The Swift Satire Competition offers a prize of Euro 1,000 for an outstanding unpublished satirical poem on a topic of current social/political importance.

The competition is a celebration of Jonathan Swift’s contribution to the political and social life of Ireland as well as his position as one of Ireland’s most original poets.

Guidelines
The poem should be satirical (e.g. Juvenal satire), in modern poetic form, innovative in advancing current poetical boundaries and have a strong political or social message in the 'spirit of Swift'. Examples of this ‘spirit’ can be seen in the famous Swift satires, “A Panegyric on the Reverend Dean Swift”, “A Panegyric on the Dean”, “Verses on the Death of Dr Swift”, and “A Character, Panegyric, and Description of the Legion Club”. All of these are available on this site by linking to Swift's complete poetry works here.

The poem should also be substantial in length (minimum 50 lines). It must be written in English, but the subject may refer to any country or culture.

Entrants may submit up to three poems.

Terms and Conditions
The closing date has now passed and entries are no longer being accepted.

Prize: €1,000

Closing date: 31st October 2007. Entries accepted from July 1st 2007. Entries received before this date cannot be processed.

Address: Entries should be submitted by email only to competition@swiftsociety.com. Poems should be submitted as an attachment preferably in .rtf or .pdf format. The entry fee should be post marked not later than 24th October 2007. Paypal payments will be accepted until the closing date, Oct 31st.

Each entry should contain an attached document with the author's name, address, and telephone number and/or FAX and email address. ONLY this sheet should have this information, which should be kept separate from the poem itself which should not display the authors name or details.

Judge: Professor Joe McMinn, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland

Entry Fee: A single entry fee of USD 6.00, Eur 5.00 , £3.60 Stg or AUD 12.00 should accompany each submission. Upon request the entry fee may be waived for low income entrants e.g. students, unemployed, entrants from low GDP countries, senior citizens etc.

Payment Methods


The fee may be paid by PAYPAL. Send your email entry and either request an email invoice or state that the fee will follow by post. An email invoice will enable you to pay by credit card or other PAYPAL methods.

By Post
To pay by post please send a cheque or international draft payable to Kilkenny International Swift Society to Margaret Liston, Moate Road, Ballyragget, Co. Kilkenny. The name, email and name of poem of the entrant must be included with the cheque.

Work submitted without an entry fee will not be read.

The judge and committee reserve the right to withhold a prize in the event of entrants failing to achieve the required standard.

Entries should be the author's original work and should not have previously been published.

Copyright of the winning entries will be retained by the author. However, the Kilkenny International Swift Society retains the right to first publication.

Contestants should keep copies of their submission as entries cannot be returned.

The judge's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

For further information, please contact geninfo@swiftsociety.com