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THE MOTH HIGHLIGHTS
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2022

1 September: Lara Saunders wins The Moth Short Story Prize 2022
Read all about it in the Irish Times! You can listen to Lara read her winning story 'Cock's Eye Moon' here.
8 August: Louise Glück to judge The Moth Poetry Prize 2022
Former US Poet Laureate Louise Glück won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2020. Enter online now.
2 June: Carole Bromley wins The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2022
Naomi Shihab Nye awarded the prize to Carole Bromley's poem 'Pry'vit', which explains the invasion of Ukraine to her 8-year-old grandchild. Read more in The Bookseller.
27 May: Max Porter to judge The Moth Nature Writing Prize 2022
Max Porter is the bestselling author of Grief is the Thing with Feathers and LannyEnter by 15 September.
5 May: The Moth publishes Claire Mulligan's debut children's novel The Hunt for David Berman
'An adventure worthy of any film on the silver screen' - Irish Times. Order your copy now!

2021

2 December: Arne Weingart wins The Moth Nature Writing Prize 2021
Helen MacDonald chooses Arne Weingart's poem 'Cicadas' for the 2021 Nature Writing Prize.
25 November: Blanca Amorós wins The Moth Art Prize 2021
Blanca's winning portfolio appears in The Moth Issue 47.
2 September: Ali Smith chooses Janice Deal's 'Lost City' for The Moth Short Story Prize 2021
Read the winning story in the Irish Times
30 April: Aniqah Choudhri wins The Moth Poetry Prize 2021
You can read all four poems on Warsan Shire's shortlist here

2020


3 September: Owen Booth wins Moth Short Story Prize 2020
12 June: Sarah Tsiang's 'Dick pics' shortlisted for 2020 Forward Prize for Best Single Poem 
30 April: Damen O'Brien wins €10k Moth Poetry Prize
You can read about it in the Irish Times and Books + Publishing!
27 April: Irish Literary Society in London hosts 10 Years of The Moth: a celebration *POSTPONED*
16 April: Seamus Heaney Homeplace hosts 10 Years of The Moth: a celebration *POSTPONED*
31 March: 10 writers reflect on 10 years of The Moth
You can read the Irish Times article here.
26 March: Irish Writers Centre in Dublin hosts 10 Years of The Moth: a celebration *POSTPONED*
16 March: Arena on RTÉ celebrates The Moth at 10
Kay Sheehy talks to The Moth editor Rebecca O'Connor, as well as contributors June Caldwell, Alan McMonagle and Niamh Boyce. Read or listen here.

2019

6 December: The winner of The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2019 is announced 

28 November:
 The Moth announces
 
the winner of The Moth Art Prize 2019
You can read about it in the Irish Times!
September: Conor Crummey wins The Moth Short Story Prize with 'Journeys' 
‘To have drawn praise from a writer of Kit de Waal’s talent and standing, and to see my story in a publication that has done as much for Irish writers as The Moth, is the most astounding and unexpected affirmation I could have imagined. Thank you to Kit, to The Moth, and to anyone who might read this. I have stewed with the idea of sending stories out into the world before, but never quite had the courage. If anyone has contemplated doing the same, go for it! You never know what might happen.’ 
July: The Moth director, Will Govan, opens his first solo exhibition 'The Shark and the Plunger' in Cavan town.
June: Claudia Rankine to judge The Moth Poetry Prize 2019:
Claudia Rankine is the winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Forward Prize for Best Collection, the Lannan Foundation Literary Award and the T. S. Eliot PrizeHer collection Citizen was the only poetry book to be a New York Times bestseller in the nonfiction category. In 2005, she was awarded the Academy Fellowship for distinguished poetic achievement by the Academy of American Poets. She is the Frederick Iseman Professor of Poetry at Yale University. Submissions close 31 December.
8 May: The paperback version of He Is Mine and I Have No Other by our editor Rebecca O'Connor is published by Canongate.
10 AprilJude Nutter's poem 'Dead Drift' wins €10,000 Moth Poetry Prize, judged by T.S. Eliot Prizewinner Jacob Polley:
“Dead Drift” does so many things, it seems to me, only a poem can do. Like a time machine, this poem becomes the river it describes, which "opens everywhere / and always and only into itself" and in whose surface is apparent the present, the recent past and the deep past – is apparent the mystery of self and a relationship with a father, and the shelving off into deep time of human history.'
April: The Caterpillar poetry prize, judged by Brian Moses, goes to Andrew Weale for his poem 'Wonder-pudderful':
‘It only took a few lines for me to realise that this was a poem by a writer who understood what it takes to write a poem for this age group. I was hooked from the moment I read “a hyphen had swept between them / like a bird / and joined them with its wings”. I love the way that the word existed only for a brief moment in time, but it reminded me of something that the French writer Montaigne once said: a rose blooms once and then dies, but for anyone who saw the rose, it blooms forever. This poem has such potential and children will love the idea behind it.’

