Welcome to the Munster

Literature Centre

Founded in 1993, the Munster Literature Centre (Ionad Litríochta an Deiscirt) is a non-profit arts organisation dedicated to the promotion and celebration of literature, especially that of Munster. To this end, we organise festivals, workshops, readings and competitions. Our publishing section, Southword Editions, publishes a biannual journal, poetry collections and short stories. We actively seek to support new and emerging writers and are assisted in our efforts through funding from Cork City Council, Cork County Council and the Arts Council of Ireland.

Originally located in Sullivan's Quay, the centre moved to its current premises in the Frank O'Connor House (the author's birthplace) at 84 Douglas Street, in 2003.

In 2000, the Munster Literature Centre organised the first Frank O'Connor International Short Story Festival, an event dedicated to the celebration of the short story and named for one of Cork's most beloved authors. The festival showcases readings, literary forums and workshops. Following continued growth and additional funding, the Cork City - Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award was introduced in 2005, coinciding with Cork's designation as that year's European Capital of Culture. The award is now recognised as the single biggest prize for a short story collection in the world and is presented at the end of the festival.

In 2002, the Munster Literature Centre introduced the Seán Ó Faoláin Short Story Prize, an annual short story competition dedicated to one of Ireland's most accomplished story writers and theorists. This too is presented during the FOC festival. The centre also hosts the Cork Spring Literary Festival each year.

Workshops are held by featured authors in both autumn and spring, allowing the general public to receive creative guidance in an intimate setting for a minimal fee. In addition, the centre sponsors a Writer in Residence each year.

We invite you to browse our website for further information regarding our events, Munster literature, and other literary information. Should you have any queries, we would be happy to hear from you.

THE GREGORY O'DONOGHUE

INTERNATIONAL POETRY PRIZE

Previous Winners

How to enter our competition.

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2011(Judge: Leanne O'Sullivan)

2010 (Judge: James Harpur)

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2011 Winners

First Prize: Death of Alaska by Sandra Ann Winters

Second Prize: Superstition by Tadhg Russell

Third Prize: Bulloch Harbour, Winter 09 by Mike Casey

Honorary Mentions

(alphabetical order)

Marina Blitshteyn (New York, USA), 'Winding the Watch'

Magdalena Cullen (Cork, Ireland), 'Two Things'

Caroline M Davies (Bedfordshire, UK), 'At Sea'

Peggie Gallagher (Sligo, Ireland), 'In Her Later Years'

Noel King (Co. Kerry, Ireland), 'Danger'

Jim Maguire (Wexford, Ireland), 'Water Ghosts'

Michael McKimm (London, UK) 'The Ice Harvest'

Patrick Moran (Co. Tipperary, Ireland), 'So Much'

Tadhg Russell (Co. Cork, Ireland), 'The Wood'

KC Trommer (New York, USA), 'First Map'

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The 2011 shortlist:

In alphabetical order by author:

Marina Blitshteyn (New York, USA), 'Winding the Watch'

Mike Casey (Co. Dublin, Ireland), 'Bulloch Harbour, Winter 09'

Magdalena Cullen (Cork, Ireland), 'Two Things'

Caroline M Davies (Bedfordshire, UK), 'At Sea'

Peggie Gallagher (Sligo, Ireland), 'In Her Later Years'

Noel King (Co. Kerry, Ireland), 'Danger'

Jim Maguire (Wexford, Ireland), 'Water Ghosts'

Michael McKimm (London, UK) 'The Ice Harvest'

Patrick Moran (Co. Tipperary, Ireland), 'So Much'

Tadhg Russell (Co. Cork, Ireland), 'Superstition'

Tadhg Russell (Co. Cork, Ireland), 'The Wood'

KC Trommer (New York, USA), 'First Map'

Sandra Ann Winters (North Carolina, USA), 'Death of Alaska'

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2010 Winners

First Prize: John F. Deane

'Shoemaker'

Second Prize: Siobhan Campbell

'Clew Bay from the Reek'

Third Prize: Patrick Deeley

'Geezer'

Commended Poets

Listed alphabetically:

Lauren K. Alleyne– New York, USA

Maureen Gallagher– Galway, Ireland

John Gerard– Cork, Ireland

Catherine Phil MacCarthy– Dublin, Ireland

Patrick Maddock– New Ross, Ireland

Pete Mullineaux– Galway, Ireland

Cristina Newton– Swindon, UK

Mary Anne Perkins– Richmond, UK

Jane Robinson– Enniskerry, Ireland

Cherry Smyth– London, UK

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Read Southword Journal

Issue 21A now online!

Seán Ó Faoláin
Short Story
Competition

Now open!

Pre-book Festival
Writing Workshops
at the MLC

4 Day Story
Workshops Coming
This September

Poetry International.org

MLC produces the Irish section of this prestigious poetry site.
Current poets: John F. Deane & Michael D. Higgins
www.poetryinternational.org

Best Irish Poetry in English 2010

Visit our bookstore here.

Festivals

The Munster Literature Centre hosts two annual festivals. The larger Cork City - Frank O'Connor International Short Story Festival takes place each September, while the Cork Spring Literary Festival, with varying themes, is presented each spring. Further information is available on our drop down menus.

Munster Literature Centre

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Frank O'Connor House, 84 Douglas Street, Cork, Ireland.

Tel. (353) 021 4312955 Email munsterlit@eircom.net