waterford (wô'tēr-fērd) n.

A short, affirming, verse of four (usually iambic) lines with the rhyme scheme abba, in which the first and fourth lines are of eight syllables, and the second and third lines are of four.A waterford can be biographic (about a person, or group of people), geographic (about a place), ekphrastic (about an artwork or art form), or philosphic (an optimistic aphorism). [est. 2024, named after Co. Waterford in south-east Ireland, founded by Kevin MacAlan]

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The annual waterford competition

Every year there is a celebration of the waterford - 2026 was no exception. The competition closed for entries on June 19th, and the winners have been announced.The waterford of the year will be revealed at a gala event, waterfordrhyme26, scheduled to take place at Waterford Gallery of Art on August 29th.This event will coincide with the launch of an anthology of waterfords published by West Waterford Press.

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Fizza Abbas
Isobel de Barra
Colm Barry
Frances Browner
Paulette Calasibetta
Caoimhe Cooke
P J Cosgrove
Jenny Cox
Colin Dardis
Steve Denehan
Lara Dolphin
Kathleen Fahey
Nicola Fahey
Judith Flynn
Evie Groch
Neil Hallinan
Kate O Halloran
Hilary Healy
Siobhan Henley
Ceire Leigh
Peggy McCarthy
Lorraine McCullen
Grace McG
Mary McKenna
Bob McLaughlin
Clara McShane
Sheila Meaney
Nurzusilawati Binti Nadzri
Ellen O’Hora
Mary Oishi
Patrick O’Sullivan
Marian Robinson
David Ryan
Yvonne Salmon
Thomas Smith
Sylvi Thorstenson
Dominic Walsh
Patricia Wall
Mary Walsh
Kay Wolf

Fizzi Abbas
Colm Barry
Caoimhe Cooke
Jenny Cox
Lara Dolphin
Kathleen Fahey
Hilary Healy
Bob McLoughlin
Nurzusilawati Binti Nadzri
Patricia Wall

School Morning, KarachiBlue vans hum down the sleepy street,
books in a row,
dreams start to grow
in tiny hearts that skip each beat.

Fizzi Abbas

OthelloBitter fruit of unpeeled knowing;
Untolled telling;
Green eyes welling;
Tears of Iago’s ripened sowing.

Colm Barry

New ArrivalVelvet skin and a baby grow,
chunky, toasty,
quiet mostly,
a smile as soft as a rainbow.

Caoimhe Cooke

Love on the Bloor-Danforth LineBeneath Toronto's concrete skin,
Mercury slides.
I hate goodbyes.
You disembark at Dufferin.

Jenny Cox

Epitaph for a Bass Player
(for our friend, Fred)An upright man would pluck the strings.
Now in his place,
next to the bass.
Devout Sandalphon spreads his wings.

Lara Dolphin

Fifty-nine Years OnShe sat in her usual seat,
looked quite askance
when asked to dance.
Years later, they’re still on their feet.

Kathleen Fahey

The Three SistersThe River Suir, and land and lea,
of Munster sing,
till sisters bring
three voices to the Mother Sea.

Hilary Healy

BeautyBeauty, not really created -
found, discovered,
seen, uncovered -
often not anticipated.

Bob McLoughlin

Batik TerapAfter the war, wax resist came,
a vibrant dye,
new motifs fly,
batik's charm spread with glowing flame.

Nurzusilawati Binti Nadzri

The Taking of ChristCaravaggio holds the light.
A kiss of fate,
supper was late.
Do all betrayers come at night?

Patricia Wall

Scroll down for FAQs, but let's answer the most obvious question first...

So, what is a waterford?

It’s shorter than a limerick (which might be why it has been described as "the Irish haiku"!). It has only twenty-four syllables, arranged in four lines.Like the limerick, it has its own rhythm and has to rhyme in a particular way - the first and fourth lines have eight syllables each and rhyme with each other, and the second and third lines have four syllables each, and rhyme with each other.Having four lines makes the waterford a quatrain, and those rhymes can be described as an abba rhyming scheme (if you want to get technical about it).Think of the waterford as a word caricature, a thumbnail character sketch in four lines. These thumbnail sketches can be about people, places, art, or philosophy.Another important distinction between the limerick and the waterford, is that the limerick pokes fun, or is insulting, whereas the waterford is complimentary. The idea is that a waterford celebrates its subject; it’s a positive commentary.Let's look at some examples:

Joe Kelly
A piller of society,
with just a touch,
but not too much,
of local notoriety.

This is a biographic waterford, celebrating the personality of Dungarvan legend, Joe Kelly.
By the way, "piller" isn't a typo. Joe is a pharmacist, this is typical waterford word play!

Dungarvan
Dungarvan is a seaside town
with ev’rything
a place could bring
to make a frown turn upside down.This is a geographic waterford, waxing lyrical about a coastal town in Co. Waterford. It is purely coincidental that Dungarvan is in Co. Waterford. A waterford can be written about anywhere. No Waterford connection is necessary.

