Labhaoise Ní Lonargáin Ní Chonamhara from Gaelcholáiste Chéitinn was named runner-up in the senior category of the 2024 Poetry Aloud competition.
The competition, which challenges second-level students across Ireland to recite a prescribed poem from memory, recognized students from several schools, including Gaelcholáiste Chéitinn, Ursuline Secondary School, and Presentation Secondary School in Ballingarry.
Organized by the National Library of Ireland (NLI) and Poetry Ireland, in partnership with University College Cork, the event attracted 358 entries from schools across the island. This year’s final featured 29 finalists from 15 counties, including Antrim, Dublin, and Tipperary.
In addition to Labhaoise Ní Lonargáin Ní Chonamhara’s achievement, Cait Browne from Ursuline Secondary School and Lily Plaude from Presentation Secondary School were also finalists.
The Poetry Aloud competition, which has been running since 2007, has three categories: junior, intermediate, and senior. The prescribed poems for this year included Forecast by Geraldine Mitchell (junior), Counting the Winter Days by Nithy Kasa (intermediate), and Nocturne by Eavan Boland (senior).
The late Seamus Heaney was a strong supporter of the competition, praising its ability to celebrate the joy of poetry and its unique North-South connection across the island.
Dr. Audrey Whitty, Director of the National Library of Ireland, commented, “Poetry Aloud is a powerful celebration of spoken word, bringing young people together to breathe new life into the work of Ireland’s greatest poets. It highlights poetry’s enduring power to move, inspire, and unite.”
Liz Kelly, Director of Poetry Ireland, echoed this sentiment, recalling Heaney’s belief that the competition helps young people connect with poetry in a way that makes it a lifelong possession. She added, “Poetry Ireland is thrilled to continue this work, ensuring poetry remains a valuable part of young people’s lives.”
The 2024 competition was judged by Dr. Audrey Whitty, Liz Kelly, and Anne Tannam, Poetry Ireland’s Poet in Residence.
