New Writers Awards 2025
Posted on 27 February 2025 in Latest News
Scottish Book Trust have announced the winners of the New Writers Awards 2025. Among the awardees are two Gaelic writers.
Petra Johana Poncarová (who writes poetry under the name Johana Egermayer) and Sarah NicRath were awarded the Gaelic New Writers Awards 2025. The Gaelic Books Council wishes them both the very best for the year of writing that is ahead of them on the programme. Johana will be developing poetry and Sarah is working on a children’s book.
Writing sample from Johana Egermayer:
Dealbhan Bhon Taisbeanadh
Lìonmhorachd solais
agus anns an t-solas seo, dealbhan
bho bhruadar – air neo bhon taisbeanadh,
a’ tighinn gu h-obann gu uachdar na cuimhne,
gun iarraidh, gun sireadh.
Boireannach ann an gàrradh fàs,
luibhean air an dàthadh le grian dhian,
làrach pàlais ri taobh na mara.
An tè mu dheireadh air fhàgail,
agus dà fhitheach-dubh.
Ciaradh corcarach na h-oidhche,
is samhla ann an aodach geal
a’ seasamh ann an doire
fo sgàil na beinne, is corran na làimh:
sealladh bho thìr nach eil buileach ann.
Duilleagan snàigeir mar bhoinneagan-fala,
clach-ghainmhich ann an solas buidhe
a tha cho blàth ri maitheanas ri thighinn,
air latha foghair, agus Iùdhas crùbte
ann an cleòc ciontach dubh.
Prìomh-sholasan a’ chàr air feasgar ceòthach,
agus a chlisge, air an rathad,
dà ghobhar-dhuine, fear is balach beag,
spiorsag bho shaoghal coimheach eile,
a tha, gu luath, a’ crìonadh ’s a’ caitheamh.
Teine nan lanntairean air an loch,
an long shìtheach a’ sleamhnachadh tron oidhche,
le nathair shlatach mar cheann-caol,
fear adharcach le sùilean claon ag iomramh,
raoitearachd sgìth is an linn air crìoch.
Ach am fairge gu h-àraid, am beò-ghlacadh le sàl.
Boillsgidhean solais tro chop is tuinn,
eàrr-ite na h-òighe-mhara air an uachdar,
cha mhòr ’s gum faic thu i air astar,
ach tha am priobadh seo a-mhàin
làn gheallaidhean is an-fhois a leanas.
Càit’ an d’fhuair am peantair seo a thogadh
ann an dùthaich a tha gu tur tìr-dhruidte,
sannt na mara gun chasg, is nach annasach
gun do dh’fhàs e cho eòlach air a’ chuan:
chualas sluisreachd shàmhach bho na frèaman.
Tha fios gun iarr am muir a bhith ga thadhail,
agus thug esan ùmhlachd dha,
thill e, uair is uair, agus mu dheireadh thall,
thrèig e, leig e dha,
is mairidh an tadhal seo gu sìor-sìorraidh.
Leum e le cliathaich na soithich air an t-slighe dhachaigh.
Cha b’ e ùthachd-fhèin a bh’ ann, ge-tà:
cha b’ e, cha b’ e,
ach caochladh-mara a bha fada dhìth,
’s air an robh e feumach fad a bheatha.
Mar chuimhneachan air Beneš Knüpfer (1848–1910)
The poem was published in Aimsir, (August 2024), ed. Ursula O’Sullivan-Dale & Aisling Ní Choibheanaigh Nic Eoin.
More information about Petra Johana Poncarová and her writing is available here: https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/writing-and-authors/new-writers-awards/petra-johana-poncarova
Writing sample from Sarah NicRath:
Brot Grod
Shìos anns a’ choille
Bha rudeigin a’ goilleadh
Dà bhana-bhuidseach a’ gocadaich ’s a’ seinn
A’ bocadaich ’s a’ buiceil mun cuairt poite mòir, cruinn
“Casan damhan-allaidh agus
cluasan madaidh-allaidh
Plup, plob, plup, plob!
A-steach dhan a’ phoit!”
“Peapaigean is seanganan is
cnogan mòr de theangannan
Plup, plob, plup, plob!
Tha sinne a’ dèanamh brot!”
“Nathraichean is radan
is buinneagan is bradan
Plup, plob, plup, plob!
A-steach dhan a’ phoit!”
“Tha sinne a’ dèanamh brot!
Tha sinne a’ dèanamh brot!
Gheibh sinn rudan sgreamhail is
gheibh sinn rudan grod!”
Gu h-obann! Sguir iad ri seinn!
Sheas iad a’ coimhead a chèile thar a’ phoit mhòr, chruinn…
Bha fìos aig an dithis ac’ gun robh AON rud a dhìth
An rud as cudromaiche don reasapaidh
B’e corp bana-bhuidsich ugalaidh!
Agus ’s e sin an t-adhbhar a thòisich an strì…
“Tha thusa sgreamhail!”
“Uill, tha THUSA grod!”
Is dìreach mar sin, thòisich an trod!
Deiseal airson sabaid, aghaidh ri aghaidh
Dhiochuimhnich iad mun slatan-draoidh!
Thog iad an sguaban mar chlaidheamhan mòra
Geasagan neo draoidheachd, cha robh tìde gu leòr ann!
Le buille is le brag
Chaill tè dhiubh a h-ad
Le sgailc is le sgleoc
An tè eile a cleoc’
Air an sguaban a-nis os cionn na poit’
Bha e doirbh dhaibh fhaicinn am measg na toit
Slatan nan làmhan, thòisich na geasan
A’ lionadh an adhair mar theintean-ealain
Lasan mar dhealanach a’ boillsgeadh bhuap’
Mu dheireadh le buille, chaill tè a sguab
Thòisich i tuiteam car mu char
Nuair a bhuail i a caraid meadhon an adhair!
Fhuair iad greim teann
Air cas is air ceann
Is le sgal is le sgreuch,
Chaidh an dithis dhiubh SÌOS…
le PLUP! Is le PLOB!
A-steach dhan a phoit!
BROT GROD! BROT GROD!
Is e sin mar a ni thu brot grod!
More information about Sarah NicRath and her writing project is available here: https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/writing-and-authors/new-writers-awards/sarah-nicrath
Scottish Book Trust and the Gaelic Books Council collaborate to support Gaelic writers on the New Writers Awards programme.
