Catherine Ann Cullen has been announced as our winner for 2026 for her poem The Mother.
Rachael Hegarty, this year’s judge, commented that “Catherine Ann Cullen’s poem ‘The Mother’ does wonders – it reveals hidden histories and shines a light on our shared humanity while holding firm to our great tradition of metre and form.”
Pictured above are, left to right, shortlisted poets: Conor McAnally, Marion Brannigan, Rachael Hegarty (judge), Amy Barry, Catherine Ann Cullen (winner) & Tom Noone.