ESSAY  COMPETITION  FOR  SECOND  LEVEL  STUDENTS  IN  IRELAND  2012

The Friends of the International brigades in Ireland (FIBI) are launching our first essay
competition for all second level students in Ireland. The winner will be invited to read
their essay in Madrid on Friday 15th Febuary 2013, and to attend the annual Jarama
commemoration on Saturday 16th Feb., accompanied by a parent or guardian.Their
flight and accommodation costs will be paid for them, as our guests, and guests of
the ABBI (Madrid-based friends of the International Brigades).

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The subject of the essays can be any aspect of the roles and experiences of the
members of the International Brigades during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-39 that
is related to Ireland, or which deals with the consequences for brigade members
after that war ended.

Essays should be in English, and not more than 1600 words long -please!

All sources should be stated for facts quoted.

Any student between the ages of 16 to 19 years, in any second level course
anywhere in Ireland during the time of the competition, is eligible to enter, whether at
school, in apprenticeship or at any kind of educational institution, provided the essay
on the above subject is submitted by noon on Monday 3rd December 2012,
together with the contact details of the student who wrote it, and also contact details
of their teacher or course supervisor who can confirm the student’s age, second level
course participation, etc.

The email address to which essays with contact details must be sent is:
fibispain36to39@gmail.com

Every competitor who fulfills the above conditions will receive a certificate attesting to
their essay, suitable if required for future inclusion in CVs, etc.

All decisions by the judges are final,

The organisers also hope to arrange an event for the authors of the essays placed
first, second, and the most original essay, to read their essays here in Ireland .

The aim of the competition is to develop young people’s interest in modern history,
and in particular an appreciation of the ideals and  activities of the volunteers in these
brigades. We thus hope to carry out the words spoken by the great wartime Republican
leader, Dolores Ibarruri, when she told those watching the Brigades’ farewell march in
the autumn of 1938, to tell their children about these volunteers who came to Spain to
defend democracy. 

In today’s world we are living through times which recall the dangers and the challenges
of the 1930ies, and we need to recall the deeds and aspirations of those who risked their
lives for a cause which remains as a lesson and a warning to us today.

FACEBOOK PAGE:  www. facebook.com/spanishcivilwaressaycompetition
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