Poets’ world an oyster in search for poem pearls

THE poets of the land have been challenged to look at an oyster and produce pearls of inspiring words.

The hunt is on to find the best Oyster-inspired poem to mark the tenth anniversary of the BIM-Guinness Quality Oyster Awards.

BIM chief executive Pat Keogh said the awards have enjoyed tremendous success and are a key event in the oyster industry calendar.

“They have been instrumental in highlighting Ireland’s commitment to the finest quality seafood products,” he said.

Now, that achievement is to be celebrated with a poetry competition run by BIM and sponsored by Guinness and Cork Kerry Tourism.

The novelist Billy Keane will lead the panel of judges in their search for the winner of the €1,000 overall award and runners-up prizes of €750 and €500. Entries close before 5pm on August 31.

More information on the competition, being held in association with Poetry Ireland, the national organisation dedicated to developing, supporting and promoting poetry, can be found online at www.bim.ie/oysters.

The chosen poems will appear in Poetry Ireland’s e-zine, on its website, and on the BIM website.

And the winning poets will be “Guinnessed and oystered” at the Ballylongford, Co Kerry, Oyster Festival on September 16.

BIM said it is delighted to be returning to Ballylongford for the tenth anniversary as that is where the quality oyster awards were born.