Young poet recognised in national competition

Photo: Liam York from Tullamore.

Young Offaly student Liam York (10) has been named among the runners-up of the 2020 Trócaire-Poetry Ireland poetry competition.

The Trócaire and Poetry Ireland annual competition, which this year had the theme ‘Standing Her Ground’, uses the arts to raise awareness about global justice, ecological, and equality issues.

Liam, who is from Tullamore and a pupil in the local Educate Together school, was runner-up in the Primary Junior Category (3rd & 4th class) with his poem, 'Too Much to Ask'.

Born in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, Liam moved to Ireland when he was 18 months old. The young climate activist, musician, and athlete impressed the judges with his entry which was one of a number of high-quality poems submitted in the category, with 'She's Standing Her Ground' by Louth's Ruairí Heeney named the winner.

Joanne McGarry, Trócaire's Campaigns Manager, said: “The ‘Standing Her Ground’ theme focused on the extraordinary stories of Angela and Madris – two brave mothers from Honduras and Kenya, who featured in Trócaire’s 2020 Lenten Campaign.

“We asked entrants to consider how these brave women are supporting their families by standing up for their right to earn a living on their own land.

“They are battling enormous odds – and the threat of violence, intimidation, and drought – to provide food for their children and to keep them in school,” she added.

“It is heartening to see, even in these challenging times, how school children and adults alike can take a theme of injustice and turn it into inspiring poems that tell similar stories often with hopeful messages for the future.”

As a physical awards ceremony is not possible, Trócaire and Poetry Ireland celebrated the winners of the competition with a streamed video event on Poetry Ireland’s YouTube channel on Culture Night last Friday, September 18th), while a booklet of the winning poems is due to be published in 2021.