“Keep Her Lit”: Cormac Mac Gearailt on building a spoken word legacy
Dublin poet Cormac Mac Gearailt is no stranger to competition. In 2024, he secured multiple titles, becoming the champion of Slamovision, the Leinster Champion, and now the All Ireland Poetry Slam Champion. His journey to the top has been a long one, marked by years of dedication to the craft.
Reflecting on his early experiences, Mac Gearailt recalled on Instagram about his first Leinster Slam in 2013, where, after hours of practice, he stepped onto the stage, blurted out his poem, and didn’t make it through the first round. A decade later, he has come a long way.
The All Ireland Poetry Slam Final took place on November 30th at Pearse Street Library, where 11 poets from across the island delivered powerful performances in a night to remember. The competition, which showcases the very best in spoken word, culminated in the crowning of Mac Gearailt as the new champion.
Winning, however, wasn’t his primary focus. "It’s not about winning or even competing, of course," he noted, "but it’s nice to get the win on the day."
His return to slam poetry in 2022 allowed him to refine his style while connecting with a new wave of talented poets, including Leon Dunne, Kev Kennedy, and Anna D.
On the night of the final, Mac Gearailt performed three poems: ‘Can’t Sleep’, ‘Batch Bread’, and ‘Dust’. The first captured the frustration of insomnia, the second told the story of a man who feeds ducks in the park, and the third explored grief. Each piece reflected his signature themes—addiction, isolation, the passing of time, climate change, loss, and the struggles of everyday existence.
Preparing for the competition required both mental and creative discipline. "’Can’t Sleep’ was a new poem, so I wrote and rehearsed it over and over until it was locked into my head forever," he said.
Mac Gearailt describes the Irish spoken word scene in 2025 as “hopping,” pointing to the wealth of talent emerging from Dublin, Cork, Belfast, and Leinster. However, he notes a concerning gap in Connacht, where there was no proper representative at the 2024 All Ireland final.
“There didn’t seem to be much of a scene there, which is a worrying development that we’ll have to sort out,” he said. Determined to see the scene grow nationwide, he urges poets in the region to get involved. “If any Connacht poets read this and want to take part in or help sort out the Connacht final this year, please get in contact. My Instagram is @cormfitz.”
Beyond competitions, events like the All Ireland Poetry Slam play a crucial role in fostering the spoken word community. They create spaces for poets to connect, challenge themselves, and develop new work. He highlighted the impact of initiatives like the Talkatives Slam by the WeAreGriot collective and Rising Tide in Dublin, praising their contributions to the scene.
As for the future of spoken word in Ireland, he sees both opportunities and challenges. The art form has become more mainstream, and performers are now regularly paid for their work—something that wasn’t always the case.
"I once travelled at my own expense to Limerick to perform in front of one person," he recalls. While this progress is encouraging, he’s concerned that younger generations, particularly those under 23, may not be engaging with spoken word as much as before. “Is spoken word alive in colleges anymore? Maybe I’m just out of the loop, but that might be a problem.”
Over the years, Mac Gearailt has drawn inspiration from many poets and events, including Kae Tempest, Polar Bear, and Seán Dennehy. He credits The Monday Echo as his starting point and remains grateful to Aidan Murphy for his influence on the scene.
For emerging poets looking to get involved in spoken word or slam, his advice is simple yet deeply personal. “Find your voice, hard as that may be.” He knows firsthand that developing a distinct style takes time.
“I am now 35. I have been writing this particular style of poetry since I was 23. I’ve wanted to be some form of writer or poet probably for as long as I remember. I’ve been working at it a long time, and am only now starting to get any real form of ‘success’ (which still means being completely broke and unknown outside a core group of die-hards). But more importantly, I’ve only recently found my voice, in a way that I’m sure of my style and what it is I’m trying to do and say. It’s taken a lot of time to get here. Though I know for others it can come easier.
“Everyone is different, some poets arrive fully formed on the scene like newborn foals, prancing about the place in no time, the rest of us can barely lift our heads.”
Looking back on his own journey, he acknowledges that much of his time in poetry wasn’t always focused. “I’ve been at this 12 years or so but actually most of that time I wasn’t focusing, it was wasted. Still, I always kept at it in some form or other. Even if I didn’t perform for years, I was always trying to write.”
He compares creativity to a flame, something that must be nurtured to stay alive. “Someone once told me that creativity is a flame. If you don’t tend to it, give it a little something to feed on every now and then, then it goes out and it can be very hard to reignite it. Don’t take your gift for granted. Keep her lit.”
Looking ahead, Mac Gearailt’s focus is on growing the All Ireland Slam into something bigger. He envisions larger stages, more competitors, better prizes, and—most importantly—a stronger presence in Connacht.
"Seriously—@cormfitz—get in touch”.