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An tOireachtas, in conjunction with Gaeloideachas, today (30 October 2020) on Day 8 of the 2020 Virtual Oireachtas na Samhna festival, announced details of their new partnership to promote new Irish writing among primary and post primary students through the 2021 Oireachtas Literary Competitions. Three (3) new competitions, sponsored by Gaeloideachas, will be added to the competition syllabus for 2021. A collective prize fund of € 1,100 will be awarded for the new competitions.

The objective of the new competitions is to encourage primary and post-primary students who attend Gaeltacht and Irish-medium schools nationwide to write in the Irish language. Submissions in the new Comic Strip category will be invited from primary school students in classes 3,4,5 & 6 and, from post-primary students, a Short Film Script or Comic Strip. There will be separate categories for post-primary schools at junior level (years 1,2,3) and senior level (years 5,6). The competition syllabus and entry forms for 2021 series will be issued in December 2020 by An tOireachtas.

“We are delighted to announce these new competitions today in partnership with Gaeloideachas, an associate lead organization on the Fóram Comhpháirtíochta (Partnership Forum)”, said Liam Ó Maolaodha, National Director of An tOireachtas. “The primary aim of the Literary Competitions Series is to optimise opportunities for the network of Irish writers worldwide, to promote Irish literature and new Irish writing among writers of all ages. I am delighted that this new collaboration will ensure a greater number of age groups and genres in the 2021 Competitions’ Syllabus.”

“I look forward to partnering with An tOireachtas in creating new opportunities for young writers through the sponsorship of Gaeloideachas for new categories in 2021 Oireachtas Literary Competitions, designed not only to celebrate the richness of the Irish language among students in all-Irish and Gaeltacht schools, but also to facilitate new connections in Irish between students throughout the country through creative, imaginative and artistic pursuits”, said Bláthnaid Ní Ghréacháin, Chief Executive of Gaeloideachas.

The celebration of new Irish writing has been an integral feature of the 2020 Oireachtas na Samhna festival online and events will continue over the coming days with a host of not to be missed programmes, including, Storytelling, Poetry Readings & Music from Aontas na Scríbhneoirí Gaeilge, An Chúirt Filíochta, Prose Readings – SLIOCHT and the 35th anniversary celebrations of publishing house, Cló Iar-Chonnacht. Up to date information regarding the festival schedule of events is available on our website, www.antoireachtas.ie

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Louise Ní Dháibhéid | 00353 87 100 5439 | louise@antoireachtas.ie

NOTES FOR THE EDITOR

1. An tOireachtas is a lead organization in the Irish-Language sector charged with ‘Organising & Promoting Events as Gaeilge & Establishing Irish-Language Networks’ and receives core funding from Foras na Gaeilge.

2. In 2017, the literary competitions were revised and restructured. Since 2018, An tOireachtas Literary Competitions solely focus on unpublished works.

3. Some of the greatest Irish writers of the last century are past winners, Pádraig Mac Piarais, Máirtín Ó Cadhain, Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill, Joe Steve Ó Neachtain and Louis de Paor.

4. Some of the winning works are annually published on Books Ireland website, Comhar Óg and Bhuel; the newsletter of Ionad na Gaeilge Labhartha, Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh.

5. All up to date information regarding An tOireachtas is available online at www.antoireachtas.ie.

6. Gaeloideachas is lead organization in the Irish-Language sector charged with supporting the development of Irish-medium education.

7. Founded as Gaelscoileanna in 1973 to support Irish-medium schools, primary and post-primary, outside of the Gaeltacht, the organisation’s remit now includes the provision of support services for Irish-medium schools in Gaeltacht areas, and for Irish-medium preschools outside of the Gaeltacht.

8. All up to date information about Gaeloideachas is available online at www.gaeloideachas.ie