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Caitríona Lane announced as Limerick Writers’ Centre Séamus Ó Cinnéide award winner

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Caitríona Lane announced as Limerick Writers’ Centre Séamus Ó Cinnéide award winner

Galway-based Poet Caitríona Lane has been announced by Limerick Writers’ Centre as the winner of the 2026 Séamus Ó Cinnéide award

Caitríona Lane announced as Limerick Writers' Centre Séamus Ó Cinnéide award winner
The 2026 Séamus Ó Cinnéide award saw the winner selected from almost 50 entries, spanning three different continents around the globe

Galway-based poet, Caitríona Lane has been revealed as the winner of the 2026 Séamus Ó Cinnéide award winner for her poem, “Duan na fuiseoige”, selected by poet and editor Tomás Ó Coileáin.

The 2026 Séamus Ó Cinnéide award saw the winner selected from almost 50 entries, spanning three different continents around the globe, and is open to poems in the Irish language. The competition is designed to encourage and promote the writing of poetry in Irish, while honouring Séamus Ó Cinnéide, one of Limerick’s most dedicated promoters of the Irish language.

The Dublin-born poet, now based in Connemara, is a bilingual award-winning poet. A Poetry Ireland Introductions Series Céadlínte Awardee, she was shortlisted by Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin for the 2023 Eavan Boland Emerging Poet Award.


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As well as the 2026 Limerick Writers’ Centre Séamus Ó Cinnéide Award, Caitríona has won several Irish Language Poetry Prizes including the 2025 Listowel Writers Week Foras na Gaeilge Award; 2024 An Fiach Dubh Fingal Poetry Festival; 2024 Ballybunion Arts Festival; 2024 Limerick Writers Centre Best Gaeilge Poem in the Desmond O Grady Competition; 2022 Manchester Irish Language Poetry Prize; and the 2021 Kinsale Words by Water.

She is known for her poetry that explores the intersection of human relationships with the natural world, examining the unseen and unsaid. Her writing is inspired by the language of landscape and folkloric references, making it both personal and universal. Caitríona’s work is richly visual and lyrical, influenced by the photographs she takes on daily walks.

She has been recognised for her contributions to Irish literature and has performed at various literary festivals, including the Pan Celtic National Song Contest. Caitríona Lane’s debut collection is currently in development, and she is passionate about sharing the Irish language with new audiences both in Ireland and overseas.

Born in Mungret Street, Limerick, Séamus Ó Cinnéide (1925 – 1992) lived in Garryowen from the 1960s onwards. He was a poet, historian, storyteller, and journalist, who wrote columns for the Limerick Leader and the Limerick Chronicle , including the column “I Mo Scriobháil Féin”.  He was co-author, with Dónal Ó Riain, of History and Folklore of Parteen and Meelick. He travelled to the Gaeltacht in Cúil Aodha, An Rinn, and Connemara, and attended Conradh na Gaeilge. A Street in Limerick was named in his honour in 2007.

Making the announcement, Limerick Writers’ Centre said, ” Galway-based Poet Caitríona Lane Triumphs in Séamus Ó Cinnéide Poetry Competition 2026. The Limerick Writers’ Centre proudly announces Caitríona Lane as the winner of this year’s Séamus Ó Cinnéide Poetry Competition, celebrating excellence in Irish language poetry.”

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