Young Irish Poets Take Centre Stage at the Launch of The Unfinished Book of Poetry 2025
On Wednesday 30th April 2025 at 1pm, Cork City Library on Grand Parade will host the launch of The Unfinished Book of Poetry 2025, the 21st edition of a much-loved anthology that continues to champion the poetic voices of Cork’s youth. This year’s launch will bring together student writers, teachers, library staff, and professional writers who facilitated the project — all gathering to celebrate the next generation of poets and their creative achievements.
The event will be officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr. Dan Boyle, or his deputy. A limited number of printed copies will be available for free to the public at the library. Attendees will be treated to live readings from the student poets themselves — a highlight of the launch each year — alongside reflections from participating educators and mentors.
This year’s edition features 204 pages of remarkably mature and original poetry, written by 51 Transition Year students from five Cork city schools. The range of themes and styles on display reflects a generation thinking deeply and creatively about the world around them. As always, the book stands as both a creative milestone for the students involved and a testament to the enduring value of literary mentorship.
Project curator Paul Casey writes in the foreword: “These poems showcase the growing vision of a very talented and enlightened generation. Delights await you on every page.” His words capture the spirit and promise that this project has nurtured for over two decades.
Key to the anthology’s continued success is the dedicated guidance of five professional assisting writers — Róisín Leggett Bohan, David McLoghlin, Róisín Kelly, Gormfhlaith Ní Shíocháin Ní Bheoláin, and Kerri Sonnenberg — who led nine-week poetry workshops with students from November to March. Their mentorship helped transform raw thoughts into finely crafted poems, while also helping young writers find their voice and confidence.
The 2025 edition brings together students from Cork Educate Together Secondary School, Terence MacSwiney Community College, Ashton School, Coláiste an Phiarsaigh, and Coláiste Éamann Rís. With the support of Cork City Libraries and Transition Year coordinators, students were provided with a unique opportunity to work with published poets and experience the editing and publishing process first-hand. The result is an anthology that not only celebrates youth voices but also honours the collaborative and creative work behind every poem.
In addition to the book launch, twelve selected poems from this year’s anthology will feature in Poetry in the Parks, a public poetry installation project launching on 7th June 2025 as part of the Cruinniú na nÓg festival. The selected poems will be installed in Fitzgerald’s Park, Tramore Valley Park, Ballincollig Regional Park, Marina Park, Gerry O’Sullivan Park, and the Blarney Sanctuary Walkway. Each poem will be accompanied by a QR code linking to an audio recording of the poet reading their work aloud. A Poetry Jukebox poster featuring all twelve poems and their audio links will also be displayed across Cork City libraries and public venues. These twelve poems — in both text and audio — will also be available via the Ó Bhéal website, further extending the reach of this remarkable youth project.
Since its inception in 2005 — during Cork’s year as European Capital of Culture — The Unfinished Book of Poetry has grown into a cornerstone of youth literary engagement. Over thirty Cork schools and as many professional writers have been involved across two decades, with Ó Bhéal curating the project since 2012. What began as an initiative to give students a voice has now become a vibrant platform for future poets to take their place in Ireland’s literary landscape.
With its 21st edition, The Unfinished Book of Poetry reaffirms its relevance and impact. It is a living archive of the hopes, fears, humour, and wisdom of Cork’s young people — and a reminder that poetry, when placed in the hands of youth, is anything but unfinished.