Sixty Longford students take part in World War I letter writing competition

Writing competition honours 200,000 Irish in WWI

Over 60 County Longford transition year students took part in a letter writing Commemoration Project to remember over 200,000 men who fought during World War One.

The project culminated in an awards presentation in Longford Library on Thursday, 19 December.

For the project, students were asked to imagine themselves as a World War One soldier, nurse or medic and to write a letter home describing their experiences and thoughts on the war.

Through the project, students learned of the 200,000 Irish men who fought as part of the British Army in WWI.

First place winner of the best-written letter was Roisin Duke from Meán Scoil Mhuire. The second-place winner was Niamh Lawlor from Moyne Community School, and the third place was given to Rachel Keogh from Meán Scoil Mhuire.

At the event, all three winners read out their letters and were presented with their prizes by County Longford Historical Society committee member Kitty Hughes, Drumlish Heritage and History Society Chair Annette Kane and Ballymahon Leo Casey Historical Society Chair Paddy Egan. The event MC was County Librarian Martina Needham.

This project was organised by Longford County Library, Arts, Archives and Heritage. This project is funded by the Commemorations Unit in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Speaking at the event, Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Mark Casey said, “It is great to see so many excellent projects which explore the history of Irish soldiers in the First World War. I congratulate all of our TY students on their excellent work, particularly Roisin, Niamh and Rachel for their award-winning letters.”

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