)87 1478394 Email: saoltaarts@hse.ie
Susan Millar DuMars Biography
Susan Millar DuMars has published five poetry collections with Salmon Poetry. In 2025 she edited a posthumous collection of her husband Kevin’s poetry, published by Salmon, titled Life Itself. She has just finished a book of short stories and is currently working on a memoir. Susan and Kevin organised the Over the Edge readings series together for twenty years.
Jessamine O’Connor pictured with her winning entry for 2025 “The Last Gift.”
Image credit: Saolta Arts