Termonfeckin poet Lorraine McArdle has won the Collection of Poetry Award at this year’s Listowel Writers’ Week, marking the second time she has received the prestigious honour.
Her winning collection, Where the Women Go, was selected by acclaimed Kerry poet Eileen Sheehan. The collection explores the experiences of women in midlife, focusing on the challenges and wisdom that come with perimenopause and menopause.
The award, sponsored by Profile Developments, is designed to support emerging writers working towards publishing their first poetry collection. It was presented during the 55th anniversary celebrations of Listowel Writers’ Week, Ireland’s oldest literary and arts festival.
McArdle previously won the same award in 2022 for her collection Scenes from a Boneyard, which was selected by award-winning poet Martina Evans.
The local writer has also enjoyed recent success as the January winner of the Irish Independent’s New Irish Writing feature and as a finalist in the Mslexia Poetry Competition for Women in the UK, judged by renowned poet Liz Berry.
To date, Lorraine has had more than 30 pieces published in literary magazines and publications across Ireland and the UK, including The Irish Independent, The Farmer’s Journal, Poetry Ireland Review, Southword, Mslexia, Abridged, Skylight 47, Howl and The Waxed Lemon.
She has also been shortlisted and highly commended in a number of literary competitions and is currently working towards publishing her first full collection.
Her latest work will appear in the June edition of Southword Issue 50, published by the Munster Literature Centre, and in The Marrow Issue 7 online journal.
