Ellen Harrison, first year Theatre Studies, English and Sociology student at SETU, has been selected as the local winner in the EU-CONEXUS poetry contest on the theme of "A Sense of Place”
The competition invited students and staff from EU-CONEXUS partner universities to express their emotional and cultural connections to specific locations. A total of 84 entries were submitted from across the network. Harrison’s winning poem, The Dunes, beautifully captures themes of belonging, memory, and the ever-changing relationship between people and nature. Her evocative language and vivid imagery highlight the power of place and memory.
Ellen's poem
Reflecting on her poem, Ellen commented "My poem The Dunes is an exploration of a home in transition. It tries to explore the boundaries between the self, the natural environment, and the abstract, connecting my experiences and emotions in this particular place to the place itself, and the otherworldly/gate to heaven ideas that I associate with the place. The structure of the poem is meant to mimic the waves as they breathe up and down."
"The Dunes itself is inspired by a spot at the end of the sand dunes where the riverbank separates the walkway of sand, and where the sunlight hitting the river makes it look almost white, like the gates of heaven opening. How flat and quiet the place is, like no other in the world for me" Ellen continued. "Ireland has had lots of poetry celebrating the urban and the rural, but not a huge amount relating to its gorgeous coastline and as a native Tramore woman, I hope to change that!"
The Dunes itself is inspired by a spot at the end of the sand dunes where the riverbank separates the walkway of sand, and where the sunlight hitting the river makes it look almost white, like the gates of heaven opening.
Ellen Harrison SETU Winner of EU-CONEXUS poetry contest
Celebrating diversity
The EU-CONEXUS poetry contest celebrates the diversity of perspectives within the alliance, encouraging creative expression that deepens our understanding of place and its significance in our lives. Harrison’s achievement showcases the literary talent emerging from SETU and reinforces the role of poetry—and the arts more broadly—in creating and sustaining connections.
Commenting on the winning entry Dr Susan Flynn, Head of Department of Arts, said "The winning poem is very relevant to the aims of the EU-CONEXUS poetry competition, as it focusses on our relationship with the environment, in particular our precious coastline."
Selecting a winner
A special word of thanks goes to SETU's Dr Christa De Brun, Lecturer in English Literature and Dr Fiona Ennis, Lecturer in Philosophy and English Literature, who undertook the difficult task of selecting the SETU winner.
Commenting on the process, Dr Christa De Brun said "Choosing a winner for a poetry contest is never an easy task. Each poem carries its own unique voice, emotion, and artistry, making every piece deserving in its own right."
"Ellen's poem stood out for its striking imagery and fluidity. The way the words drift across the page, mirroring the shifting dunes and flowing water, creates a sense of movement and the contrast between storms and stillness, darkness and light, evokes a deep, almost spiritual longing for home. Ellen's poem captured the brief in both content and form."
Dr Fiona Ennis added: "We received such strong entries, and it was a tricky task for us to decide on the SETU winner. However, Ellen's poem captivated me with its beautiful diction, resonant use of imagery and powerful use of sound. The form of the poem on the page was also innovative. Well done to Ellen! Keep writing!"
The way the words drift across the page, mirroring the shifting dunes and flowing water, creates a sense of movement and the contrast between storms and stillness, darkness and light, evokes a deep, almost spiritual longing for home.
Dr Christa De Brun Lecturer in English Literature, SETU
Listen to Ellen's poem
With the support of SETU’s Cian O’Carroll, a recording featuring Ellen reciting her poem has been produced. Enjoy and watch below:
About EU-CONEXUS
EU-CONEXUS is a fully-fledged transnational European University offering joint education, training and study programmes, joint research and professional development opportunities for all its staff, researchers, and students.
EU-CONEXUS is themed on “Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability”, focusing education, research & innovation, and knowledge-sharing activities on defining, understanding and addressing societal challenges experienced by communities from urban and semi-urbanised coastal regions (rivers, seas and oceans).
Further details can be found on
