This annual award marks Michael Hartnett’s contribution to literature in English and Irish. This year the award was made to a poet writing in Irish.
This annual award was established by Limerick County Council and is jointly funded by Limerick City and County Council and The Arts Council to mark Michael Hartnett’s contribution to literature in English and Irish. In 2025, the award of €8,000 will be made to the winning poet on the basis of a second or subsequent book of poetry, published in the last two years, i.e. 2023 – 2024.
The Michael Hartnett Annual Poetry Award is awarded in alternate years to books of poetry in the Irish and English language. This year, 2025, the award was made to a poet writing in Irish. This year’s adjudicators were Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhaigh and Louis de Paor.
The closing date for applications was Friday, 27th June 2025.
The Michael Hartnett Annual Poetry Award was presented to the winning poet at the opening of Éigse Michael Hartnett on Thursday 2 October 2025 in Newcastle West, Co. Limerick.
Irish-language poet and editor Aifric Mac Aodha has been named the winner of the 2025 Michael Hartnett Poetry Award for her third collection, Old Friends (The Gallery Press, 2024). Full details of that can be found here: Aifric Mac Aodha Wins 2025 Michael Hartnett Poetry Award for Bilingual Collection Old Friends | Limerick.ie