Waterford poet named as finalist in prestigious poetry competition

Ger Duffy, a poet from County Waterford, has been named as a finalist in the prestigious Red Line Book Festival Poetry Competition.

This year, the festival, which attracts hundreds of entries from across the island of Ireland annually,  will be judged by the award-winning poet Patrick Deely,

The winner will be announced during this year’s Red Line Book Festival and shortlisted poets will be invited to read their poem at the Poetry night and awards in Dublin on Wednesday, October 16. 

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Ger Duffy lives in County Waterford and her poems have been published in PN Review (UK), Poetry Ireland Review, Southword, The Bangor Literary Journal, Under the Radar (UK), The Waxed Lemon, The Sailor Review.  Her poems have been anthologized by The Women’s Press (UK), Slow Dancer Press (UK), Dedalus Press, The Sidhe Press(Ger), Verve Press (UK), Moonstone Press (US) and # Public Sector Poetry (UK).  

Her poem was awarded Poem of the Year 2022 by The Milk House. She has received mentorships in Poetry from the Munster Literature Centre and the National Mentoring Board.  

Ger was awarded the Desmond O’Grady International Poetry Award in 2024 and her poems have been placed 2nd in the Goldsmiths Poetry Prize, the Fingal Prize and Write by the Sea Poetry Competition.  Her pamphlet was Highly Commended at the International Book & Pamphlet Award in 2024.  

Her poems have been Highly Commended in the Redline Competition 2021 & 2022, the Frances Ledwidge Award 2022 and the Allingham Award 2023.

This year's judge, Patrick Deeley, is a poet, memoirist and children’s writer from Loughrea. Keepsake is his eighth collection of poems with Dedalus Press.  

As part of the Red Line Book Festival, between October 14 and October 20, over 40 literary events will take place in venues across South County Dublin with an eclectic mix of established writers and new voices.  

It is a celebration of literature, storytelling, and creativity and has grown to become one of the highlights of the cultural calendar.  

Now in its 13th year, The Red Line Book Festival is produced by South Dublin Libraries and Arts at South Dublin County Council offering a programme of events and workshops that appeals to people of all ages and interests, from children to adults, casual readers to bookworms.  See redlinefestival.ie for the full programme of events taking place across all venues.