2018

December: Louise Greig wins The Caterpillar short story prize with 'Beatrice - A Work of Art': 
'Louise’s writing really cuts to the heart of things – it’s soulful, lyrical and witty in equal measure. We had no doubt when we read Beatrice – A Work of Art that this was our winning story', said The Caterpillar’s editor Rebecca O’Connor. 'It’s a tale that will touch children and adults in equal measure, I think, and really make us think about our sense of ourselves in the world and how important friendship is to us.'
Gregory Mortenson teaches portrait drawing and painting at Grand Central Academy in New York. He grew up in Utah, and he credits his father and grandfather as being two of his earliest role models in art making. He attended Southern Virginia University on a wrestling scholarship, then after completing his degree in art returned home to study life drawing and painting. In 2006 he moved to New York to further his education in classical technique with Jacob Collins at the Grand Central Academy of Art.
7 June: Editor of The Moth, Rebecca O'Connor, launches her debut novel 
Described by Patrick McCabe as 'maybe the truest depiction of Irish rural girlhood since Edna O'Brien's Girl with Green Eyes', Rebecca O'Connor's novel He Is Mine and I Have No Other was published by Canongate in hardback on 7 June. See her website for more details.
The winner of the 2018 prize, judged by Chrissie Gittins, was Coral Rumble for her poem 'Mustafa's Jumper'. 'This arresting, dramatic poem had my attention from the start', said Gittins. 'Its transparent, direct language propelled me straight into the narrative. A resonant, circular poem summoned deftly through the image of a frayed jumper. It uses pinpoint details and easy rhyme. Not a word is wasted.'
The winner of the 2018 prize, judged by Daljit Nagra, was Natalya Anderson's 'A Gun in the House'. ‘Almost a darkly comic scenario at first reading because of the child’s illness vying with the exaggerated hospitality towards the priest. The confidence of the speaker, and the subtlety of the writer, invite a rereading of the poem for what lurks beneath the surface. So on my second reading of the poem, I didn’t find a trace of humour, or tonal imbalance, but the unfolding of a bleak tragedy. Every line took on a dark nuance.’

2017

December: Jo Withers announced as the winner of The Caterpillar Short Story Prize with 'Job Seekers' Club': 
'I was immensely proud to see my work in The Caterpillar and the recognition gave me the confidence to keep writing', she said. 'The Caterpillar is aptly named, as it magically transforms the written word into a thing of beauty. I am amazed and delighted to have been chosen as the winner of the Caterpillar Story for Children Prize.'
7 September: Georgina Arboud wins The Moth Short Story Prize with 'Night Jar' 
‘This story of a woman dealing with the aftermath of her sister’s murder on a tiny, often stranded island is immensely powerful because of the author’s instinct for form. An assured narrative spine – the unfinished composition of the lost sister – runs through the story, but with such subtlety and grace that many other elements are allowed to develop with richness and depth: the islanders’ isolation and what it does to them; the difficult reality of the protagonist’s relationship with her damaged parents; the deliciously slow and wary progress of a love affair. A shimmering, unnerving creation which surfaces in the mind over and over, long after reading.’
Bradley Wood, a New York-based artist, wins the Moth Art Prize‘I am so grateful to the folks at The Moth for awarding me this prize,’ said Wood. ‘I think getting out of New York for a bit will be healthy. My exhibition schedule has been really hectic over the past few years so I’m definitely looking forward to the solitude. It will be an amazing and much-needed time to regroup, reflect on my work and tinker with some new ideas. I’ve actually always been quite affected by my environment, probably more than I realize. So it’ll be really interesting to absorb the area and see how it affects my work there.’
Co-director and editor of The Moth and The Caterpillar to publish debut novel He Is Mine and I Have No Other with Canongate in spring 2018.
The prize details remain the same, with 3 runner-up prizes of €1,000 and the shortlisted poems appearing in the spring issue of The Moth.
27 April: Winner of Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize announced:
Lee Sharkey wins €10,000 prize for her poem 'Dear Al'. You can read all about it here. 

