On Tuesday 18th October twelve students from Coláiste Chiaráin, Croom took part in the Poetry Aloud competition. Poetry Aloud is an annual poetry speaking competition open to all post-primary students on the island of Ireland. It is organised by Poetry Ireland and the National Library of Ireland. Since it was launched in 2006, Poetry Aloud has grown from just a few hundred entries to over 1,700 entries in 2015.
The late Seamus Heaney was a significant supporter of Poetry Aloud. When he won the David Cohen Prize for Lifetime Achievement in Literature, he nominated Poetry Aloud for the accompanying Clarissa Luard Award, and he remarked, “I truly believe Poetry Aloud deserves all the support it can get, because it promotes literature, and , in particular, poetry, widely, intimately and to inestimable effect. But fundamentally, I choose it because it brings poetry into the memory and affections of the young in a way that will make it a lifelong possession and value”.
Students from 2nd, 3rd and 4th year took part. They recited two poems from memory one of which was prescribed. The prescribed poems in this year’s competition reflect on 1916, World War 1 and also include the work of contemporary Irish poets so it was very appropriate that “Lament for Thomas McDonagh” by Francis Ledwidge and “The Wayfarer” by Patrick Pearse were included.
Congratulations to Dawid Kocik and Areej Uquaily who have progressed to the semi-finals in The National Library of Ireland next month. We wish them every success!!
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