‘Homeless’ poem wins Laois man international competition
Winning poet Mick Morrissey pictured with a copy of his book titled and his two Bichon Frisé companions Billy (top) and Alfie (bottom) Photo Stan Henderson
RETIRED prison officer, former editor of the magazine and avid writer Mick Morrissey recently won the Darby Ryan International Poetry and Song of Peace contest with his poem titled .
Mick discovered his love of writing during covid lockdowns and he began writing snippets of poetry and stories during those periods. Then, the skilled wordsmith launched his first book titled in April 2025 in Mountmellick library, as featured by this newspaper at the time.
Mick is well-known in local literary circles and is a regular contributor to the Power of Words Events in Abbeyleix, Stradbally Creative Writers’ Group, Mountmellick Arts Collective and the Portlaoise Spotlight Sessions in the Dunamaise Arts Centre. He has also been published in Anthology magazine and in a local book titled , in which he has two pieces.
The Darby Ryan International Poetry Contest is an annual literary competition which was launched in 2025 to honour Diarmuid O’Ríain (Darby Ryan), who was an 18th century world-renowned poet and patriot from Bansha, Co Tipperary and was famous for writing
Although Mick has lived in Laois for just over 50 years, the scenic Bansha where Darby Ryan hails from is also Mick’s home village where he was also born and bred.
Speaking to the at his home in Ballybrittas Mick said that he was honoured to have won this year’s poetry competition.
He said: “The competition was inaugurated last year and I came third in the poetry section. Hundreds of poets from all over the world enter by sending their poems into the competition. The poetry groups all get contacted to find poets who wish to enter a poem or two. I’m delighted to have won this year, but it’s not just about winning because you go all around the country reading your poetry, so it’s also about the recognition for your work. The winning is a bonus, but to be shortlisted into the top five and invited to attend the final in my home village is great.”
When asked why he chose his poem as his entry Mick said homelessness and emigration is a huge issue.
He said: “I went with because us Irish people emigrated. I emigrated to England and worked on the building sites and I had come across so many men who were homeless in London and never came home. Many were always trying to come home, but because of drink they didn’t make it back. Some men did well for themselves only then to lose it to drink and lots of Irish homeless men died in the streets.” The judging panel was put together by musician and music promoter Billy Morrissey, also a Bansha man and husband to Laois’ own country music queen Trudi Lalor of the Lovely Laois Homecoming festival. The exceptional line-up of judges included the legendary Mick Foster as lead judge, musician and songwriter from Bonnie Scotland Moyra Fraser and TG4 Glór Tire’s Caitríona O’Sullivan from Tralee.
Concluding, Mick said that the winner of the song section of the international contest was from America and he flew to Ireland for the final after being informed he was shortlisted. Then he sang his song after being announced as the winner, just as Mick proudly recited his winning poem after being awarded a trophy. He concluded that it is an honour to win the poetry competition that honours Darby Ryan, a poet from his home village from the 1700s, where both were born and raised.
