Cormac Mac Gearailt has been selected as Ireland's first ever Irish language poet to represent Dublin internationally at Slam-O-Vision, a global poetry slam competition organised by UNESCO Creative Cities of Literature.

This is the first year an Irish language poet has been selected to represent Ireland since the competition's inception in 2019.

The competition, which describes itself as "Eurovision for slam poetry" invites contestants from all over the world to compete for the crowning glory of the UNESCO creative cities of Literature Prize.

Dublin has yet to produce winner of the global slam poetry event.

Much like the Eurovision, the competition is hosted in the home city of the year's previous winner.

Mac Gearailt will be representing Dublin against cities such as Melbourne, Exeter, Vilinius and Reykjavík.

Photo cred: @pizza_egg on Instagram

The decision to run this year's competition in Irish came about after last year's Dublin entrant, Leon Dunne noticed other countries performing in their native languages and thought Ireland should send an Irish speaker.

The competition, which was organised by Dublin libraries and Rising Tide Events, saw 9 Irish language performers take to the stage at the Pearse Street library, with Cormac Mac Gearailt taking home top prize for his compelling poem about the deforestation of Ireland.

Irish writer and broadcaster Ciara Ní É came in at second place.

Half time strings were provided by Irish language musician Amano, while the adjudication panel made up of actor Eimear Keating, bilingual Rapper Blue Niall and Hot Press staff writer Niamh Browne adjudicated.

Speaking on his win Mac Gearailt  said that there was a strong and vibrant Irish language artistsic community in the capital and Ireland right now and he thanked the events organisers:

"Tá pobal mór láidir ealaíonta na Ghaeilge i láthair trasna an t-oileán inniu, agus tá sé go hiontach go bhfuil imeachtaí mar seo ar siúl chun é a taispeáint don tír. Míle buíochas le Rising Tide Events, UNESCO and Dublin City Library".

This year's Slam-O-Vision will take place in Manchester this December.