Kilkenny resident awarded for creative writing talent in Carlow

Janis Woodgate accepts the award for first prize in Poetry from poet, Pat Boran and Carlow College Lecturer in English Literature & Creative Writing, Dr Derek Coyleplaceholder image
Janis Woodgate accepts the award for first prize in Poetry from poet, Pat Boran and Carlow College Lecturer in English Literature & Creative Writing, Dr Derek Coyle

Kilkenny City resident, Janis Woodgate, was recognised for her creative writing talent this week at the Carlow College, St. Patrick’s Annual Literary Awards.

Janis, who is currently in first year of a BA (Hons) in Arts & Humanities at Carlow College, received first prize in the Poetry Awards for her piece, ‘Mother, 1975’.

Her award was presented by renowned poet and editor, Pat Boran and Lecturer in English & Creative Writing at Carlow College, Dr Derek Coyle.

Carlow College hosted its Annual Literary Awards and Creative Writing Showcase in VISUAL on Monday, April 3.

This annual event gathers together the Carlow College literary community for a night to recognise and celebrate the creative writing talent of its students with awards presented for best in prose and poetry writing over the past year.

This year’s awards were presented by renowned poet and editor, Pat Boran.

Friends and family, staff, students and past graduates of Carlow College, were in attendance for what was an engaging and entertaining evening.

The night opened with members of the Third Year Creative Writing class presenting a showcase of their writing. The class gave a series of readings of poems, as they provided a dramatic, moving, and varied showcase of their work.  

Speaking at the awards Lecturer in English & Creative Writing, Dr Derek Coyle, commented on 'how exciting it is to see a new generation of Irish writers discover their voices'. 

The following Awards were presented in the categories of Poetry and Prose:

Poetry

1st Prize – ‘Mother, 1975’ by Janis Woodgate

2nd Prize – ‘Selling Up’ by Ann Marie Dunne

3rd Prize – ‘Beauty’ by Stewart Quinn

Prose

1st Prize – ‘The Grushy’ by Derek Kelly

2nd Prize – ‘Love’ by Jacinta Cogan

3rd Prize - ‘Resolution’ by Anne Gubbins

Following the Awards, Pat read a selection of his work.  After a question-and-answer session, Carlow College, St Patrick’s students with literary ambitions were left with plenty to consider and with the doors of inspiration opened.

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