The Irish Cultural Society announced its annual writing contest for students in the 9th through 12th grades in the Nassau County high schools. Materials outlining the requirements have been mailed to the English departments of public and private Nassau County schools and posted on the society’s website, www.irish-society.org.
The contest this year is centered upon the story “A Painful Case,” from Dubliners by James Joyce. The students are asked to imagine dialogue for a pivotal scene in the story—the last encounter between the main characters—for which the author did not write dialogue.
Although the characters meet for three hours, Joyce does not recount their conversation. Student entrants into the writing contest will write this dialogue.
The society’s website contains “Helpful Hints” for contestants on how to approach the task. The writing project itself is promoted by the new common core curriculum. Entries are due by March 17.
The society has been sponsoring a writing contest for 30 years. Thirty-six prizes will be awarded, from $250 to $400, at the society’s May 7 awards ceremony at the Garden City Library. Every entrant will receive a certificate of merit mailed to the student’s sponsoring teacher. The library of entered schools will receive books on an Irish subject, in appreciation of the role libraries play in promoting literacy.