2016

7 September: Winners of Moth Short Story Prize announced
Congratulations to this year's winners – Nikki McWatters, Sheila Armstrong and Kelly McCaughrain  – who you can read about in the Irish Times and here. Their stories feature in the autumn 2016 issue of The Moth, available to purchase here
The Moth will be in the Word tent in Mindfield at 4pm on Saturday, where Will Govan will read the greatest hits from The Moth, Rebecca O'Connor will sing poems from her collection We'll Sing Blackbird, and the award-winning poet Daljit Nagra will read. 
David Piddock will spend a month at The Moth's new artists' residence and receive €1,000. His work adorns the cover of the autumn issue of The Moth and is also featured inside its pages.
This year's winner, Abigail Parry, was awarded €10,000 for her poem 'Arterial'. You can read all about it in the Irish Times.  
The four shortlisted poems this year, chosen by judge Billy Collins, are by Natalya Anderson, James Leader, David McLoghlin and Abigail Parry. The winner, who will receive €10,000, will be announced at an award ceremony in Dublin on 13 April. 
January: New Moth Art Prize launched
The Moth is as much about art as it is about literature, and so to celebrate we have launched the Moth Art Prize. The winner will receive a €1,000 travel stipend and a month's residency at our new residential studio in rural Ireland.

2015

September: Philosophical Tale about a Mouse wins Caterpillar Short Story Prize 
Richard J. Jones' philosophical tale for children 'Let's Say I Am' won the inaugural prize for stories written for children and is published in the winter 2015 issue of The Caterpillar
August: Billy Collins Announced as Judge of Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize 2015
The Moth is very excited to have the former US Poet Laureate judge this year's prize, worth €13,000.
June: Ann Gray's 'My Blue Hen' shortlisted for Forward Prize for Best Single Poem 2015 
'My Blue Hen' was chosen by Marie Howe as the winner of the Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize in 2014, and is justifiably shortlisted for this esteemed poetry prize. 

The Moth Celebrates 5 Years
You can read all about our trials in tribulations in the Irish Times


June: Scottish poet wins new €1,000 Caterpillar children's poetry prize
The Caterpillar is thrilled to announce Louise Greig's 'Don't Think of an Elephant' as the winner of the inaugural Caterpillar Poetry Prize. 
Lisa Bickmore presented with a cheque for €10,000 by Darina Allen at this special event at the Irish Writers Centre in Dublin. 7–9pm. 
9 March: Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize shortlist announced
The shortlisted poems appear in the spring issue of The Moth, which you can purchase here for €5 (including postage to anywhere in the world).

2014

19 September: Moth Short Story Prizegiving at the Winding Stair Bookshop
Join us at the Winding Stair Bookshop on Ormond Quay in Dublin to celebrate the winners of this year's prize, from 7 pm onwards. 
1 September: Inaugural Caterpillar Poetry Prize Launch
The publishers of The Moth and The Caterpillar are looking for an outstanding poem for children written by an adult to which they can award €1,000. Closing date 31 March 2015. See www.thecaterpillarmagazine.com for more details.  
1 June: Editor of The Moth at Bodmin Moor Poetry Festival
Rebecca O'Connor, editor of The Moth, in conversation with Maurice Riordan, editor of The Poetry Review, followed by a reading. See bodminmoorpoetryfestival.co.uk.
June: Rebecca O'Connor's poem 'The Lakes' commended by the Forward Prize judges
'The Lakes', which appears in her collection We'll Sing Blackbird, appears in the Forward Prize Anthology 2014
17 May: Ballymaloe Poetry Prizewinners Reading
This year’s winners give a special reading at The Blackbird in Ballycotton, Co. Cork on Saturday 17 May from 7.30 pm. All are welcome to this free event. 
12−13 April: Portraiture with Heloise Toop
Portraitist Heloise Toop brings her expertise and experience to the Moth Studios for one weekend only. Saturday and Sunday 10am−5pm. The course costs €120 and places are limited. Contact enquiries@themothmagazine.com or call 049 4362677 to book. 
29−30 March: A Brush with The Moth
The first in a series of workshops in painting for beginners with the co-director of The Moth, Will Govan. Saturday and Sunday 10am−5pm, with drinks at The Moth on Saturday evening. The course costs €100 and places are limited. Contact enquiries@themothmagazine.com or call 049 4362677 to book
FebruaryApril: A Lock of Fierce Roars by John McManus 
John McManus's A Lock of Fierce Roars is currently touring the country with Moth Productions. For further details click here.

