We're delighted with the response to our Pen Points Press launch today at the Belfast Book Festival! Thank you to all that came down to support our three poets, Chris McLaughlin, Ross Thompson and Geraldine O'Kane. Each gave a superb reading, which was enjoyed and received well from the crowd on a very sunny Father's Day.

The rush for books afterwards was fantastic, each poet so busy signing copies that we could hardly get them together for a group photo (we'll have pics from the launch up soon). It's great to see people come out and support our enterprise, this means the world to us; the poets' nerves and hard work were rewarded, and we thank them too for giving us the honour of showcasing their work.

For those of you who missed the launch, our Pen Points Press online store is now live! To order our publications from Ross Thompson, Geraldine O'Kane and Chris McLaughlin, go to our Pen Points Press page and link on the title you wish to order.

Prices include postage and packaging to UK and Ireland (PM us to enquire about worldwide rates). Payment is accepted by credit card or via Paypal.

Well, it's the morning after the night before, and we are still blown away, and a little emotional, by the amazing night of poetry we had at our Belfast Book Festival Poetry Slam!


We want to thank all the entrants for taking the stage and gracing us with their words. You make the slam the success it is, because of course we would be nothing without fine poets sharing their work.

A big hand and a great job to our semi-finalists, Raquel McKee, Lynda Tavakoli, Peter Francis Fahy, and Tom French for their excellent individual performances.

And onto our finalist, who had the very hard task of getting up three times in one time and managing to be wonderful throughout. 4th place went to Orlaith Hendron (appearing in her first slam ever!), 3rd to Patricia Devlin-Hill, 2nd to Jenny Cleland, and our Slam Champion 2014, David Braziel, a richly deserved winner.

Extended thanks and praise go to Keith Acheson and all the staff at the Crescent Arts Centre, for their support and assistance. Each year, we'll allowed back to hold our event, and the Crescent always works very hard to cater our needs and make sure everything runs smoothly. They are truly amazing.

We'll have photos from the slam up soon. Our next event is our regular open mic night on Friday 4th July. Also, join us on Sunday, 2.30pm for the free launch of Pen Points Press, our new poetry micropress: full details here.

Our haiku competition with Translink NI is now live! 

Poetry NI has teamed up with Translink to run a Life’s Better Haiku competition. Could you write your own haiku poem? Take time out on your journey to sit back, relax and let your creativity flow.

To be in with a chance of seeing your haiku poem displayed in bus and train stations across Northern Ireland, we are encouraging you to put pen to paper, finger to Smartphone or stylus to tablet and create your own haiku.

Click here for full details on how to enter. Good luck!

GREAT NEWS! Poetry NI has teamed up with Translink NI to launch a national haiku competition, as part of Translink's 'Life's Better' Campaign.

The challenge is to write a haiku on the theme of travel, with a chance to have your poetry promoted nationwide in posters similar to the ones here.

The competition launches on Monday in Great Victoria Street station, between 3.30-4.30pm, with readings from Colin Dardis and Geraldine O'Kane. Full details of the competition and how to enter will be available then, with the competition website going live.
Join us at Great Vic St on Monday to find out more!