Jenni Doherty wins Noelle Vial Tyrone Guthrie Poetry award!
Guildhall Press author Jenni Doherty has been awarded the first Noelle Vial Tyrone Guthrie Poetry award.
Noelle Vial the much loved Killybegs poet, died ten years ago this year and her family are celebrating her memory with the creation of this special poetry bursary under her name.
The bursary, which is being offered in association with members of the poet’s family, will take the form of a week long stay at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Annaghmakerrig, Newbliss, County Monaghan and will be known as the Noelle Vial Tyrone Guthrie Centre Poetry Bursary.
The bursary is aimed at an emerging poet, writing in English or Irish or both, and at a particular point in the development of their writing careers. That is, their works will already have featured in a selection of established poetry publications, magazines, anthologies etc. and they will now be at the point of preparing a debut or a second collection for submission to prospective publishers, or indeed for actual publication.
Jenni, a native of Greencastle, now living in Derry published her first solo collection of poetry, ‘Rain Spill’ last year. Jenni creates the illusion of a water dance through the use of Rain, Ocean, Mist, Fog, Frost, Storm, Snow and Rainbow to capture the sense of her hometown and belonging, of experience and emotion, of life and lessons learnt.
Some pieces have evolved naturally while others have been created for the purpose of live performance or as topical commentary for broadcast or newspaper. Tender, light and humorous in places yet coarse, raw and unforgiving in others, this is a spill of thoughts, imaginations, fictions, ideas and realities gathered over four decades. Jenni is currently working on her second collection.
Jenni Doherty has made a huge contribution to literature and especially poetry over many years in both Derry and Donegal. She has travelled the world with her work. This award will only serve to further enhance her position as writer/poet/author and all round lover of the spoken/written word.
‘Rain Spill’ is available at all good book shops and at www.ghpress.com