THE CATERPILLAR POETRY PRIZE 2024 IS NOW OPEN! 

Have you written a poem you think would appeal to children? Then why not enter The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2024!

 

 

ABOUT THE PRIZE

 

The Caterpillar Poetry Prize is an annual prize for an unpublished poem written by an adult for children aged 7–11. 

 

Every year since 2015, The Caterpillar Poetry Prize has been awarded to a single poem by a single judge – among them John Hegley, Chrissie Gittins, Roger McGough, Michael Morpurgo & Michael Rosen.

 

Previous winners include Louise Greig, Coral Rumble, Laura Mucha, Carole Bromley and Ciara O’Connor.

 

1^st prize €1,000 plus a week at Circle of Misse in France

2^nd prize €500

3^rd prize €250

 

 

The winning poems will be published in the Irish Times online.  

 

‘For the legendary Michael Rosen to have read my poem is thrilling. For him to have chosen it is the stuff of dreams.' Ciara O'Connor

 

'Winning The Caterpillar Poetry Prize brought me a book publishing deal and many wonderful opportunities thereafter. Thank you with all my heart.' Louise Greig

 

 

THE JUDGE

 

Joseph Coelho was appointed Children’s Laureate in the UK in 2022. He started out as a performance poet and is committed to making the reading and writing of poetry accessible to all. He has said that poetry is often what people turn to in times of need, ‘because we instinctively know, deep down in our core, that poetry transcends.’

  

 

TESTIMONIALS

 

‘I am absolutely thrilled and delighted to have won The Caterpillar Poetry Prize. I actually cried with joy when I got the email. I have won a number of international poetry competitions with my poems for adults, but I can honestly say this tops them all.’ Carole Bromley

I was astonished and delighted to hear that I had won The Caterpillar Poetry Prize.’ Christine McBeth 

‘I am a huge fan of The Caterpillar and was delighted and inspired by the competition.’ Louise Greig

 

‘The Caterpillar is such a unique and inspired magazine. Winning The Caterpillar Poetry Prize is all shades of wonderful!’ Coral Rumble

‘I think The Caterpillar Poetry Prize is an important award, particularly as there are so few outlets for children’s poets, and it’s a huge honour to have won it.’ Laura Mucha

‘Like all of us, I spend more of my life than I’d like to reading emails. Recently I opened one from The Caterpillar. Now all I want to do is write something that could make a reader feel half as happy as reading that email made me.’ Fergal McNally

 

HOW TO ENTER

The Prize is open to anyone (over 16), as long as the work is original and previously unpublished.

The poems can be on any subject.

The entry fee is €15 per poem. You can ENTER ONLINE or send your poem(s) along with a cheque or postal order (Irish only) made payable to ‘The Moth Magazine Ltd.’ with an ENTRY FORM or a cover letter with your name and contact details and the title of your poem(s) attached to: The Caterpillar, Ardan Grange, Milltown, Belturbet, Co. Cavan, Ireland H14 K768. 

**If you are concerned about formatting online, please go through the online process and then email your poem as a Word attachment with your entry number directly to enquiries@thecaterpillarmagazine.com.** 

Please remember to READ THE RULES of the competition before you enter.