The Waterford Rhyme
The waterford is hard to write.
You have to count
the right amount
of syllables and lines: It’s tight!This is an ekphrastic waterford. Coincidentally, it happens to be a waterford about waterfords!

Eye of the Beholder
We hale beauty as if it’s rare,
but look around,
what have you found
that has no art or beauty there?This is a philosophic waterford. It is an opportunity to pen an optimistic aphorism, to express appreciation, or encouragement. The need for positivity is absolute.

FAQs

Is waterford written with an uppercase "w"?
Waterford, the place (as in the city and county) is written with an uppercase "w" because in this instance the word is a proper noun, a name. However, when referring to the poetry form, waterford is written with a lowercase "w". The same distinction is made between limerick (the verse) and Limerick (the place).Can a waterford have more than four lines?
No. All waterfords are four lines long.Does line length matter?
Yes. Most definitely. To be recognised as a waterford, the first and fourth lines must be eight syllables, and the second and third, four.How rigid is the syllable count?
The protocol is, if there is any pronunciation (not too perverse) that brings the syllables into the correct count, then the offering is good. Even if it’s not the only pronunciation, or the most common. If it can be made fit, then it fits. If you are concerned, when using words like every; extraordinary; or (fittingly) syllabically - which appear to have more syllables written than when commonly spoken - then don't be afraid of using apostrophes (ev'ry, extr'ordin'ry, syllabic'ly).Can a waterford have more than one verse?
No. A waterford consists of a single verse of four lines.Does a waterford need to be about a subject that has a connection with Co. Waterford?
No. You can write a waterford about anyone, any place or any piece of art.Does the poet who writes a waterford need to have a connection with Co. Waterford?
No. The waterford is a global art form - open to all. We encourage everybody, the world over, to embrace this concise expression of positivity!Does a waterford have to rhyme?
Yes. To be recognised as a waterford, the verse must have an abba rhyming scheme. However, all forms of rhyme are acceptable. It needn't be 'perfect rhyme'.Must a waterford be funny?
Absolutely not. Sure, it can be, but it doesn't have to be. A waterford can express the full gambit of emotions. It is a poetic form. As such, it can be used wherever poetry is appropriate. This might well include humour, but be careful that the humour isn't at someone's or something's expense. Remember the guiding principle of waterford writing is be nice.What are the categories of a waterford?
We talk of waterfords being biographic (about a person, or group of people), geographic (about a place), ekphrastic (about an artwork or art form), or philosophic (an optimistic aphorism), but don't worry about this. So long as what you write qualifies as a waterford (8,4,4,8 - ABBA - and positive) it will fall into one category or other.Do I have to write to fit within a category?
So long as what you write is a waterford (a positive poem of four lines, 8-4-4-8 syllables, where the fourth line rhymes with the first, and the third line rhymes with the second) then it will fit within one of the four categories: biographic, geographic, ekphrastic, or philosophic. Focus on writing a celebration of your subject and you will have a waterford to be proud of.Must a waterford have a title?
It is preferrable, but not essential. By default, if a waterford is left untitled, either the subject, the first line, or the first few words of the first line, will often be used as a 'de facto' title. Don't be tempted to cheat the syllable count by using the title as an extension of the first line. This is not allowed. The waterford must stand alone without its title.Can a waterford be rude, or insulting?
No. In this manner, the waterford is entirely different to the limerick. The limerick is defined as being bawdy or mocking. The waterford is an affirming verse. To be recognised as a waterford, the subject is given reverence. A waterford needs be a positive commentary. Peace out!Must a waterford be written in the English language?
No. El waterford es una forma de arte global - abierta a todos. ¡Animamos a todos, en todo el mundo, a que abracen esta concisa expresión de positividad!Does a waterford need punctuation?
Punctuation marks can be helpful to the reader, but there is no hard and fast rule. The use of punctuation in any poetry is an artistic choice. It is no different for a waterford.Is a waterford better than a limerick?
Not better, just different. We're all for a bit of inter-county rivalry here in Ireland, but no single nation has contributed more to poetic excellence. The limerick has an eight-hundred year headstart, but even fans of the limerick should welcome the appeal of the waterford, and be happy to see it make its mark on the world.

All sorts experimented with the limerick, including Rudyard Kipling, John Cooper Clarke, Isaac Asimov, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Ogden Nash, Mark Twain, Lewis Carroll, Robert Louis Stevenson and even William Shakespeare. Give me a few centuries and I'm sure I'll be able to share an equally impressive list of waterforders.

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Click the 'ABOUT' button for details of this year's competition.When the competition is open, click the 'ENTER' button to submit an entry.

