Tonight, in a ceremony at Trinity College Dublin, Patrick James Errington emerged as the victor of the 2024 John Pollard Foundation International Poetry Prize. His pioneering poetry anthology, titled ‘the swailing’, has won him this accolade.
This marks the sixth annual dispersal of the award, specifically dedicated to honouring notable first-time poetry collections written in English. Sponsored by the John Pollard Foundation and overseen by the Trinity Oscar Wilde Centre at the School of English, Trinity, this prestigious prize is valued at €10,000.
Patrick James Errington hails from Canada but now resides in Scotland, where he serves as a lecturer at the University of Edinburgh’s School of Literatures, Languages, and Cultures.
The roster of previous recipients features illustrious names like Victoria Adukwei Bulley, Gail McConnell, Diane Louie, Isabel Galleymore, and Hannah Sullivan.
Errington expressed his gratitude and profound astonishment, acknowledging the sense of honour he felt by his ‘little book’ being aligned with previous winners of the John Pollard International Poetry Prize and other impressive works in this year’s contest. He thanked Stephen Vernon, Provost Linda Doyle, and Trinity College Dublin for their commitment to treasuring the distinctive value of poetry. He also appreciated the judging panel for their devoted attention to reviewing these collections.
The declaration of Errington as the 2024 winner was made by Prof Eoin McNamee, chair of the judging panel and director of the Trinity Oscar Wilde Centre. Applauding Errington’s debut collection, McNamee spoke of the profound emotion that anchors Errington’s strikingly rich work which explores wide-ranging themes from personal experiences and promises, to elemental and natural imagery, including Canadian snowscapes, ice fields and unfolding family drama. The discerning judge also contemplated on the poet’s masterful metaphorical narration, expressing deep appreciation for the heart-earned poetics.
Stephen Vernon, defender of the John Pollard Foundation, which was established in honour of his grandparent John Pollard, praised the winner, Patrick James Errington, for his accomplishment: “I am thrilled to acknowledge Patrick James Errington as the recipient of this year’s John Pollard Foundation International Poetry Prize. The panel of judges has recognised an exceptional example of budding literary skill. Patrick’s poetry is particularly poignant, and his style is uniquely his own. It’s my pleasure to include Patrick’s name in our distinguished roster of award-winning poets.”
The Moth Magazine’s directors announced the overall laureate of The Moth Poetry Prize during a unique award event last evening. Here, eight lauded poets along with the four individuals on the shortlist presented their works prior to the final announcement. Selecting the shortlist was a challenging task, acknowledged Judge Hannah Sullivan, however, determining the victor, Lance Larsen’s Things I’m Against, was straightforward for her.
Sullivan remarked on the poem: “Framed in a list format, this well-executed reflection in syllables transcends its whimsical list of unrelated items (rhubarb, hockey, suede shoes),” A contrast starts to appear where the character may detest golf, but cherishes “the word mulligan, laden with second attempts.” And, through a tricky series of emotional transitions, the lighthearted, conversational list morphs into something significantly more profound. The essence of this poem’s loathing is a common enemy: death. And what it fantasises in its concluding, deeply personal verses, is a humble second opportunity: against seances, it’s “totally committed to spontaneous dialogues with the departed, especially my father”. The content of this unexpected dialogue – as ordinary and beautifully sporadic as the earlier lists – is heart-wrenching.”
Lance Larsen, previous poet laureate for Utah and the Head of English at Brigham Young University, who grew up in Idaho aspiring to apprehend Bigfoot on celluloid, delivered newspapers and cut grass, has penned five collections of verse. His latest, What the Body Knows, was published in Tampa in 2018. His work has been featured in various publications including the Paris Review, London Magazine, Best American Poetry, Poetry Magazine, the New York Review of Books and the Times Literary Supplement, among others. His distinctive talent has been recognised with awards such as The Tampa Review Prize, The Missouri Review Prize, A Pushcart Prize, The Alpine Poetry Fellowship, and he has received fellowships from both the National Endowment for the Arts and Ragdale. Besides his profound love for writing and solitude, he confesses to enjoy juggling at times, and composing witty sayings.
Upon securing The Moth Poetry Prize, Larsen remarked, “It’s an extraordinary privilege!” He continues to express that despite his fondness for the isolation that comes with writing, he cherishes the moments where he gets to acknowledge the shared aspects of poetry and realise his belonging at this esteemed social gathering. The prize also presents him with the opportunity to gain a few additional readers. Larsen will be awarded €6,000, and the runners up, namely Catherine Ann Cullen, Jade Angeles Fitton and Craig van Rooyen, will each receive a sum of €1,000.