Plans are under way for this year's Sean Dunne Literary Festival, an annual event in which Waterford city remembers the writer who died suddenly in 1995 at the age of 39.
While the event does not take place until April, the deadline is fast approaching for the Sean Dunne Young Writers Awards, one of the major elements of the festival.
The competition, sponsored by Waterford City Council, should prove particularly attractive to those who are young, talented, and also broke, according to the city's arts officer, Mr Conor Nolan.
This year the national competition, open to people under 30, has a first prize of €1,000 (£787.56). A €400 (£315) prize is on offer for writers under the age of 21 from Waterford.
Dunne, a journalist, wrote three books of poetry and a novel. A young writers' awards competition was considered an appropriate way to honour him because of his constant encouragement of those who wanted to write.
Entries are being invited in three categories - poetry, fiction and drama - and can be in Irish or English.
The closing date is the end of the month, so time is running out.
Further information can be obtained from Mr Nolan at Waterford City Council, the Mall, Waterford, or 051-860857.