2025's waterford competition closed for submissions at midnight on November 15th. In 2025, as in 2024, the contest was just for fun and bragging rights, there were no cash prizes or commemorative plaques, but oh joy, the evening we had at The Marine Bar in Dungarvan to round everything off was exhilarating.

In 2024, nearly all of the winners joined us - in 2025 that was a little more challenging, since they came from as far afield as Pakistan and Malaysia!But, in the photo above, we do have Bob McLoughlin, Kathleen Fahey, Kevin MacAlan (the MC), Alan Murphy (the judge), Hilary Healy, and Colm Barry.

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Click the 'WINNERS' button for a complete listing of winners, and to read the Top 10 waterfords of 2025's competition.

One development in 2025 was the presence of a guest judge. We were delighted to have the services of Alan Murphy. Alan is the author and illustrator of four books of poetry. His writings and artworks have been widely published in countless journals and anthologies. Click on his name above to visit his website, or check out his instagram page.

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Submissions closed

Winners Announced!

2026's waterford competition closed for submissions at midnight on June 19th. In 2024 and 2025 the contest was just for fun and bragging rights, there were no cash prizes or commemorative plaques, but oh joy, this year we have €100 up for grabs for "the waterford of the year", a gala event at The Waterford Gallery of Art on August 29th, and a framed commemorative print for each of the ten winners. These winners were announced at the end of July.Nevertheless, congratulations to the forty poets whose name appears on the longlist. This is no mean feat. We had hundreds of entries from all around the world. It is very well done indeed to have made the top forty.

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Click the 'WINNERS' button for an alphabetical listing of the longlist, the ten winners selected by the judge, and their winning waterfords.

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Waterford Competition 2026

The competition closed for submissions at midnight on June 19th. Follow us on BlueSky or check in with us back here to keep up to date.In 2026 we have upped the ante, with a dedicated winners event - waterfordrhyme26 - held at The Waterford Gallery of Art on August 29th.Each shortlisted poet will receive a specially framed copy of their winning waterford certifying their place in the top ten. In addition, the overall winner will receive a €100 cash prize. (OK, it's a fairly modest cash prize, but it's real money!)In 2026, we are honoured to have as our judge a veritable superstar of poetry - Molly Twomey.

Molly grew up in Lismore, County Waterford, and now lives in Cork. She published two poetry collections with The Gallery Press: Raised Among Vultures (2022) and Chic to be Sad (2025), supported by literature bursaries from the Arts Council.Her debut collection won the Southword Debut Collection Poetry Award and was shortlisted for the Seamus Heaney Poetry Prize for Best First Collection. Her second collection was shortlisted for The Farmgate Café National Poetry Award. She holds an MA in Creative Writing and is a PhD Excellence Scholar at University College Cork.Please follow her on Bluesky or Instagram by clicking these links, and her website is here.

As in previous years, ten winners will be chosen from a longlist of forty. Those ten will all be recognised by publication, and invited to read, but everyone who enters will win our adoration for helping establish a new, and essentially positive, art form. We desperately need more positivity in the world!The waterford, in all its glory, is the brainchild of Kevin MacAlan. For the most part, this is not a glass-half-full kind of a fella. So, let's make this positive offering to the universe a resounding celebration.C'mon, most of yers think you have a book in ye, all we're looking for is twenty-four syllables (probably less than a couple of dozen words).The only catch? You gotta say something nice!Please read the rules of the competition which include details of the no-fee entry route for those unable to pay.

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Click the 'EXAMPLES' button to explore a selection of waterfords and access the FAQ section.When the competition is open, click the 'ENTER' button to submit an entry.

Colm Barry
David Birkett
Paulette Calasibetta
Cecilia Carelse
Eleanor Carpenter
Olivia Carroll
Jenny Cox
Kathryn Crowley
Lara Dolphin
Joshua Dyson
Matthew Edgeworth
Kathleen Fahey
Bernadette Gallagher
Allison Gibney
Mary Gillen
Epiphany Graves
Jan Haag
Piers Haben
Neil Hallinan
Hilary Healy
Siobhan Henley
Maria Hoey
Lyndi Hopkins
Breda Joyce
Shane Leavy
Robert McLoughlin
Alina Morozova
Alan Murphy
Eimear Murphy
Elaine Westnott-O’Brien
Mary Oishi
Eamonn O'Sullivan
Marguerite Quinlan
Marian Robinson
Catherine Ronan
David Ryan
Thomas Smith
Sylvi Thorstenson
Mary Walsh
Kay Wolf

David Birkett
Jenny Cox
Kathleen Fahey
Bernadette Gallagher
Mary Gillen
Jan Haag
Lyndi Hopkins
Breda Joyce
Shane Leavy
Elaine Westnott-O’Brien

Closing Time at the GalleryEach time I see a Harry Clarke –
rich blues, reds, gold.
I can’t be told
it’s time to leave. It’s not yet dark.

