Read Raw Ltd a great punning name - have invited entries for their Robert Tannahill Poetry Competition. This competition marks the 242nd anniversary of the poets birth. Robert Tannahill (1774-1810) was a Paisley Buddie, and one of which the town can be justly proud. He was the son of James Tannahill, a silk weaver, and Janet Pollock, and was himself apprenticed as a weaver. It was while he was working at his loom, that Robert began jotting down ideas for poems weavers were a well read artisan class and he became known as the weaver poet. Tannahill published his work and was, in 1805, one of the founders of the first Robert Burns club. Tragically, however, Tannahill drowned himself in the Candren Burn in 1810, and it to his memory that this competition is dedicated.

Read Raw Ltd will be awarding a first prize of 1,500, second prize of 400, and third prize of 100 for the best entries, with two commended prizes of 50 each. There is naturally also a Scots Language Prize consisting of 500 first prize, and 100 for the second prize. The judge will be Sally Evans who is well known as the editor of Poetry Scotland.

Entries for this competition may be submitted in either English or Scots and the deadline for submission is 7 January 2017. The winners will be announced at the Lochwinnoch Arts Festival on 16 March 2017. For information regarding the rules and types of entry please follow this link to Read Raw Ltd at http://readrawltd.co.uk/tannahillpp.html  or contact them by e-mail at mail@readrawltd.co.uk for general information.