Congratulations to Michelle Dennehy – Winner of the Seamus Heaney Award for New Writing 2024!

Community Arts Partnership had a great day on Sunday at the launch of Poetry in Motion Community anthology ‘Manifest’ and the announcement of this year’s winner of The Seamus Heaney Award for New Writing.

This year marks the tenth year of The Seamus Heaney Awards for New Writing and the event featured readings from the long listed poets, followed by a chat with each poet with CAP’s CEO, Conor Shields. Conor Also had a chance to chat with last year’s winner, Sue Steging.

The Awards

Michelle Dennehy was the Winner this year, with her poem ‘For the Mothers, No Balm’ and we were lucky to have Michelle read her winning poem to the gathered poets!

Pictured: Michelle Dennehy – Winner of The Seamus Heaney Award for New Writing 2024, for her poem ‘For the Mothers, No Balm

Sharon Flynn was the Runner Up this year, with her poem, ‘Orkney’ – a poem with an avian theme that featured prominently this year!

Pictured: Sharon Flynn – Seamus Heaney Award for New Writing 2024 Runner Up, for her poem ‘Orkney

The other two short list entries, were Maura Johnston, who has been involved with CAP as both a contributor to our anthologies and as a poet working. in our Poetry in Motion Schools programme, for her poem ‘Because there is no wake’ . And Clare McCotter for her poem ‘Bad Grief’.

Pictured: Sharon Flynn (Runner Up), Michelle Dennehy (Winner), Maura Johnston (short list) and Clare McCotter (short list)
Pictured: Sharon Flynn (Runner Up), Michelle Dennehy (Winner), Conor Shields (CAP CEO), Maura Johnston (short list) and Clare McCotter (short list)
Long list poets receiving their awards. L-R, Sharon Flynn, Michelle Dennehy, Wendy Sinnamon, David Atkinson, Robin Holmes, Maura Johnston, Mark Cooper and Clare McCotter

The event was hosted the at the Seamus Heaney HomePlace, Bellaghy

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