Breda Joyce

CyclingSo sweet, this slow dissolution
of stress and gall;
the pedals fall
and rise in calm revolution.

David Birkett

Dé hAoineTicking hands on the office clock.
The sun shining,
sweet birds flying –
an bhfuil cead agam dul amach?

Mary Gillen

Gluais DánBhí mé ag siúl síos an cosán
mé ag smaoineadh
ar dán caoineadh.
Ansin chuala mé ceol canrán.

Bernadette Gallagher

Lafcadio Hearn GardensParadise. Each step something new.
Bridges of light,
seagulls take flight,
each tree a prayer, a haiku.

Elaine Westnott-O'Brien

PollinatorsSoft susurrus of wind through trees
now that spring’s here,
sweet time of year -
literally, it’s the bee’s knees.

Jan Haag

Springtime in LagosViolet clouds mist a gentle greet -
honey to musk,
Jacarandas
crushed to rot on the cobbled streets.

Jenny Cox

The DreamTo reach for your hand in the rain,
step on a bus,
that waits for us,
discover each other again.

Kathleen Fahey

TortoiseTo learn a tongue is hard, you think,
but pages turn,
you want to learn
a dripping tap will fill a sink.

Shane Leavy

Whidbey IslandBusybody birds greet in song.
Sea winds whipping,
stones tossed skipping.
The Pass is crowded all day long.

Lyndi Hopkins

WATERFORD OF THE YEAR 2026!!!

Closing Time at the GalleryEach time I see a Harry Clarke –
rich blues, reds, gold.
I can’t be told
it’s time to leave. It’s not yet dark.

Breda Joyce

Duanaire

collected waterfords

An anthology of more than three-hundred waterfords written by over ninety poets from all over the globe, published by West Waterford Press edited by Kevin MacAlan and launched at waterfordrhyme26 held in The Waterford Gallery of Art in Waterford City on August 29th 2026.

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Wherever a bio, notes about a waterford, a translation, or other comment has been provided by a contributor, such information will be found here.

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Duanaire

collected waterfords

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Duanaire

Published by West Waterford Press edited by Kevin MacAlan and launched at waterfordrhyme26 on August 29th, this anthology collects together over three-hundred waterfords written by more than ninety poets from all over the globe.

