What made you submit your work for consideration for the Seamus Heaney Award for New Writing?
I usually submit every year as I’ve been a facilitator on the Poetry In Motion program for over 12 years and it seems incumbent upon me to put my money where my mouth is – ‘practising what I preach’ so to speak. (I encourage others to write and submit every year to the anthology in the PIM schools’ programme)
What theme did you look at in the poem you submitted?
‘Northpaw’ is about a young girl who has adapted to the circumstances of her childhood injury. It was the first example of endurance and thriving despite a disability, that I had ever come across in anyone.The experience never left me.
How long did the crafting of the poem take?
This was one of those poems that wrote itself. I nipped and tucked the lines to fit into the prescribed line-lengths for the (Seamus Heaney) submission – but aside from that, I probably wrote it in just under the space of a week.
How did you feel when you found out you were included on the Long List for the award?
I was totally psyched but fairly philosophical. It was my second time to be included on the Long List.
How was your experience regarding the event which launched the anthology, presented the long listed poets and announced the winner of the award.?
It was a lovely experience. I enjoyed the craic on the journey down with Gordon Hewitt (Community Arts Partnership) and Joanna Mules and then Anita Gregg introduced us both to Susan Gully and her partner and then as all the readings and interviews were so varied and interesting and SO relaxed – the afternoon just flew by. I loved Susan Gully’s winning poem – a worthy winner, in my opinion and then, to be runner-up(??) Quel surprise!! Just the cherry on the top of an enjoyable event.
How did you feel about being selected as the runner up in the competition?
Quietly delighted and strangely relieved that I can now properly justify my presence in the Poetry in Motion classrooms again.
Where to now regarding your poetic writing?
My poetry is always bubbling below the surface. I’m hoping to join a writing group though, to try and bring more discipline into my writing, and since I was awarded an Arts’ Council award of a year’s (2026) free membership of the Irish Writer’s centre in Dublin, I am hoping to avail of a few more masterclasses there before the year is out.
I’m currently working on a novella about a Belfast mill girl which is to accompany a (do it yourself) kit to make a porcelain Edwardian-style bisque legacy doll.
This is an attempt to finally combine my skills in writing and ceramic sculpture in one project.
To see more of Annemarie Mullan’s work go to the link below
