The National Library is committed to fostering a greater awareness and appreciation of poetry in younger people. To this end, the Library, in association with Poetry Ireland, organises and hosts an annual poetry speaking competition, Poetry Aloud.

Originally entitled Yeats Aloud, this competition first ran in 2006 to coincide with the launch of the Library's exhibition Yeats: The Life & Works of WB Yeats. The competition seeks entries from students attending post-primary schools on the