In yellow, alphabetically by surname, is a comprehensive list of all the contributing poets that were not featured writers.Wherever a bio, notes about a waterford, or a translation, has been provided by a contributor, such information appears beneath their name. This will be updated periodically. Please note, featured writers' biographies can be found in the book.Fizza Abbas
Fizza Abbas is an independent journalist and poet based in Karachi, Pakistan. Her work has been appeared in over 100 international journals, both online and in print. You can find examples in Diode Poetry Journal, Beltway Poetry Quarterly, Poetry Village, London Grip and elsewhere. She has authored three poetry chapbooks: Ool Jalool, Bakho and The Lament of the Sunken Ship. She has also been a Best of The Net nominee and a finalist at Oxford Brookes International Poetry Competition 2021.Ger AllenMary BarronDavid Birkett
'David is a member of the North Hertfordshire stanza of The Poetry Society, Poetry ID. Among the influences he can identify are WH Auden, Mervyn Peake, Edward Thomas and Leonard Cohen. He has a masochist tendency to attempt villanelles.'Michele-Rose Boylan
Michele is Irish and resides in Australia. Anchor is her sled racing Husky. A writer and Arts reviewer, Michele loves adventure sports and travel.Frances Browner
Frances lives in Greystones, County Wicklow. Her debut novel, A Bronx Summer, won the Bloomsday Literary Award 2026, from the Irish Network Minnesota.Paul BullmanJoyce Butler
Joyce is from Waterford, Ireland and a working class background. She’s had several articles on writers and writing published by The Irish Times.
In October '24 and November '25 she participated in 4 online poetry workshops with poets, John Fitzgerald and Grace Wilentz, through The Gallery Press. She’s currently submitting a YA speculative fiction novel.John ByrnePaulette Calasibetta
Paulette lives in a pastoral village in New Jersey, USA. She draws inspiration from art and the human spirit. When not writing, she enjoys cooking and gardening.Cecilia Carelse
Cecilia, an Irish writer, lives in Tramore, County Waterford. Born in England, she’s a mixed-race, multi-country, many careers woman, with multiple writing projects calling her.She says, "The poems come from my walks and places that hold special memories here in Co. Waterford. The Anne Valley is a regular walking trail, ID-ing plants as I go. Cruachán, at the bottom of the Comeraghs, is a hill walk I’ve done many times. Saw the stag on a walk with my son there. Garrarus, was about a summer evening, after work, lying on the beach, a few months after my father had died. And trees have their own shapes, and personalities, with or without their leaves. In Ireland, they are mostly young, so perhaps I should have called it, the shape of young trees."Eleanor Carpenter
Eleanor is from London, England. Her poems have appeared in Thimble Literary Magazine, Neologism Poetry Journal, Right Hand Pointing and elsewhere.Olivia CarrollEmma Clohessy
Irish poet, Emma’s collection, ‘Poems, Lost & Found’, nominated for Seamus Heaney, Pigott and The Forward Prizes. Published globally in journals and anthologies. www.emmaclohessy.comCaoimhe Cooke
Caoimhe lives in Kildare with her husband and two children. She loves reading poetry and playing with words, and is delighted to be featured in this anthology.P J CosgroveBecky CrookhamKathryn Crowley
Kathryn lives in Dublin and writes short fiction, poetry and memoir. Her most recent collection is ‘Love, Lycra and Tattoos’ (Emu Ink, 2025). She blogs at www.kathryncrowley.comEithne Cullen
Eithne, born in Dublin, lives in London. She writes stories and poems and has been published in magazines and anthologies. She’s published a pamphlet: The Smell of Dust.Colin DardisSteve Denehan
Steve lives in Kildare, Ireland with his wife Eimear and daughter Robin. He is the award-winning author of two chapbooks and eight poetry collections.Deirdre DevallySaoirse DunleaJoshua Dyson
Joshua is a painter and poet based in County Waterford. His work explores the landscapes, animals, politics and emotions that inspire and nourish him. 'Matthew Edgeworth
Matthew is a writer from Bedford, England. He's recently published two poetry chapbooks, Embodied Things and Embodied Places.Of his waterfords, he wrote: It was great fun writing these. I found the waterford to be wonderful for putting things in a nutshell, or getting to the nub of things. Short it may be. But there's enough space in there to encapsulate a whole world or entire life. Like an abbreviated sonnet. As a distant relative of Maria Edgeworth, I think she would have appreciated this poetic form.Nicola Fahey
Nicola is an English teacher and suckler farmer from south Tipperary. Her keen interests are horses, dogs and homeopathy for animals.Judith Flynn
Judith is a retired teacher with a lifelong love of the Irish language.
She enjoys creative writing and is always happy to have a book nearby.Ray Fuller
Ray is a retired academic. He writes on conscious experience - and items of verse (occasionally, poetry!). He is a member of the executive of Waterford Older People's Council.Bernadette Gallagher
Bernadette Gallagher from Ireland is author of The Risen Tree (Revival Press, 2024). She keeps a poetry blog here.Allison GibneyMary Gillen
Mary is a Sligo poet, single mother, former teacher, and University of Galway alum, now based in Staffordshire, England. Mary lives with ME.Of her waterfords she wrote:
Dé hAoine was inspired by the lovely day on which it was written, and by reminiscences of my schooldays – those as a pupil and those as a teacher.When Time Began To Fly journeys back to when my now grown-up son, Ruaidhrí, was still only small. Ruaidhrí Ua Conchubair of Connaught was the last Gaelic High King of Ireland.Gorgeous McGorgeous is an alias of our much-loved and very handsome cat, Moggledy.Epiphany Graves
Epiphany is a poet from California who focuses on the use of the senses to try and bring to life unique memories and moments.Of her waterfords, she says:Coastal Mornings draws strongly from living on the California coast, and the sense memory of the fog that rolls in over the hills every morning.Quiet Nights is a reflection on the awe that washes over me on still, dark nights, out camping or otherwise distant from others, and the sense of deep solitude and beauty it brings.Blessing is based on the memory of my wedding, and echoes the theme of my wedding vows, about the sheer miracle that two lives lined up just right for us to share them.Evie Groch
