2026 Irish Writers Centre Irish Language Poetry Mentee Announced!

Tógadh Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha i gceantar an Lagáin in Oirthear Dhún na nGall. Tá cónaí uirthi i nGaeltacht Chonamara anois. D’fhoilsigh Barzaz na cnuasaigh Solas Geimhridh (2023) agus Mainistir na Feola (2025). Ceapadh mar scríbhneoir cónaitheach in Ollscoil Chathair Bhaile Átha Cliath i mbliana í.

Tá Aifric Mac Aodha ag obair ina heagarthóir Gaeilge le Poetry Ireland Review. D’fhoilsigh An Sagart an chéad chnuasach filíochta léi, Gabháil Syrinx, sa bhliain 2010. Cuireadh dánta dá cuid i gcló ar irisí éagsúla, POETRY Young Irish Poets ina measc. Aistríodh a saothar go teangacha éagsúla, an Fhraincis, an Ghearmáinis, an Iodáilis, an Spáinnis agus an tSeicis san áireamh. Bhronn An Chomhairle Ealaíon mórchuid sparánachtaí uirthi. Is é Old Friends (The Gallery Press, 2024) an cnuasach is déanaí léi. Tá cónaí uirthi i mBaile Átha Cliath, áit a bhfuil sí ag obair ina heagarthóir cúnta leis an nGúm.

Go raibh míle maith agaibh gach éinne a chur isteach ar an scéim, agus táimid ag súil go mór le ath-rith a dhéanamh ar an bliain seo chugainn.

*

We are thrilled to announce that Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha has been selected as the winner of the inaugural Irish Writers Centre Irish Language Mentorship! Laoighseach will be mentored by acclaimed poet Aifric Mac Aodha throughout the rest of the year.

Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha was raised in the Laggan in East Donegal. She now lives in the Conamara Gaeltacht. Barzaz published both her collections to date: Solas Geimhridh agus Dánta Eile (Barzaz, 2023) and Mainistir na Feola (Barzaz, 2025). She is currently Irish-language writer-in-residence in DCU.

Aifric Mac Aodha is the Irish-language poetry editor of Poetry Ireland Review. Her first poetry collection, Gabháil Syrinx (The Taking of Syrinx), was published by An Sagart in 2010 and her work has been published in various magazines and journals, including POETRY Young Irish Poets. Her poetry has been translated to many languages, including French, German, Italian, Spanish and Czech. She has been awarded several bursaries by The Arts Council. Her latest collection, Old Friends, with translations by David Wheatley, was published by The Gallery Press in 2024. She lives in Dublin where she works for the Irish-language publisher, An Gúm.

Thank you to all who entered, and we look forward to continuing this programme in future. This mentorship has been made possible by the generous support of Foras na Gaeilge. All Irish Writers Centre’s activity is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland.