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The Macdonald of Sleat Poetry Prize 2018



The fourth Gaelic poetry competition for ‘The Macdonald of Sleat’ Poetry Prize will be held this year.  The annual competition was inaugurated by Sir Ian Macdonald in memory of his daughter, Deborah, who passed away at an early age. The competition will be run once again by Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the National Centre for Gaelic Language and Culture, on the Isle of Skye.

The theme of the competition each year relates to trees and this year an invitation is extended to anyone who writes poetry or has an interest in doing so to compose a poem on the subject, roots. The poems submitted will be considered by a literary panel and a prize of £500 will be awarded for the poem chosen by the panel.  Poems should be submitted to Christine Mackenzie, PA to the Principal, at the following e-mail address by 4 June 2017: runaire@smo.uhi.ac.uk  Anyone who has previously been successful in this competition is not permitted to re-enter. 

Sir Ian Macdonald commented ‘This competition is an appropriate way of building on the family’s links to the language and culture and of adding to the Gaelic bardic heritage and that of the clan. The theme of this year’s competition affords poets an opportunity to reflect on the history and nature of our culture and heritage.’

Sabhal Mòr Principal, Professor Boyd Robertson, added; It is good that Gaelic bards and bardesses have this opportunity each year to demonstrate their art and bring it into the public domain. It is heartening that around twenty poems have been submitted each year and we hope that as many, if not more, will put pen to paper or digit to keyboard this year.’

The winner will be announced at a prize giving event at the Clan Donald Centre on Saturday 29 September 2018.

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