Evie, President of Ina Coolbrith Circle, writes poems, essays, and short stories on travel, languages, immigration and justice in her books, Half the Hurricanes and The Other Shoe.Of her four waterfords, she says:Priceless Paintings
What we think we see may be an illusion, but entertaining nonetheless and ripe for discussion.Graceful Landing
The delicacy of life can be observed through nature and its lightest creatures.Loyal and Royal
Sometimes the fiercest-looking creatures are the gentlest and show more humanity than we do.Parading in Place
The parade of flora in a vase is brief and bold, for it takes no steps and must garner attention in a motionless way.Jan HaagPiers Haben
Piers lives on the Atlantic island of Pico in the Azores, Portugal, where volcanic vineyards, goats and rainbows frequently wander into his poems.Neil Hallinan
Neil Hallinan is a regular contributor to West Waterford Arts Group. Originally from South Tipperary (Deise part) he lives in Co. Kildare.Hilary Healy
Hilary lives in West Wicklow. Her writing speaks of the beauty of the nature around her, her abiding interest in history, and a sense of belonging.Siobhan Henley
Siobhan's bio is a waterford!Siobhan Henley lives in Macroom.
She loves to write
and keep it tight,
weaving verse on a rhyming loom.Maria Hoey
Maria's debut novel, The Last Lost Girl was published by Poolbeg and shortlisted for the Kate O’Brien Debut Award 2017. Her second novel, On Bone Bridge was also published by Poolbeg. Additionally, her short stories have been shortlisted for the Mslexia International Short Story Competition and the Michael McLaverty Short Story Award. She has had poetry published quite widely, including with Poetry Ireland, most of which is inspired by nature as well as remembrance. She had great fun writing her first waterfords.Lyndi Hopkins
Lyndi is a United States-based poet. Her poetry is grounded in emotion and experiences inspired by the places she encounters in her nomadic life.A C HunterIbmalefik
Ibmalefik is the pen name of Nurzusilawati Nadzri, a Malaysian independent writer and researcher whose work celebrates Malay literature, culture, heritage, and traditional arts through poetry and prose.Batik Terap celebrates the rich heritage of traditional Malay batik, inspired by the intricate terap motif and the enduring craftsmanship that connects culture, identity, and artistic legacy.Kelopak is inspired by the vibrant floral motifs of Marang batik in Terengganu. It honours the beauty of local craftsmanship and the community efforts that preserve the tradition of Batik Malaysia for future generations.Breda Joyce
Breda’s poetry has won awards and been published in literary journals, and in The Irish Times and her essays broadcast on Sunday Miscellany. Her poetry collection Reshaping the Light, is published by Chaffinch Press.She says, "My poetry is inspired by moments of connection with what’s happening in the lives of others and in my own, and it comes too from images that haunt me and from art that moves me."Breda wrote the waterford of the year in 2026!Shane Leavy
Shane is a writer, library assistant, based in Sligo. He writes poetry and fiction.Shane was unable to attend the book launch because his girlfriend was expecting their first child. We assume, Shane (who described himself as a father-to-be in his bio) is now a father (and we expect to see a few waterfords about that).Ceire Leigh
Ceire says, "'Unravelling' was inspired by late night chats in the kitchen with my mother that went on into the early hours. Irreplaceable, cherished memories."Brie LynchMona Lynch
Mona graduated with an MA in creative writing in UCC Cork in 2018 aged 77. She has worked at poetry ever since, and had her first collection published in May 2026
on her 85th birthday.Patrick MPeggy McCarthy
Peggy is a poet from Waterford City, Ireland. She enjoyed the slide of syllable and rhyme that constitute the waterford.Lorraine McCullen
Lorraine lives in rural County Dublin with her husband, two teenage sons, rescue-dog Moe and a wilderness that dreams of becoming a garden.She said of her waterfords: There is something about Waterford, and, in my very fortunate case, specifically Dungarvan, which has set the bar high for warm welcomes. My grandmother and her beloved home; Cilldara, embraced us all….my siblings, cousins, lovely aunts and uncles and any number of visiting friends and significant others. Here we learned the art of homecoming; open arms, laughter, recited verses in the garden, homemade raspberry jam. And pots and pots of tea.Lifting a china tea cup in cheers to you Granny. Love always XxGrace McGMary McKenna
Mary lives near Tramore, Co. Waterford, and draws inspiration for poetry walking along the seashore listening to the rhythms of the mysterious and magical waves.Mary joined the Tramore Writers group in 2024 after having worked & lived in Kilkenny for many years. Returning home was a big change. She works in healthcare caring for different groups of people but relaxation is writing poetry and short stories. She says it is important to have a life balance in this busy noisy world we live in .Robert McLoughlin
Robert McLoughlin has a degree in humanities with a focus in literature and writing from Hiram College and a certificate in creative writing from Maynooth University.
Of his waterfords, he said: I write them by tossing syllables up into the air and placing them into four lines as they fall.Clara McShane
Clara is a writer and teacher from Dublin with a BA in Psychology. Her work has been published in various journals such as the Poetry Ireland Review, the erbacce Journal, the Caterpillar Magazine and Chasing Shadows, an anthology of poems edited by Noel Monahan.Clara says. "Through both of my poems, I wanted to capture a snapshot of Ireland’s current cultural and social landscape. Ireland is currently facing a time of change, of turbulence and division and a rise of identity-based violence. I want my poems to serve as a reminder that we will always have unchanging natural features – the Liffey, the harbours, which serve to ground and unite us when faced with these often frightening changes."Sheila MeaneyAlina MorozovaEimear MurphyConor NolanJohn Noonan
John lives in Ireland, his work has a profound meditative bent, and is published widely. John's first collection Shades of Whitethorn, was recently released.

