Ballinasloe man wins 2025 Bard of Connacht title
At the presentation of the Bard of Connacht 2025 were Seán Beirne, Kilbegnet Ballinakill Historical Society; Dominick Tobin, 2024 Bard of Connacht; John Corbett, 2025 Bard of Connacht; Larry Kilcommins, secretary, Ballinakill Kilbegnet Historical Society; Michele Lambert, Kilbegnet Ballinakill Historical Society, and Seamus Ward, chairperson, Kilbegnet Ballinakill Historical Society.
The Bard of Connacht 2025 was announced at a recent event organised by Kilbegnet Ballinakill Historical Society during the Creggs Harvest Festival.
From Gurteen, Ballinasloe, John Corbett’s entry ‘From Iniskeen to Parnassian Isles’ traced the journey of County Monaghan poet Patrick Kavanagh and the many trials and tribulations he endured during his life.
Second prize went to Trevor Conway from Sligo for his poem ‘After the Pandemic’. Third prize went to John Ralph for his poem ‘Behind the Smile’. John, from Ballygar, was a previous winner of the Bard of Connacht title. Fourth prize went to first-time entrant Joshua Fanning from Carrick-on-Shannon for his poem ‘The Falling Stone.’
Many of the finalists were present at the final in Creggs NS to read their poems and MC for the evening Seán Beirne from Kilbegnet Ballinakill Historical Society announced the winning entries.
John Corbett won top prize of €500 plus the Vincent Keaveney Memorial Trophy. Trevor Conway, John Ralph and Joshua Fanning received cheques for €250, €150 and €100 respectively. The theme of this year’s competition was ‘Liberation’.
Poets from all over Ireland and many international poets took part in the competition and Mr Beirne thanked both the poets and all involved in organising the 2025 event.
The annual competition is run by Kilbegnet Historical Society in conjunction with Creggs Harvest Festival.
