The Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University Belfast has announced the shortlist for their 2021 Poetry Prize for a First Collection, supported by the Atlantic Philanthropies. The winner will be announced during the Seamus Heaney Centre’s annual Poetry Summer School, at a virtual Award Night in July 2021. 

The Shortlist includes:  

The Station Before, by Linda Anderson (Pavilion Poetry, 2020)
Arrow, by Sumita Chakraborty (Carcanet, 2020)
Rose With Harm, by Daniel Hardisty (Salt Publishing, 2020)
Growlery, by Katherine Horrex (Carcanet, 2020)
Cannibal, by Safiya Sinclair (Picador Poetry, 2020)

The Seamus Heaney Centre Poetry Prize is awarded to a writer whose first full collection has been published in the preceding year, by a UK or Ireland-based publisher. The winning writer receives £5,000 and is invited to participate in the Seamus Heaney Centre’s busy calendar of literary events.

This year’s judges are Professor Nick Laird, poet and Chair of Creative Writing at the Seamus Heaney Centre; Dr Stephen Sexton, poet and lecturer in Poetry at the Seamus Heaney Centre. They are joined by the poet Elaine Feeney.  

Speaking about the prize Nick Laird, Chair of the judging panel said: 

“The Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize is a highlight of the Seamus Heaney Centre’s year, and we always look forward to what the shortlisted writers do next.”

The winning and shortlisted writers will read at a virtual event on Thu 1 Jul, as part of the Seamus Heaney Poetry Summer School, supported by No Alibis Bookstore. 

Media

Media enquiries to Zara McBrearty at Queen’s Communications Office on +44 (0)28 9097 3259 or email: z.mcbrearty@qub.ac.uk

For further information contact Rachel Brown, Seamus Heaney Centre Coordinator at r.brown@qub.ac.uk

Notes to Editor: 

1. About the Seamus Heaney Centre
Since 2003 the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s has been home to some of the UK and Ireland’s foremost poets, novelists, scriptwriters, and critics. Building on a literary heritage at Queen’s University Belfast that stretches back to the 1960s ‘Belfast Group’, the Centre is dedicated to excellence and innovation in creative writing and poetry criticism. 

2. Further Information contact:
Rachel Brown | Centre Coordinator | Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s r.brown@qub.ac.uk | +44(0)28 9097 1077 | http://www.seamusheaneycentre.com/