Laois Pride Joe Drennan Memorial Writing Competition 2026

Laois Pride is proud to announce the 2026 Joe Drennan Memorial Writing Competition, inviting members of the LGBTQ+ community to explore this year's theme: Finding Community.

Community has always been at the heart of the LGBTQ+ experience. For many people, it is the place where acceptance is first discovered, where friendships become family, and where people find the courage to live openly and authentically. Throughout history, LGBTQ+ communities have created spaces of belonging, resilience and celebration, often in the face of adversity. Today, while much progress has been made, community remains just as important. It reminds us that none of us should have to navigate life alone.

This year's theme, Finding Community, invites participants to reflect on the people, places and moments that have shaped their lives. Community can be found in many different forms. It may be the unconditional love of family, the support of a trusted friend, a welcoming teacher, an understanding colleague, a local club, a youth group, a Pride event, or the kindness of a complete stranger at exactly the right moment. For many LGBTQ+ people, community is also found in the families we choose for ourselves—those who stand beside us, celebrate us and remind us that we are enough.

We encourage writers to interpret the theme in whatever way feels most meaningful to them. Your submission may tell a true personal story, imagine a fictional journey, reflect on an important life experience, or celebrate the people who helped you find your place in the world. It might explore themes of identity, belonging, hope, resilience, acceptance, allyship or love. Whether joyful, reflective or challenging, every story has value, and every voice deserves to be heard.

The competition is held in memory of Joe Drennan, whose life continues to inspire conversations about inclusion, equality and the importance of building communities where everyone is welcomed and respected. Joe's legacy reminds us that visibility matters, kindness matters, and that every person deserves to live safely, authentically and with dignity. By dedicating this competition to his memory, Laois Pride hopes not only to celebrate creative writing, but also to encourage understanding, empathy and connection throughout County Laois and beyond.

Stories have a unique ability to change hearts and minds. They allow us to step into another person's experience, to recognise our shared humanity and to discover perspectives different from our own. Through this competition we hope to create a space where LGBTQ+ voices are celebrated, where lived experiences are valued, and where creativity becomes another way of building stronger, more inclusive communities.

The competition is open to members of the LGBTQ+ community who are from County Laois or are currently living in Laois.

Entries will be accepted throughout August, with judging taking place during September by an independent judging panel. All submissions will be judged anonymously to ensure fairness. Please include your name and contact details on a separate sheet, rather than within your entry itself, as all entries will be judged blind.

The overall winner will be announced during the Laois Pride Family Fun Day, taking place at An Dún, on the grounds of the Laois School of Music, following the Laois Pride Parade on Saturday, 12 September 2026.

Competition Categories 

• Short Story or Essay: Maximum 1,000 words

 • Poetry: Maximum 14 lines One entry may be submitted per person.

How to Enter:

Entries can be submitted:

Online via the submission form here

 Or by post to:

Laois Pride c/o Youth Work Ireland Laois James Fintan Lawlor Building Portlaoise, Co. Laois Please include your name, postal address, email address and telephone number on a separate sheet to preserve anonymous judging.

For updates on the competition, the Pride Parade, Family Fun Day and all Laois Pride events, follow Laois Pride on Instagram.

You can also support the work of Laois Pride by making a donation, volunteering at our Every poem, every story and every essay submitted helps to strengthen the message that everyone deserves to belong. Through the Joe Drennan Memorial Writing Competition, we hope to honour Joe's memory by celebrating the creativity, resilience and diversity of our LGBTQ+ community while inspiring a future where every person can find acceptance, connection and a place to call home.