2017 is not the time to blink
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The Best New British And Irish Poets 2016

Modeled on the famous United States competition, the first annual Best New British and Irish Poets competition was open to any poet of British or Irish citizenship and/or U.K. or Irish residency who has not yet published or will not publish a full-length collection prior to 1 June 2016. Poems submitted for consideration could have appeared in print before, or in a pamphlet, but not online. Poets about to have full collections out from Eyewear Publishing, including Ben Parker and Maria Apichella, were ineligible for inclusion.

A large number of poems came in from all corners of Great Britain and from across Ireland, from thrilling new voices and established older writers – all poets likely to soon publish full collections in print. These poets are, if you like, the “rising stars” of poetry in these isles. What was impressive was the age range and geographical range of these poets, as well as that of their styles – from lyrical to avant-garde and performance-oriented work. Traditional poems rub shoulders with prose poetry and innovative forms and styles.

The final fifty poets selected for inclusion in the 2016 Best New British and Irish Poets are, in alphabetical order by first name: 

 

  1. ALAN DUNNETT
  2. ALEX BELL
  3. ALEX HOUEN
  4. ALLI LEWIS
  5. AMY McCAULEY
  6. ANDREW FENTHAM
  7. ANNABEL BANKS
  8. BECKY CHERRIMAN
  9. BEN ASHWELL
  10. CATO PEDDER
  11. CLAIRE QUIGLEY
  12. CLARISSA AYKROYD
  13. COLIN DARDIS
  14. DAISY BEHAGG
  15. DAVID SPITTLE
  16. DEBRIS STEVENSON
  17. EDWARD DOEGAR
  18. ELIZABETH PARKER
  19. ERICA MCALPINE
  20. ERIN FORNOFF
  21. FRANCOISE HARVEY
  22. HOLLY CORFIELD-CARR
  23. IAN M DUDLEY
  24. ISABEL ROGERS
  25. JAMES NIXON
  26. JASON LEE
  27. JEN CALLEJA
  28. JESSICA MAYHEW
  29. KARL O’HANLON
  30. KATHERINE SHIRLEY
  31. LIZ QUIRKE
  32. LORNA COLLINS
  33. MARIA ISAKOVA-BENNETT
  34. MATT HOWARD
  35. MATTHEW PAUL
  36. MATTHEW STEWART
  37. MICHAEL NAGHTEN SHANKS
  38. NIALL BOURKE
  39. PIERRE RINGWALD
  40. RICHARD SCOTT
  41. RISHI DASTIDAR
  42. ROISIN KELLY
  43. SAMANTHA WALTON
  44. SAMUEL TONGUE
  45. STEWART CARSWELL
  46. TESS JOLLY
  47. TIFFANY ANNE TONDUT
  48. VA SOLA SMITH
  49. VICTORIA KENNEFICK
  50. WES LEE