2013

October: The Caterpillar is one of John Hegley's 'top ten children's poetry books' in The Guardian
It's not even a book, but it still makes it on to the list! How about that for sneaky? Sharing the limelight with the likes of Carol Ann Duffy, Michael Rosen and Jacqueline Wilson. You can check out the list here.

20 September: Launch of The Moth and exhibition of new work by Pawel Kleszczewski
Join us to celebrate the launch of the autumn 2013 issue of The Moth and The Caterpillar, alongside an exhibition of new work by Pawel Kleszczewski at The Moth.
8 September: Rebecca O'Connor to read at Mountains to Sea Festival
Rebecca will read, alongside the other shortlisted poets, at the Strong/Shine Award ceremony for best first collection. 
AugustDecember: The Quare Land by John McManus on tour 
John McManus's The Quare Land, in association with the Social Initiative and sponsored by the Cavan Institute, is currently touring GAA clubs throughout Ireland. For further details click here.
7 June: New York Launch of Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize 2013
Join Darina Allen and ourselves at Pete's Candy Store in Brooklyn to celebrate this year's prize, with prizes of €10,000, €2,000 and €1,000 for a single poem! Readings by Nick Laird, Catherine Barnett and this year's judge, New York State Poet Laureate Marie Howe. From 7pm. Venue: Pete's Candy Store, 709 Lorimer St, Brooklyn, NY 11211. Check out details of the competition here.
2 June: Launch of the first issue of The Caterpillar
A party at The Moth in Cavan to celebrate the launch of this new magazine for children (aged 7‒12). There'll be a wonderful sea-world exhibition by Kasia Zimnoch, funny readings by Tommy Sharkey and Will Govan, music, games, and sweets and treats.
30 March: Ballymaloe Poetry Prize Award Ceremony
A special prizegiving event at Ballymaloe Cookery School, with readings by the three winning poets and a selection of beautiful food from Darina Allen's kitchen.
2627 January: Abbie Lathe Singing Workshop at The Moth Studios
Award-winning singer-songwriter and teacher, Abbie Lathe, will be giving a unique weekend workshop in singing. Bound to be an uplifting experience.

2012

22 November: Launch of Rebecca O'Connor's poetry collection We'll Sing Blackbird

Join us at The Moth to celebrate the launch of Rebecca's first full collection of poems with a short reading and drinks.

27 October: Master Class in Novel Writing with Christine Dwyer Hickey

An intensive one-day workshop with the author of the Irish Kerry Group Book of the Year 2012. For more details contact Rebecca O'Connor at editor@themothmagazine.com or call (0)49 4362677. Venue: The Moth Studios, 81 Church Street, Cavan, Co. Cavan

1620 August: The Moth at the Fleadh Cheoil in Cavan Town

The Moth will be hosting an arts and literature extravaganza at the Moth Studios in Cavan Town during the world's largest traditional Irish music festival, with live music, poetry, a 'Michael D. Higgins Prize' and art exhibitions.

7 June: Launch Night: The Stinging Fly and The Moth at Dublin Writers' Festival

With live readings by featured guest writers Christine Dwyer Hickey, Rebecca O’Connor, Kit Fryatt and Billy Ramsell, this after-dark soirée offers a relaxed and informal encounter with tomorrow’s established and rising literary stars. 9.30pm. Venue: Odessa Club, 13 Dame Court, Dublin 2.

