
The Macdonald of Sleat Poetry Prize
A second 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 two years ago. 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 about a sapling. 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 3 June: runaire@smo.uhi.ac.uk
Sir Ian Macdonald commented ‘I see this competition as 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.’
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. We were heartened that so many participated in the competition in the first year and we hope that as many, if not more, will put pen to paper or digit to keyboard this time round. ’