Important Dates

• Submissions open: 9 February 2026

• Deadline: 30 May 2026

• Shortlist announcement: June 2026

• Anthology launch & readings: August 2026 at the Kenmare Arts Festival

Eligibility

• Open to Irish gay men aged 55 and older

• Based in Ireland or Irish living abroad

 

Submission Categories & Requirements

Short Stories

• Length: 500–2,000 words

• Genre: Short fiction (memoir-inflected or autobiographical fiction welcome)

• Must be original, unpublished, and written solely by the entrant

• No AI-generated writing

• Optional: one related photograph, drawing, or personal memento (not judged)

Formatting

• English language (translations welcome if submitted with original text)

• Submit as .doc or .docx

• 12-point serif font (e.g., Times New Roman), double-spaced, numbered pages

• Do not include your name on the manuscript

 

Poetry

• Maximum: 30 lines per poem (excluding title)

• Any poetic form or style

• Two poems maximum per entrant

• Original, unpublished, written solely by the entrant

• No AI-generated content

• Optional: one personal image connected to the poem (not judged)

Formatting

• English language

• Submit as .doc or .docx

• 12-point font, single-spaced

• No author name on the poem file

 

How to Submit

1. Email

Send short stories and/or poems to: millcovegallery@gmail.com

Please attach your manuscript(s) without your name.
Include your personal details in the body of the email or on an attached entry form.

2. Post or Hand Delivery

Submit printed work without your name on the manuscript.
Include personal details separately on an enclosed entry form.

Send to:

Out of the Quiet – Anthology Submission
Mill Cove Gallery.  21 Main Street.  Kenmare.  Co. Kerry V93 X4DX

Entrants may submit anonymously.

 

Judging

• All submissions are judged anonymously

• Notification by email or text

• Shortlist and results announced via the Kenmare Arts Festival website

• Judges’ decisions are final

 

Publication & Readings

• A selection of short stories and poems will be published in the Out of the Quiet Anthology (2026)

• Winning and commended contributors will be invited to public readings during the Festival

• Submission grants permission for:

  • Launch events

  • Public readings

  • Limited online or print sharing to promote the anthology

 

Copyright

• Copyright remains with the author

• By submitting, entrants grant a non-exclusive licence to Mill Cove Gallery to publish and publicly present the work in association with the anthology and promotional events

 

Data Protection

• Personal data (name, address, email, phone) used only for administration and publication communication

• Data is retained only for the duration of the competition and production period

 

General Notes

• Entries will not be returned — please keep a copy

• Editors may make light copy-editing changes

• Organisers reserve the right not to publish if work does not meet the standard or is legally problematic

We look forward to reading your work and honouring the voices that helped shape Ireland’s queer story.

Queries: millcovegallery@gmail.com