Poetry in Bloom at Powerscourt

The initiative also pays homage to the life of the “poetess of Powerscourt”, Shelia Wingfield who was a gifted poet and a Viscountess of Powerscourt.  Shelia Wingfield led a colourful life and lived and breathed poetry.  Her writing and poetry clearly emanate from her love for nature, with many of her poems inspired by her surrounds at Powerscourt Estate.

We are inviting all visitors to Powerscourt Gardens and Waterfall this summer to immerse themselves in nature and be inspired to write a poem or lyrics.  Using our imagination inspired by the natural world to create stories through poems or lyrics keeps us connected to those magical creative moments in nature and helps us all tread a little lightly on ourselves and the natural world.

Supported by Actor Patrick Bergin

Renowned International/Irish/ Hollywood actor Patrick Bergin will be supporting the “Poetry in Bloom” initiative at Powerscourt this year and will be selecting a number of submissions to be made into a short poetry-film. The selected poems for the short poetry-film will all receive complimentary Annual Membership to Powerscourt Estate.

Watch our wonderful video about the Poetry in Bloom competition from 2020 for inspiration.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=7&v=0vL-C3fm6Ag&feature=emb_title

Create a Poem or Lyrics inspired by Nature

Powerscourt Estate are asking visitors to Powerscourt Gardens and Waterfall throughout July and August to submit their own written poem or  lyrics or spoken-word piece inspired by nature.   Your unique poems, lyrics (maximum length 250 words) can take any form – from a short poem, lyrics to 2-3 lines of a poem.  There is no minimum length required. 

The only requirement is that your poem or lyrics piece must be inspired by nature in full bloom at Powerscourt Gardens and Waterfall.

There are three different submission categories: 1) children, 2) teenagers and 3) adults. All entries are automatically entered into an open prize draw to win a variety of amazing prizes.  The first twenty submissions online will also receive family passes to Powerscourt Gardens.

Throughout August and September a virtual “Poetry in Bloom” at Powerscourt poetry wall will be created on the  Powerscourt Estate websites where all entries can be viewed.  Powerscourt has also installed a poetry trail throughout Powerscourt Gardens to help you gain some inspiration.

The overall winner of the open prize- draw will be announced at the beginning of September and will receive a year’s annual membership to Powerscourt  Estate and a gift card worth €250.  The three runners-up will also receive annual memberships.

Get Inspired 

Powerscourt Gardens are now beautifully in bloom and are a perfect place to visit to unwind and experience nature in all its summer glory.  The roses in the Walled Garden, some planted over forty years ago are now coming into their more vibrant second flush over the next few weeks.  The Herbaceous Border, the longest double border in the country is now a haven for biodiversity and has something for everyone to enjoy, especially eagle-eyed children.

If you’re not sure where to start, before you visit Powerscourt Gardens and Waterfall, take a look at the beautiful dawn chorus time-lapse video below in association with Tourism Ireland of the Gardens.

Watch this video for some inspiration 

Celebrating Poetry in Bloom

All submissions will be reviewed by Powerscourt & actor Patrick Bergin and included in a nature-filled digital online anthology which will be published on the Powerscourt Estate websites at the end of September.

Renowned International/Irish/ Hollywood actor Patrick Bergin will be supporting the “Poetry in Bloom” initiative at Powerscourt this year. Patrick will be reading through the submissions and helping to select a number of poems to be used as a basis for a short poetry film to close the initiative.

The poetry film (a short 2-5-minute film) will be circulated widely towards the end of September.

And you never know – your poem or lyrics may be selected and showcased! 

****

Submission Guidelines

• Submissions open on Friday 8^th July, at 12pm
• Submissions close on Tuesday, 31st of August at 5pm.  Extended till the 30th September 2022.
• Maximum word count: 250 words
• Maximum spoken-word piece 4 minutes
• Submissions may be in English or in Irish

Authors can be ages of 7 + years of age. Three categories of entry:

Category 1 – Children: 7-12-years old

Category 2- Teenagers: 13-17

Category 3 – Adult: 18 +

To enter, email your poem, lyrics as an EDITABLE attachment. Send your poems and lyrics in an editable format (e.g. Microsoft Word or Google Docs).

Please DO NOT send submissions in PDF format as they cannot be edited.

IMPORTANT: All submissions should be sent to poetry@powerscourt.net with POETRY IN BLOOM SUBMISSION in the subject line. Entries from authors under the age of 18 should be sent on their behalf from a parent/guardian’s email address. Please include the following information in the body of the email:

• Name of author
• Age of author + Submission Category (1, 2 or 3).
• County where you live
• Title of piece
• Word Count (please note maximum of 250 words) OR
• Length of Video (Maximum 4 minutes)
• Parent/Guardian Name if author is under 18
• Parent/Guardian Contact Telephone Number if author is under 18
• Contact details of author if 18+

• IMPORTANT: Submissions from children and teenagers should be made on their behalf from a parent/guardian email address.
• All submissions will be acknowledged by email and entrants will receive a copy of the terms and conditions.
• Powerscourt Estate and Fighting Words reserve the right not to publish submissions if details listed above are not included.
• Powerscourt Estate and Fighting Words reserve the right not to publish submissions or video content that is viewed as offensive and in violation of the ethos of the initiative. Any submissions with references to nudity, racism, drug use, extreme profanity or other objectionable content will be rejected and excluded.
• Any questions should be sent by email  to  poetry@powerscourt.net with POETRY IN BLOOM QUESTION in the subject line

Consent – Attention Parents/Guardians

By submitting a story for your child using your email address, parents/guardians confirm that they are the parent/guardian for the entrant in the project “Poetry in Bloom at Powerscourt”, which will result in a digital publication.

Parent/guardians understand that all rights to submissions belong to the contributing writer/artist and to  Powerscourt Estate and the project partners, which may reproduce the contributed work in connection with the promotion of the project and the publication together with the project partners. Any possible proceeds from the project will support Fighting Words and its partners.

Powerscourt Estate and the project partners reserves the right not to publish content that contravenes Powerscourt Equal Opportunities and/or Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy. Both policies are found on www.powerscourt.com

Privacy Policy
Powerscourt Estate are responsible for storing your data securely.

By submitting a piece of writing or other artwork to this project, you accept that  Powerscourt Estate and their project partners may use your information in connection with the creation of the project “Poetry in Bloom at Powerscourt” and publish your child’s contribution digitally. All rights are reserved to you as the parent of the author / artist and  Powerscourt Estate and the project partners.

No unauthorised person will gain access to your information. Your e-mail address will not be used for purposes other than to communicate with you directly regarding “Poetry in Bloom at Powerscourt”.

Terms and Condition