Seán Ó Dálaigh
Seán, from Dublin, is 27 years old and primarily does Irish language poetry translations. Of his poem, he explained: Walpurgisnacht falls on the 30th of April every year. Dew gathered the morning after, on Mayday, is said to grant good health and beauty.Kate O HalloranEllen O'Hora
Ellen is an Irish writer from County Mayo, creating compelling poetry that reflects her passion for storytelling, creative expression, and the artistry of verse.Of her poems, she said:'Grandad's Knitted Group'-
This poetry piece refers to my personal experience of growing up in rural Ireland, particularly beside my grandparent's house and farm, whereby my Grandad would spend much of his time tending to the land, alongside my father and the neighbours who share the same way of life. The poem reflects on these memories by intertwining images of the rural landscape with the delicate act of knitting, using weaving and patchwork as metaphors for memory, family, and the passing of time. It explores how the landscapes of childhood and the people who shaped them become stitched together in memory, preserving both moments of vitality and the quiet realities of ageing.'Mé Féin':
This Irish poem highlights the challenges each individual faces when it comes to searching for their identity. This journey is often marked by uncertainty, self-reflection, and emotional struggle, as the speaker questions who they are while the imagery of tears, the moon, and the sea symbolises feelings of loneliness, introspection, and being emotionally adrift. As every individual navigates the unfamiliar experience of life for the first time, I felt it was important to emphasise that periods of quiet contemplation are a natural and valuable part of personal growth and self-discovery.Mary Oishi
Mary, from the USA, was Albuquerque Poet Laureate from 2020 to 2022. She calls poetry “the root that connects us all.” Her poems are published in 15 countries and 8 languages.Of her waterfords, she said: I enjoyed writing limericks and rhyming lyrics in my youth, so writing the new waterford was a real joy. In the first contest, it was especially gratifying to honor Sinead O'Connor, whose songs "Famine," "Black Boys on Mopeds," "This Is To Mother You" (and more) I often played in my 26-year career in public radio. She was one of the immense talents (and spirits) of the 20th Century. And of course, how could I not honor two of Ireland's greatest poets?Eamonn O'SullivanLisa O'Sullivan
Lisa is a holistic therapist and an End-Of-Life Doula. She writes to explore healing, hope, grief, resilience and the transformative moments that shape our lives.Of her waterfords, she wrote: Both are inspired by my own IVF journey. They reflect hope, heartbreak, uncertainty and resilience experienced throughout fertility treatment. Although my IVF was unsuccessful, life had its own path and two years after my final cycle, I became a mother to my son Colton through a spontaneous pregnancy. These poems honour both the grief of the journey and the unexpected joy that followed.Patrick O'SullivanSiobhan Potter
Siobhan lives in Limerick. She works as an artist, writer and body psychotherapist. Siobhan has poems published in oral and print form.Of Caherconree, she wrote: Caherconree is a mountain and a hill fort in Co. Kerry, Ireland, its near my mother’s home place in Glenlough. Between the two places is Gleann na nGealt (Valley of the Mad People) that has been considered in another waterford. The fort was the home of Cú Roí Mac Dáire, who after a raid, kidnapped Bláthnaid to be his wife. Cú Chulainn comes to save her. Stories say Cú Roí made the fort spin around at night to stop attackers finding the way in. Blathnáid tells him that the fort is small for such a great man, so he re-builds the fort walls, during which, she tells Cú Chulainn that she will pour milk into a nearby stream turning it white so he will know when to come for her. She does, he does, Cú Roí is killed, Blathanid and Cú C escape, a Druid follows, drags her off a cliff killing them both. Cú Chulainn dies later from a wound.Donal Power
Donal is an Abbeyside songwriter and musician, best known for original songs, particularly The Moresby and also the popular hymn We Believe. He lives in Carrigaline, and can be found on Facebook and Youtube.To Vicky, he wrote:Delighted to get your email
about the book
and my good luck.
You're now my favourite female!marguerite quinlan
said this:over the moon and back again
go raibh míle
grá ón bhfile
heart warming, humbly, i remain.she also said: if you wish to add these few lines re poems and bio, please do.more than human characters inspire,
often writing short,
tries to listen long.marguerite also asked that her poems & name be left in lowercase - which we couldn't do because the book had already gone to print.however, here ye go marguerite, not an uppercase character in sight among these notes!Phil RaeFabiana Reis
Fabiana is a portuguese nurse living in Ireland for 13 years. She embraced writing words through poetry during the pandemic. In 2021, she published her first poetry collection “No Mundo da Lua” and in 2023 its translation to English called “Somewhere Over the Moon".Jane RobinsonMarian Robinson
Marian is a retired nurse, married with two sons. She enjoys gardening, furniture restoration, reading, and music.Of her waterfords, she said: The story behind "Jake" is that he was a dog found straying on a road and brought to the local shelter and we adopted him from there 9 years ago. We think he's now about 11. Our previous dog was also a rescue dog. The message here is to "adopt don't shop" !"Believe in Miracles" is about never giving up hope and that miracles can happen and in this case a Little Miracle did happen.Catherine Ronan
Catherine is an award-winning poet from Cork. Her debut collection, Elemental Skin was published by Revival press and nominated for the Heaney Poetry Prize.Yvonne Salmon
Yvonne is a writer, artist and filmmaker. Her poetry has featured in The Martello Journal. She lives in the UK.She said of her waterfords: I have been unable to travel to Waterford in recent years, so I found writing waterfords a wonderful way to pay tribute from afar.
This is reflected in my poems ‘Lismore Bridge’ and ‘Waterford Crystal’. ‘Old Bell’ honours the memory of a dear friend who has passed. ‘The Collagist’ speaks to finding beauty in the mundane.Faye Simpson
Faye is a Waterford-based queer autistic poet. Currently pursuing a Bachelors in Arts.Thomas SmithSylvi Thorstenson
Sylvi grew up in Seattle, US, where it actually rarely rains in the summer. While aware that floods can wreak havoc, she appreciated year-round precipitation while living in Ireland (mostly East Cork) as well as outdoor and ecclesiastical art such as the Kindred Spirits sculpture in Midleton and the mosaics in St Fin Barre's Cathedral in Cork City. Although it is a medieval legend that pelicans pierce their breasts to feed their young, they really do live in the US state of Wisconsin. On a visit to Glencolmcille she met Sister Maureen, who, in her 80s, ever hones her Gaelige and advocates for the Shannon and other environmental causes.Eibhlin Ui Chearbhaill
Eibhlin is a logophile, scrabbleholic, and poet hailing from Cork, Ireland.Hers is a poem in honour of old and new Halloween traditions.Patricia WallDominic Walsh
Dominic is an autistic writer who lives in Manchester UK. He is currently studying Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University.Mary WalshElaine Westnott-O’Brien
Elaine is a writer and teacher from Tramore, Co.Waterford. Her debut poetry pamphlet, M(other)ing, was published by Three Pillars Press in October 2026.She says of her poetry: I love writing about the plenty that we find in the ordinary. The daily grind of family life, work, domestic chores, mundane moments; to me, that’s where the wonder of life is.Jennifer Wilson
Jennifer lives in the UK. She said of her waterford: Snickers is a Bengal cat who I have the pleasure of looking after whilst his family go on holidayKay Wolf

