The Decade of Centenaries History Competition

The Decade of Centenaries History Competition is open to students at all levels of primary and post-primary.

The decade 2012–2023 is categorised as the ‘Decade of Centenaries’ as it marks the centenary of a number of important historical events and developments that occurred in the period 1912–1923, and which formed a vital role in the formation of modern Ireland

The Decade of Centenaries All-Island Schools’ History Competition, for both primary and post-primary, is run by the Department of Education and University College Cork School of History. It is supported by Áras an Uachtaráin, the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, and ‘History Ireland’.

This competition is intended to complement the history curriculum at both primary and post-primary levels. It can also help support and promote the study of history by students. The competition is entirely optional and is not intended to place any additional burden on schools, teachers or students.

Primary/Post-Primary Categories

Essay Competition

The maximum word count for projects is 2,000 words at primary level (i.e. for projects submitted by a class, group of pupils or an individual pupil), and 4,000 words at post-primary level (i.e. for projects submitted by a class, group of students or individual student). Projects may be submitted in either English or Irish.

All projects must be submitted as Word documents . Other formats such as PowerPoint presentations cannot be accepted .

This year, at primary and post-primary levels, projects are invited under the following headings; please note that all categories can incorporate a local/regional studies theme .

Primary

In the primary category, while essays must be submitted in Word format, many also include appropriately referenced imagery selected by the pupils or photographs of the pupils investigating the history in their local area. Evidence of the investigation process by pupils is encouraged. It is important that the essays are clearly written by the pupils, acknowledging any assistance given by parents/guardians, teachers and other adults. Pupils must display an understanding of the topic , must give an unbiased account and must display the key skills of a historian throughout their work.

Revolution in Ireland – a study of a political/revolutionary event from the 1912–1923 period, a particular aspect of the event, or an individual/ group/ organisation associated with it.
Ireland and the First World War – a study of the Irish experience of the war from the perspective of an individual or group. This could involve a focus on a particular battle, an individual participant’s story or a consideration of the entire 1914–1918 period.
Women during the revolutionary period in Ireland – a study of a particular individual/group/organisation/movement striving to improve the quality of women’s lives or involved in revolutionary activity in Ireland in the 1912–1923 period
Conflict in Ireland 1912-1923 – a study of an event of political or cultural significance in any region of Ireland in the 1912-1923 period, a particular aspect of the event, or an individual/group/organisation associated with it.

Post-Primary

In the post-primary category, while essays must be submitted in Word format, many also include imagery selected by the students. Evidence of the investigation process by students is encouraged. It is important that the essays are clearly written by the students, acknowledging any assistance given by parents/guardians, teachers and other adults. Students must display a clear understanding of the topic , must give an unbiased account and must display the key skills of a historian throughout their work.

Revolution in Ireland – a study of a political/revolutionary event from the 1912–1923 period, a particular aspect of the event, or an individual/ group/ organisation associated with it.
Ireland and the First World War – a study of the Irish experience of the war from the perspective of an individual or group. This could involve a focus on a particular battle, an individual participant’s story or a consideration of the entire 1914–1918 period.
Women during the revolutionary period in Ireland – a study of a particular individual/group/organisation/movement striving to improve the quality of women’s lives or involved in revolutionary activity in Ireland in the 1912–1923 period.
War of Independence – a study of a political/revolutionary event from the 1919–1923 period, a particular aspect of the event, or an individual/group/organisation associated with it.
The Civil War – a study of a particular individual/ organisation/ group/ movement/ event during the civil war in Ireland and its impact.

Transition Year Video Competition

This is the second year that we have a special video competition for Transition Year students. The video can be on any of the topics listed in the Post Primary category above. The video must be no more than five minutes in length and must cite all sources. It is important that the video is clearly produced by the students, acknowledging any assistance given by parents/guardians, teachers and other adults. Students must display a clear understanding of the topic , must give an unbiased account and must display the key skills of a historian throughout their work. This can be completed in groups, as a whole class or as an individual entry.

The video should take a creative approach. For example, it could take the form of a dramatisation, a re-enactment, an investigation, a news piece, an interview or any portrayal of the events displaying the historical context.

The video can be submitted in a number of ways:

uploaded to a private page on YouTube, Vimeo or similar with the link and all supplementary information, references etc., emailed to historyvideocompetition@education.gov.ie
A link can also be sent via WeTransfer to historyvideocompetition@education.gov.ie .
The video can be recorded on to a DVD and posted to History Video Competition, Curriculum and Assessment Policy Unit, Department of Education, Marlborough St, Dublin 1.

There are many websites available to give assistance to both teachers and students in the creation of a video project, among these are:

digitalstory.ie
físfilmpostprimary.ie
scoilnet.ie

References must be included on an accompanying word document. Candidates need to be aware of the copyright limitations on songs and images, as well as text. Further information in this regard can be found on icla.ie and via the Patents Office www.iopi.gov.ie/ .

Deadline for Submissions

The deadline for receipt of completed projects is 8 April 2022 with the winners being announced, and prizes awarded, before the end of May 2022.

Projects must be submitted online to the following email address: historycompetition@ucc.ie . Each written project must include a cover sheet, as part of the one submitted Word document and a bibliography listing the sources consulted.

The video entries from Transition Year students should be sent to: historyvideocompetition@education.gov.ie . Each video entry must include the cover sheet with the email when submitting the video file and a bibliography listing the sources consulted.