Bibliofemme News
|
  |
28/11/2005
Ireland Chair of Poetry Prize to Laird
Northern Irish poet and novelist Nick Laird has been named as the most
promising Poet of 2005 by the Ireland Chair of Poetry Trust.
The prize is awarded by the Trust to 'a poet of promise', on the nomination
of poet and Ireland Professor of Poetry, Paul Durcan.
In the announcement, Durcan said: "It does not happen often, but it does
happen: A first book of poems is published and a star is born.
"Such a book is 'To a Fault' and such a new-born star is Nick Laird. I am,
therefore, delighted to nominate Nick Laird for the Ireland Chair of Poetry
Prize."
The Prize entitles Laird to a period of residence reside in artists' retreat
The Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig to enable him to pursue his
writing.
Laird was born in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, in 1975 and now lives in London with
his wife, novelist Zadie Smith.
'To a Fault', his debut poetry collection was published in January of this
year and praised by Seamus Heaney.
His first novel, 'Utterly Monkey', followed in May.
<- back to the news