13 May: Open Day and Launch of Pauline Halton Exhibition at the Moth Studios

Learn about the various courses and workshops on offer at the studios and enjoy a new exhibition of oil paintings by celebrated local artist Pauline Halton. Venue: 81 Church Street, Cavan Town.

25 March: Ballymaloe Poetry Prize Award Ceremony

Celebrations at the beautiful Grain Store at Ballymaloe House in Co. Cork, with readings from the judge Matthew Sweeney and the winning poets. 6‒8.30pm. Venue: The Grain Store, Ballymaloe House, Shanagarry, Co. Cork
 
FebruaryApril: Victor's Dung Social Initiative Tour 

Seamus O'Rourke's Victor's Dung, in association with the Social Initiative and sponsored by Calor, is currently touring GAA clubs throughout Ireland. For further details click here.


2011

2 December: Moth Christmas Party and Second Floor Studios Exhibition

Join us upstairs at the Abbey Bar to celebrate a year in the life of The Moth and the Second Floor Studios ‒ and the launch of the winter issue ‒ from 8pm till late.
Venue: The Abbey Bar, Coleman Road, Cavan

31 October: Shakespeare & Co. Event

Christine Dwyer Hickey will read from her new novel The Cold Eye of Heaven, the elusive Robert McLiam Wilson will read something surprising, and poet and editor of The Moth, Rebecca O’Connor, will read a selection of her work and some of her favourite poems from the last six issues of the magazine. Afterwards stay for the swinging tunes of a stupendous Parisian swing band. From 7 p.m. onwards. Venue: Shakespeare & Company, 37 rue de la Bûcherie, Paris 75005

7 October: Launch of new 'moth editions' series

Readings by Dermot Healy, Ted McCarthy, Kate Dempsey and Ciarán O’Rourke. From 7.30pm onwards. Please do come along and celebrate this new venture with us.

23 September: Open House at Second Floor Studios and Moth HQ

The editor of The Moth, Rebecca O’Connor, and Will Govan, the director of The Second Floor Studios, invite you to celebrate Culture Night at an open evening at The Former See House. Have your portrait drawn, sing along with musician-in-residence Cormac McCann, listen to poems by Rebecca O'Connor and enjoy a guided tour of the studios and Moth office. From 7‒9pm. Venue: Second Floor Studios, The Former See House, Kilmore, Cavan

7 July: Launch of the inaugural Ballymaloe International Poetry Prize in Dublin

The official launch, not to be missed. With readings by Eileen Casey, Anne Haverty and Gerard Smyth, all featuring in the summer 2011 issue of The Moth. From 7 p.m. onwards. All welcome. Venue: The Grand Social, 35 Lower Liffey Street, Dublin

2 July: Poetry and Short Stories Publishing Seminar
Talks will be given by Ciaran Carty, editor of New Irish Writing; Declan Meade, editor of The Stinging Fly; Rebecca O' Connor, poet and editor of The Moth; Jessie Lendennie, managing director of Salmon Poetry; Kevin Barry, short story writer and novelist; and Kevin Higgins, poet and co-organiser of Over The Edge Reading Series.

4 June: The Pitch at Listowel Writers Week
Catch this unique production at St. John's Theatre. For details of this and other performances throughout the country click here.
24 February: Premiere of The Pitch by Shane Connaughton
If you're in Cavan then be sure not to miss this production of the award-winning writer's new play in which he takes the lead role. It runs for six nights in total, and tickets are still available at Multisound in Cavan Town on 049 4361312.
27 January: An evening of poetry and wine
Moth contributors Kate Dempsey, Tommy Murray and Seamus O'Rourke join us for an evening of poetry and wine-tasting - with fine wines from the Castillo Perelada winery in Spain and delicious canapes courtesy of Delish, Cavan's finest cafe. 

2010

16 December: London launch of winter 2010 issue (3)

The Moth takes flight in the UK with a launch party in London ‒ with readings by Annie Freud, Adam O'Riordan, Julia Bird, Derek Adams, Meryl Pugh, Todd Swift, Tim Wells and Moris Farhi. 

Autumn: Dublin Launch 
The Dublin Moth party, which was held at the wonderful Winding Stair on 16 September 2010, featured readings by Niamh Bagnell, Kate Dempsey, John McKeown and Shane Connaughton. It got a little mention in the Irish Times ...

 

 

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