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Please use this form to submit up to five waterfords, your entry will be indistinguishable from a paid entry.If you enter more than once, or submit more than five waterfords, all your waterfords will be disqualified.IMPORTANT
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Rules

This is a competition for waterfords. Find the definition for a waterford with examples and FAQs here.Any entry which is not a waterford will be disqualified.Up to five waterfords may be entered in a single submission.Only one submission per person.Pen-names are accepted, but still, only one submission per person (not per name!).If anyone is found to have made more than one submission, then all their submissions will be disqualified.Everyone, over the age of 18 (except Kevin MacAlan and Molly Twomey) is eligible to enter.Submissions may be in any language, if not in English then please identify what the language is.A waterford written in a language other than English, must be accompanied by an English translation.All waterfords must be the original work of a living human poet, and be submitted by that poet.All waterfords must be unpublished, and not have won a prize in any other competition.No alterations can be made to any waterford after it has been submitted, so please, please, please, double check that you have the correct line and syllable count in all of your entries (if in doubt, go here for examples and FAQs).There will be no refunds for disqualified entries.Copyright remains with the entrant, but West Waterford Press reserves the right to exploit all entries for publication or broadcast, or for promotional purposes in any manner at any time.The competition closes for submissions at midnight on June 19th.A longlist of forty entrants will be announced at the end of June.No entrant will have more than one waterford in the longlist.Ten winning waterfords will be announced at the end of July. These will have been selected by the judge, Molly Twomey, without knowing who penned them.The overall winner will be announced at waterfordrhyme26 on August 29th.The judge's decision is final.Submission implies acceptance of the rules.West Waterford Press is a two-person passion project receiving no external funding. To continue the annual waterford competition into its third year, we have introduced a token entry fee.The price for a submission is €5 - when the competition is open click the big green button below to pay and enter.If you are unable to pay €5, then enter without paying (we do not want the fee to be a barrier to entry).If you are in a position to sponsor the cost of someone availing of a free entry, then thank you very much, when the competition is open, you will be able to make your contribution here.

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Thank You For Your Interest...

However, your submission was too late. Submissions closed at midnight on June 19th. Follow us on BlueSky or check in with us back on the site for the results.A longlist of forty entrants will be announced at the end of June.Ten winning waterfords will be announced at the end of July.The overall winner will be announced at waterfordrhyme26 on August 29th.While you are waiting, stay poetic!Team Waterford

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Please use this form to submit up to five waterfords. It is important that you do not leave this page before submitting all of your entries.Once you have completed your name and email details, add your waterfords and click submit. You will be taken to a confirmation page.If you enter more than once, or submit more than five waterfords, all your waterfords will be disqualified.If you have decided not to submit, then use the EXIT button, but your fee will not be refunded.

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