ATU Mayo calls on Connacht teens to enter 2026 Poetry Pillar competition

An exciting opportunity for students in Mayo and across Connacht.

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) is inviting young people from across the province to showcase their creative talents in the 2026 Poetry Pillar competition.

Open to students aged between 15 and 18, this year’s theme is “birds”, encouraging young writers to explore nature, ecology and personal reflection through poetry.

The competition has become an important platform for emerging poetic talent in the west of Ireland. High-quality entries are published in The Scrimshaw Journal, ATU’s internal literary magazine, and Lasmuigh, a digital and print publication that celebrates creative work with an ecological focus.

The top three poems will receive prizes of €100, €50 and €25, with the overall winner’s work also joining the permanent Poetry Pillar installation in St Mary’s Courtyard Garden. Winners will be revealed at a special event on the ATU Mayo Campus in April 2026.

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Dr Deirdre Garvey, Head of Department of Environmental Humanities and Social Sciences at ATU Mayo, said the competition plays a valuable role in connecting young people with environmental issues.

“Poetry creates that emotional connection and awareness that helps us reflect on our interactions with nature,” she said.

“The Poetry Pillar competition is a great opportunity for young students to engage the hearts and minds of others on these issues. Each year the theme explores a different environmental aspect and we are really looking forward to this year’s entries.”

To encourage participation, ATU’s Access and Widening Participation Service will also host a series of poetry-writing workshops with writer and ATU alumna Jessamine O’Connor, aimed at helping students engage with poetry as a creative and expressive outlet.

The initiative continues to foster creativity and environmental awarness among young people across the region, making it a standout opportunity for aspiring writers in Mayo and beyond.

Further details on the competition and ATU access programmes are available through the university’s website.

Submissions are open until Thursday, March 5, at 5pm, and entries should be emailed to poetrypillartransition.galwaymayo@atu.ie.