The dance floor of the Gasworks club of Mulherns, Enniskillen, became the stage for performance poetry last Saturday evening as competitors came from the length and breadth of Ulster to join Fermanagh poets in the Ulster Poetry Slam Final. Organised in conjunction with the Fermanagh Live Arts Festival (FLive), the event was well-supported by poetry enthusiasts and those new to the literary art form.

The nine competitors qualified from heats held across the counties of Ulster and the final line-up included: Elizabeth McGeown, Jack Loughrey, Robert Elliot, Jenny Brien, Mel Bradley, Patricia Devlin-Hill, Michael Wilson, Jordan Rafferty and Sinead Coxhill.

Judging this year’s Ulster Final was journalist and author Jason Johnson, arts patron and gallery owner Ciara Hambly and former BBC NI producer and freelance filmmaker John O’Neill. Points were awarded by the three judges for both the poem and the performance. All poems had to be the original work of the competing poet, could not exceed three minutes and had to be performed without accompaniment.

Poems on the evening covered many topical issues, with some competing poets using their platform to voice opinions on mental health, women’s rights and LGBTQ+ rights. There was complete silence in the room as the audience watched in awe as the contemporary wordsmiths performed their original work.

The Ulster Poetry Slam Final was hosted, as in previous years, by poet and broadcaster, Frank Rafferty. As he announced the competitors who were placed first, second and third, he told the other finalists not to be disheartened. Giving words of encouragement he added: “Slam’s about coming back and fighting another day.”

Jack Loughrey from Derry/Londonderry was crowned the Ulster champion and was presented with the new FLive cup. Using distinctive rhythm and pace along with poignant pauses, his powerful and thought-provoking poetry performances covered themes of homelessness and mental health. Second place was Elizabeth McGeown from Belfast and Mel Bradley from Derry/Londonderry took third place.

All three placed competitors will go on to represent Ulster at the All Ireland Poetry Slam Championship final in Galway in November. There they will compete against poets from Connacht, Munster and Leinster for the title of All Ireland Poetry Slam Champion.