Poetry Aloud
Rated Advanced, An all-island school poetry-speaking competition run by the National Library of Ireland and Poetry Ireland, with three age categories and a national final. Post-primary students resident on the island of Ireland enter through a teacher; categories align to school years. Contestants memorise and interpret a prescribed and a chosen poem, performing both through regional heats and later rounds.
Verified information
Competition details can change. Always confirm dates, eligibility and entry requirements on the official organiser's website.
Official website ↗Competition overview
Key information
School level
Post-primary students on the island of Ireland
Registration method
School Only
Competition stages
Regional heats in October; semi-finals in Dublin in November; national final at the National Library of Ireland in December
Fee
Not yet announced by the organiser
Online / in-person
In-person
Dates
Competition timeline
Registration opens
Not yet announced by the organiser
Registration closes
30 Sept 2026
Competition starts
Not yet announced by the organiser
Competition ends
Not yet announced by the organiser
Editorial perspective
Our Take
Poetry Aloud is organised by the National Library of Ireland and Poetry Ireland, with support from University College Cork. It first appeared under the Yeats Aloud name before taking its current title. Its long life is not just a matter of a recurring calendar slot: it gives secondary-school students across the island a reason to learn poetry aloud and bring it before listeners. Every entrant must carry both an assigned poem and a personal choice into the room. That combination keeps the contest from becoming either a simple memory test or an unrestricted performance showcase. Luke Power, the previous season's overall laureate, made an impression with Alvy Carragher's Among Treetops. The official account singles out the impact of his delivery, though it does not publish a score sheet or a formula for winning. Regional heats are adjudicated by qualified representatives of the National Library of Ireland and Poetry Ireland. To us, the telling feature is how strongly this contest connects reading to performance: students have to make the words intelligible and felt, without props or a script to hide behind. It is worth considering for a student who likes working closely with a poem and is willing to practise saying it to someone else, not just learning it silently.
Read full guide →Preparation support
Recommended resources
Poetry Aloud 2026
Open resource ↗The official prescribed poems, anthology choices, age categories, memorisation rules and competition stages.
Official · Free · Competition guide · Essential
2025 Poetry Aloud Winners
Open resource ↗A recent official winner overview for understanding poem choices and the standard of national finalists.
Official · Free · Winner examples · Recommended
Poetry Aloud Finalist Performances
Open resource ↗Official finalist recordings for studying memorisation, pace, vocal control and expressive interpretation.
Official · Free · Performance videos · Recommended