Beir Bua Journal is an online Irish literary magazine and feminist press currently seeking avant-garde poetry, visual poetry, and abstract art based in Co. Tipperary, Ireland. The journal’s name comes from Beir (Bear) – Irish for bring and Bua (BOO-a) – Irish for Victory, talent, virtue. They nominate for The Pushcart Prize and Best of The Net. See my interview with Editor Michelle Moloney King and a link to submission guidelines below.

HOPKINSON: Tell me a little bit about Beir Bua Journal.

MOLONEY KING: Beir Bua means bring victory or talent in my native language, Irish. The journal has been really well received in Ireland and is being talked about on major literary platforms.

HOPKINSON: How/why was Beir Bua Journal originally started?

MOLONEY KING: I wanted to start a journal for all things avant-garde and experimental poetry. There just didn’t seem to be many journals covering avant-garde. There’s a rich literary life in Ireland and yet most of the journals seemed to concentrate on lyrical poetry; taking the traditional line of old school contemporary. I craved for art on the page, for abstraction not confessional and technically brilliant work but work written to manipulate my emotions. I wanted expansion through the juxtaposition of the avant-garde. So, I made it and it’s going from strenght to strenght.

HOPKINSON: Who is your target reader audience?

MOLONEY KING: People who like abstract art, who crave new and expansion of concept.

HOPKINSON: What type of work are you looking for?

MOLONEY KING: Avant-garde, experimental, L=A=N=G=U=A=G=E poetry, some surreal and abstraction based in concrete.

HOPKINSON: What do you wish you’d see submitted, but rarely comes in?

MOLONEY KING: I’d love more visual poetry and poem brut oh and art, more art! It also would be great to see more Irish women coming in, and women of minority backgrounds but avant-garde poetry takes a lot of time and money due to buying books and dedicating a lot of time to it; so it’s tricky for people to start in it. I have some poetry writing resources for free on my personal poetry website for the very reason to help others and make poetry accessible.

HOPKINSON: What are some of your favorite lit mags/journals?

MOLONEY KING: The Stinging Fly, The Moth Magazine, Crannog, PN Review, and Poetry Society. Streetcake Magazine, Babel Tower Notice Board, and Gorse.

HOPKINSON: What is your favorite part of being on staff with Beir Bua Journal?

MOLONEY KING: How easy it all is; sure it’s a lot of work but I love it and I’m in a flow state when I work on it. It’s just amazing to work on something you love and that other people love too. And supporting avant-garde poets is an honour.

HOPKINSON: Where can we send submissions?

MOLONEY KING: Poets and artists can send submission via email after reading the guidelines.

DEADLINE: January 15, 2021

SUBMISSION FEE: None

FORMS: avant-garde poetry, visual poetry, and abstract art

FORMAT: online and pdf

ISSUE FREQUENCY: 3 times a year

AVERAGE RESPONSE TIME: 4 weeks to 2 months

SUBMISSION METHOD: Email

SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS: No

PAYMENT: None

SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

DUOTROPE: https://duotrope.com/listing/31728/beir-bua-journal

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