It is often a long journey to success. And this year has felt longer than many, but we are delighted to make this announcement.
This year’s longlist selection showcases the power, passion, elegance and diversity of our amazing local contemporary poetry scene – works that speak to our times while carrying forward the timeless resonance of Seamus Heaney’s legacy. Each poet on this list has offered something remarkable.
The Seamus Heaney Award for New Writing 2025 Longlist:
‘How to solve a Rubik’s cube’ – by Kerry Newcombe
‘The Oort cloud’ – by Anita Greg
‘The Transactionalist’ – by Angela Graham
‘Newsworthy: Sednaya Prison – A Mother’s Lament’ – by Alan Magee
‘Flower Pressing for Beginners’ – by Jason Lovell
‘The importance of absence’ – by Marion Clarke
‘A Memory of Something (Not Yet) Lost’ – by Sue Steging
‘Pain Control’ – by Clare McCotter
We congratulate every poet on this year’s longlist and thank all who submitted their work. The range of voices and subjects made the judging process both a joy and a challenge.
The announcement of the winning poem will take place at the awards event in the Seamus Heaney Homeplace in Bellaghy. The Measure Anthology will be made available to all contributing poets at that event and available via our Ebay site thereafter.
Final details for that event will be announced this week.
