THE Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Award for a first unpublished collection of poems in English is sponsored again this year by KPMG.

Now in its 38th year, previous winners include Eílean Ní Chuilleanain, Paul Durcan, Thomas McCarthy, Peter Sirr, Sinead Morrisey, Conor Callaghan, Celia de Freine and Joseph Woods. A selection of poems by previous award winners, from 1971 -2003, entitled Dancing with Kitty Stobling, published by Lilliput Press, Dublin, is available from the Patrick Kavanagh Centre, Inniskeen.

The winner of this year’s award will receive €2,500. There is also a second prize of €1,000 and a third prize of €500.

The Award will be judged by Moya Cannon and Theo Dorgan and will be presented on the evening of Friday 28 November 2008 at the opening of the Annual Patrick Kavanagh Weekend in Inniskeen. The closing date for entries is Friday 26 September 2008.

For rules and entry forms, phone 042 9378560 or email infoatpkc@eircom.net.