Comórtas Uí Chonaire, a competition to inspire a new generation of young writers to engage in creative writing as Gaeilge has been launched as a project for the upcoming 1916 Easter Rising commemoration.
Developed in memory of Pádraig Ó Conaire and commemorating the literary vision held by the Conradh na Gaeilge members who played a major role in the Easter Rising, Comórtas Uí Chonaire is an Irish language short story writing competition specifically for writers under 25, and directed at providing reading material suitable for teenagers in the 15 to 18 age group. The main prize is €1,000 to be won, with €400 and €250 for second and third places respectively. It is the largest prize fund available for a young writers’ competition in either Irish or English.
The competition is run by the Galway Committee of Conradh na Gaeilge under the auspices of the Ó Conaire family. “As we were planning our 1916 commemoration, we realised the importance of celebrating the cultural vision that generation held and actively bringing an element of that vision to fruition,” said committee chair Peadar Mac Fhlannchadha. “Conradh na Gaeilge members at that time understood the particular importance of identity created with one’s own literature. We need to encourage and inspire the creation of such literature among the youth, through writing and reading, today. We are delighted the Ó Conaire family are supporting this competition and that we have this opportunity to highlight and re-awaken people’s minds to Ó Conaire’s pioneering literary work.”
The deadline for entries to Comórtas Uí Chonaire is 5pm, Friday December 15 2015. For more information contact Áras na nGael on 091 - 567824, email [email protected], or see www.arasnangael.ie.
