Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee, has officially launched the 2025 All-Island Schools’ History Competition, inviting learners from both primary and post-primary levels, as well as other educational settings across Ireland and Northern Ireland, to participate. The competition encourages students to connect historical events with contemporary themes, highlight forgotten local histories and under-represented stories, and engage creatively with the past—objectives that align with the Government’s Shared Island Initiative.
Participants are invited to explore how important events, people, and stories from the past are remembered today. Entries may take dynamic, creative forms such as films, artwork, podcasts, or interactive writing, bringing history to life in innovative ways.
Minister McEntee said, “During my visits to schools across the country, I see first-hand the incredible work our pupils and students do to bring history to life. Capturing and preserving the stories of the past helps inform, inspire, and empower us all as we collectively look to the future. I am delighted to launch the 2025 All-Island Schools’ History Competition and encourage all pupils and students to think big, be curious, and express themselves creatively in their entries. Best of luck!”
The competition is organised by the Department of Education and Youth in partnership with Frances Moss, Director of the Drumcondra Education Support Centre, and Dr Caitríona Ní Cassaithe, Assistant Professor in History Education at Dublin City University. Frances Moss emphasised that the initiative “reflects our commitment to helping students think like historians at every stage of their education. By evaluating evidence, weighing competing interpretations, and reflecting on how the past shapes the present, students develop the skills, judgement, and understanding that underpin historical thinking.”
Dr Caitríona Ní Cassaithe added, “This competition is a wonderful opportunity for learners across the island to see history not just as dates and events, but as a powerful way of understanding the present. By encouraging creative approaches, we hope young people will engage with inclusive narratives, ask deeper questions, and find meaningful ways to connect the past with issues that matter in their lives today.”
The competition is open to all learners in primary and post-primary schools, as well as other educational settings, across Ireland and Northern Ireland. It is supported by the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta, and the Heritage Council. Entries must be submitted by 5pm on Friday, 5 December, with an awards event planned for January.
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