Starting in 2024, the National Museum of Taiwan Literature has joined forces with the Trinity Centre for Literary and Cultural Translation, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin and the Taipei Representative Office in Ireland to co-host the Taiwan/Ireland Poetry Translation Competition. This initiative uses poetry translation as a cultural bridge, fostering literary exchange between Taiwan and Ireland while celebrating the richness and resonance of both countries’ linguistic and cultural diversity.

First launched in 2021 under the enthusiastic support of Ambassador Pierre Yang of the Taipei Representative Office in Ireland, the Competition has become a vibrant platform for international engagement. It invites translators from around the world to render Taiwan poetry into English, fostering lively cross-cultural dialogue and inspiring a wealth of interpretive creativity.

Ireland has long cherished linguistic and cultural diversity, and this spirit is at the heart of the Taiwan/Ireland Poetry Translation Competition. Past editions have shone a spotlight on poetry in Taiwanese Taigi (台語) and Hakka (客語) , inviting translators from around the world to explore the unique rhythms and sounds of Taiwan’s languages—often with remarkable results.

This year’s featured poem is "Like a Song — To 107-year-old Mumu on her journey" (如歌——致107歲mumu遠行), by Indigenous Taiwan poet and academic Dong Shu-Ming (董恕明). A moving tribute to her grandmother’s 107-year life, the poem weaves together Mandarin, English, Puyuma, and traditional melodies. It echoes the century-long story of the Puyuma people and showcases the rich linguistic and cultural depth of Taiwan Indigenous literature.

If you're passionate about translation, we warmly welcome you to join this international conversation through poetry and language. This is your chance to explore the resilience of Taiwan’s Indigenous voices in the modern era and engage with the historical and emotional depth of the Puyuma experience—help write the next chapter of Taiwan literature on the world stage.

 Poet’s Reading: Watch Here

 Author Interview: Watch Here

 Read the Full Poem: Click Here

 About the Author: Click Here

Competition Details and Prizes

Entries will be judged by a panel of poetry and translation experts jointly appointed by the National Museum of Taiwan Literature and Trinity College Dublin. Outstanding translations will be selected, and their translators will be invited to a virtual exchange event in November 2025, where they’ll share their translation and creative experiences with fellow translators and writers.

Submission deadline: 10 September 2025

Register and submit your entry here

More Information: Trinity Centre for Literary & Cultural Translation

Translators of the world—come take up the challenge!

Co-organizers: National Museum of Taiwan Literature, Trinity Centre for Literary and Cultural Translation, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin,  Taipei Representative Office in Ireland.