Derry Schools and Colleges Poetry Awards 2005

This year the competition joined in partnership with the Verbal Arts Centre. The project provided a platform for young people ranging across Key Stages 1-4 to participate in creative writing and have their poems recorded in an anthology entitled Wordplay.

The Workshops

In conjunction with the competition, the Verbal Arts Centre offered 20 poetry workshops facilitated by local poet and playwright, Joe MacCarthy, a total of 385 pupils from 24 schools participated.

The topics this year included: My Favourite Person or Pets for Key Stage 1, Through My Eyes or I Wish for Key Stage 2 and Cool or Dreams for Key Stage 3. Key Stage 4 topics included Winning or Losing or If.

The Winners

‘Thank you all for allowing me into your private world – now let the world read your wonderful poems, share your thoughts, and help make us all better people’.
Carita Kerr

Hundreds of entries were received and the three judges, Carita Kerr, Gráinne McCafferty and Joe MacCarthy had a mammoth but very enjoyable task reading the huge range of poems submitted. “Endless hours reading the thoughts and aspirations of young people is a truly humbling experience.” Carita Kerr.

All winning entries i.e., 1st, 2nd, 3rd in each Key Stage together with entries receiving a merit award have been published in an anthology and each winner received a complimentary copy at the presentation of prizes which took place in the Verbal Arts Centre on Wednesday 29th June. “I know that this volume of poetry will give great pleasure and inspiration to all those who read it.” Gráinne McCafferty.

Winning Entries Availible on right of this page.

The Launch

The Derry Schools and Colleges Awards took place at The Verbal Arts Centre on 29th June 2005.
Awards were made in five categories:
Special Schools, Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2, Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.

The prizes were presented by the newly appointed, Mayor Lynn Fleming. With over 150 people in the audience the young people had a true sense of occasion and a permanent record of their achievement in the publication ‘Wordplay.’