Irish Writers Centre celebrating 35 years

The Irish Writers Centre is celebrating 35 years at the heart of Ireland’s literary community with the launch of an exciting new anthology competition that will showcase the work of 35 writers from across the island of Ireland.

Supported by Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, the special anniversary anthology will feature a diverse collection of previously unpublished short stories, essays and poetry from writers affiliated with the Irish Writers Centre over the past three and a half decades. The finished publication will be launched later this year and will go on sale in time for Christmas 2026.

The anthology forms part of the Irish Writers Centre’s wider 35th anniversary celebrations and aims to honour both the organisation’s remarkable legacy and the writers who have helped shape Ireland’s literary landscape.

Through an open call process, 35 contributors will be selected by a panel of internal and external judges, ensuring a transparent and inclusive approach that reflects the Irish Writers Centre’s mission of supporting writers at every stage of their creative journey.

Selected contributors will each receive a payment of €250 alongside a complimentary copy of the anthology.

Speaking about the initiative, Mags McLoughlin, CEO of the Irish Writers Centre, said: “As we celebrate 35 years of the Irish Writers Centre, this anthology feels like the perfect way to honour the writers, voices and stories that have been the lifeblood of the organisation since its foundation. Irish storytelling is renowned around the world and this publication will celebrate both emerging and established writers who continue to shape our literary culture today. We are incredibly proud to provide a platform for new work and to mark this milestone anniversary with a project that reflects the creativity, diversity and talent within our writing community.”

The anthology is open to writers aged 18 and over, resident on the island of Ireland, who have previously engaged with the Irish Writers Centre through programmes, mentoring initiatives, competitions, memberships, events and creative projects.

Eligible participants include:

•       Irish Writers Centre members

•       Evolution Programme participants

•       Foundation Programme participants

•       National Mentoring Programme mentees

•       Novel Fair / International Debut Novel Competition winners

•       Words of Colour participants

•       Young Writer Delegates and New Voices North awardees

•       Irish Writers Centre ambassadors

•       Writers involved in the FísDánta and Dublin, One City, Many Stories video series

•       Facilitators, mentors and invited speakers at Irish Writers Centre events

The Irish Writers Centre is accepting submissions of flash fiction, short stories, essays and poetry. Prose submissions must not exceed 1,500 words, while poetry submissions are limited to one poem of up to 60 lines. Work may be submitted in either English or Irish.

Submissions must be entirely original, previously unpublished work and will be judged anonymously.

Applications are now open via Google Form, with the closing date for submissions set for 5pm on Monday, 6th July 2026.

Full competition details, eligibility criteria and submission guidelines can be found at www.irishwriterscentre.ie