Wigtown Poetry Prizes Recognize International Talent at Festival

Damen O’Brien from Brisbane, Australia, received the £1,500 International Poetry Prize for his poem "The Edge," which explores the experience of drug withdrawal. The runner-up was Aileen Angsutorn Lees, a Thai British writer and artist from Perth, for her piece "Question for the Two Apple Trees on the M90."

The Wigtown Poetry Prizes also awarded Maureen Jivani, a nurse from Surrey, the Alastair Reid Pamphlet Prize for her collection "Alma in the Blue," which reflects on her daughter's sudden death. Jivani described the writing process as difficult and emotionally taxing but rewarding.

Award-winning poet Ruth Padel, who judged both the international and pamphlet prizes, expressed excitement about the diverse themes and emotional depth in the entries, highlighting the competition's growth over its 21-year history.

In the Gaelic Prize category, Zachary Wallace from Ontario, Canada, won for his poem "Mac-ghnìomhara," which was praised for its traditional lyrical qualities. Runner-up Marcas Mac an Tuairneir, a previous winner in both the Gaelic and International categories, received recognition for his poem "Dolaran."

The judge for the Gaelic Prize, Niall O’Gallagher, noted the impressive variety of poetic forms presented in this year's submissions. The prize is supported by The Gaelic Books Council, which commended the talent displayed by participants.

For the Scots Prize, William Hershaw from Fife took home the win with "The Seaman and Saint Brendan," while Donald Adamson, originally from Dumfries but now based in Finland, was the runner-up with "Leadhills Miners’ Library."

The Fresh Voice Award, aimed at early-career poets from Dumfries & Galloway, was given to Fiona Lindsay, a teacher from Newton Stewart, for her collection "Becoming." Her award includes a year-long writing mentorship and a retreat at the Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre.