We said WISE would be back, and it’s back with the date it should always have had: Saturday 23 January 2027, at the University of Galway.
What Is WISE?
WISE, the Writers’ Intercollegiate Showcase Event, is Ireland’s first national flash fiction and poetry festival for university students. Students from every college on the island submit work on a set theme. A panel of established Irish writers shortlists it blind. The finalists read live in Galway, in front of their peers from across the country, competing for prizes to be announced.
The Theme: Trespass
A line is drawn so someone will cross it. Flash fiction up to 1,000 words, poetry up to 40 lines, in English or Irish. Read the full guidelines.
Key Dates
- 5 October 2026: submissions open
- 23 November 2026: submissions close (23:59 Irish time)
- December 2026: finalists announced
- 23 January 2027: the festival, University of Galway
The Judges
The WISE 2027 panel is Dave Lordan, Karl Parkinson, and Dave Rudden — three established voices in Irish writing. Full bios on the WISE page.
The Day
Workshops with the judges, an open-mic you can book a slot for, the finalist showcases, a judges’ reading, the awards, and then Galway does what Galway does best. Free entry for all students.
Want your college represented? Ask about becoming your campus’s WISE Ambassador: writers@socs.universityofgalway.ie.