Macra members throughout the country who fancy their chances at creative writing are reminded that the closing date for the organisation's national competition is Wednesday (January 7).

"It is a much loved Macra competition, held annually, designed to celebrate creativity, self-expression, and storytelling among members," said Sinéad Kinsella, public relations officer of Wexford Macra, who is urging members of her own club to take part.

Sinéad is a member of Bree Macra, and is also part of the national Macra competitions committee.

Speaking about the creative writing competition, she said: "It encourages participants to hone their writing skills, explore their imagination, and engage with the literary world in an accessible and inspiring way."

Creative writing competition

There are two competition categories:

Poetry, with a maximum of 40 lines;
Short story, with a maximum of 1,500 words.

"One of the most exciting aspects of the competition is that there is no set theme," Sinead said.

"Any Macra member may submit one entry per category.

"To ensure fairness, entries must be original, previously unpublished work, and professional writers are not eligible to enter," Sinead explained.

Entries can be submitted online through local club and county competition officers ahead of the competition closing date.

The results will be announced via a livestream on Macra's social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook.

"Creative writing continues to be a fantastic platform for emerging writers, as well as for those who enjoy creative writing as a hobby, offering participants the opportunity to showcase their work at a national level within a supportive and creative community," Sinéad said.

Bree Macra

Earlier this year, Bree Macra celebrated its 65th anniversary.

According to Sinead: "For 65 years, Bree Macra has proudly stood as the longest continually operating club in Wexford, welcoming hundreds of members through its doors.

"Over that time, it has offered countless opportunities to learn, grow and to build lasting friendships," she added.

Described by former Macra and Irish Farmers' Association president, Joe Healy as a "Bree'd onto themselves" in the book Bree Macra: From birth to a new millennium, the club has long been known for its competitive drive and strong community spirit.

Over the years, Bree Macra has achieved notable success, winning the first national club of the year and Leinster club of the year competitions, as well as numerous All-Ireland trophies, including more recently the 2025 All-Ireland public speaking title, and coming third in the national Question Time final.

Meanwhile, Sinéad herself this year received the Leinster volunteer of the year award.