Fish has been running the poetry contest since 2006. Previous judges include Brian Turner, Leanne O'Sullivan, Michael McCarthy, Peter Fallon and Matthew Sweeney. To view our catalogue of anthologies containing the winning poems from previous poetry competitions click Fish Books.
2012 Fish Poetry Prize opens for entries Aug 2011. Billy Collins (Poet Laureate USA 2001-2003) will be judging. He will select 10 poems to be published in the 2012 Fish Anthology.
Fish Publishing runs the poetry competition each year, and publishes the winners in the annual Fish Anthology. This is launched during the West Cork Literary Festival in July.
Poetry Contest Summary
Poetry Contest Prizes
Poetry Contest Rules
Poetry Contest Entry Fees
How to Enter Poetry Contest
Poetry Contest Summary 2012
OPENS: 1 Aug 2011
Closing date: 30 March 2012
Results: 30 April 2012
Judge: Billy CollinsPoetry Contest Prizes:
The winner and nine runners-up will be published in the 2012 Fish Anthology.
First Prize - €1,000
Second Prize - a week at the Anam Cara Writers' & Artists' Retreat in West Cork's Beara Peninsula, with €300 traveling expenses.
The best ten poems will be published in the 2012 Anthology and each poet will receive five copies of the Anthology.
All winning poets will be invited to the launch of the 2012 Fish Anthology. This will take place during the West Cork Literary Festival in July 2012.
Poetry Contest Rules
No entry form is needed. Entry is mostly on-line, or by post if required.
You can enter as many times as you wish. One poem per entry.
The poetry contest is open to poets of any nationality writing in English.
There is no restriction on theme or style.
Poem length is restricted to 200 words.
The winning poems must be available for the anthology and, therefore, must not have been published previously.
Fish holds publishing rights for one year after publication. Copyright remains with the author.
Notification of receipt of entry will normally be by email.
The judges' verdict is final.
No correspondence will be entered into once work has been submitted.
Poems cannot be altered or changed after they have been entered. Do not put name or address with the poem, but on a separate sheet if entering by post, or in the correct place on the online entry system.
Overall winners of the Fish Poetry Prize may enter again, but will not be eligible for the first prize.
A poet who has had two poems in Fish Anthologies may not enter for three years. They may enter other Fish Prizes in that time. (This is designed to give opportunities to a wider circle of emerging poets).
Entry is taken to be acceptance of these rules.
Poetry Contest Entry Fees
The cost of an Online entry is fixed in Euro and the conversion into your local currency will be done automatically by your credit card company according to the current exchange rate.
Online Entry
€Postal Entry
€Per Entry
14.00
16.00
Critique (Optional)
30.00
32.00
How to Enter
You can enter online or by post. The cheaper option is to enter online.
Online Entry to Poetry Contest
To Enter online, simply submit your poem(s) through our online entry system on our website. Please do not send poems as email attachments.
MAKE SURE YOUR NAME IS NOT ON THE POEM. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL SHORT-LISTING AND JUDGING IS DONE ANONYMOUSLY. YOUR POEM IS AUTOMATICALLY LINKED TO YOUR AUTHOR NAME IN THE SYSTEM.
If you have any difficulty submitting your poem(s), post your problem at Feedback and Support.
Postal Entries for the Poetry Contest
To enter by post, please include entry fee and poem in the same envelope. Do not put your name or address on the poem - put all contact details on a separate sheet. Cheques payable to 'Fish Publishing'. NOTE: cheques must be made out in the currency of the country from which they are sent, to the value of the fee. Receipt of entry by email only. Poems will not be returned. Critiques will be returned by email unless requested by post.
Post to: The Fish Poetry Contest, Fish Publishing, Durrus, Bantry, Co Cork, Ireland
