“It is heartening to see, even in these challenging times, how school children and adults alike can take a theme of injustice and turn it into inspiring poems that tell similar stories often with hopeful messages for the future,” said the organisers.

Poets of all ages are encouraged to explore the theme, ‘Standing Her Ground’, from a local to global perspective. Each year, the winning poems are published in booklet form and presented to the winners at an awards ceremony.

Those interested in entering the poetry competition are encouraged to explore a local to global perspective and reflect on Ireland’s own history of hunger and migration.

The annual competition uses poetry to raise awareness about the global justice issues.

Exploring global justice through art forms such as poetry, performance, music and painting, is a fun and creative way to engage young people in complex issues.

Poets are invited to explore a different global development theme each year.

This year’s theme was ‘Forced to Flee’ which inspired a moving and thought-provoking selection of poems on the themes of displacement and seeking refuge.

Collaboration between Trócaire and Poetry Ireland is open to all writers from published poets to primary school students.