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The Caterpillar Poetry Prize is an annual prize for an unpublished poem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.
2nd prize €500
3rd 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previously unpublished.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.
CLOSING
DATE 31 MARCH 2024
The winner will be announced in June 2024.
Call 00 353 (0)87 2657251 or email enquiries@thecaterpillarmagazine.com for
more details.