MICHAEL J. LARKIN
2020 Essay Question
Describe what the poet might have experienced through these hard times and what he means as expressed by "A terrible beauty is born” during some of the darkest times in Irish history. (see 2020 Essay Background)
2020 Essay Background
In the aftermath of the Great Famine and ensuing economic depression of the late 19th century, Ireland witnessed the emergence of Irish nationalism spawning the notion of Home Rule (a separate Irish parliament within the Union--and land reform) with forces for it and others vowing to resist it. Its Passage then delaying its implementation lead to rebellion and the events leading up to the 1916 Easter Rising thus planting the seeds of Civil War and the dawning of the division of Ireland.
At the same time and during a renewed Irish literary renaissance, many poets were sympathetic toward a united Ireland and this notion of self rule gravitating toward the poitical movement Sinn Fein and often wrote of these political events that were taking place.
Written soon after the Easter Rising but published several years later in the midst of civil unrest, the poet and committed nationalist, W.B. Yeats described these horrible events with haunting despair and unity as illustrated in the last stanza of the poem below:
Easter, 1916
W.B. Yeats
I write it out in a verse--
MacDonagh and MacBride
And Connolly and Pearse
Now and in time to be,
Wherever green is worn,
Are changed, changed utterly:
A terrible beauty is born."
At the same time and during a renewed Irish literary renaissance, many poets were sympathetic toward a united Ireland and this notion of self rule gravitating toward the poitical movement Sinn Fein and often wrote of these political events that were taking place.
Written soon after the Easter Rising but published several years later in the midst of civil unrest, the poet and committed nationalist, W.B. Yeats described these horrible events with haunting despair and unity as illustrated in the last stanza of the poem below:
Easter, 1916
W.B. Yeats
I write it out in a verse--
MacDonagh and MacBride
And Connolly and Pearse
Now and in time to be,
Wherever green is worn,
Are changed, changed utterly:
A terrible beauty is born."
Info on Submission Deadline, Prizes, and Rules:
The Deadline for submission will be Friday, Febuary 28th, 2020 at RFH HS Main Office Attn: Mrs Handerhan or at the library that evening during the Irish Soda Bread Competition between 7:00pm and 8:30pm.
1ST PLACE ESSAY PRIZE: $ 750.00
2ND PLACE ESSAY PRIZE: $ 250.00
Essays of 500-750 words can be e-mailed to: IrishEssay@rumsonstpatricksdayparade.org
Hard copies can also be dropped off at the Rumson Oceanic Free Library or Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School Main Office (Attn: MJLMIEC)
Winners will be announced on the Friday prior to the Parade. All participants are invited to march on Parade Day. Contest rules and regulations are provided in more detail on our Facebook and parade website.
*Open to all residents of Fair Haven and Rumson high school students attending: RFH, CBA, RBC, TRINITY HALL, or any other vocational, public or private school.
The Deadline for submission will be Friday, Febuary 28th, 2020 at RFH HS Main Office Attn: Mrs Handerhan or at the library that evening during the Irish Soda Bread Competition between 7:00pm and 8:30pm.
1ST PLACE ESSAY PRIZE: $ 750.00
2ND PLACE ESSAY PRIZE: $ 250.00
Essays of 500-750 words can be e-mailed to: IrishEssay@rumsonstpatricksdayparade.org
Hard copies can also be dropped off at the Rumson Oceanic Free Library or Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School Main Office (Attn: MJLMIEC)
Winners will be announced on the Friday prior to the Parade. All participants are invited to march on Parade Day. Contest rules and regulations are provided in more detail on our Facebook and parade website.
*Open to all residents of Fair Haven and Rumson high school students attending: RFH, CBA, RBC, TRINITY HALL, or any other vocational, public or private school.
2019 Winners
This year we had 17 essay entries (a near record) from
grade schools: Holy Cross, Deane-Porter, Knollwood, Sickles, and RCDS.
grade schools: Holy Cross, Deane-Porter, Knollwood, Sickles, and RCDS.
First Place
Essay #9:
Sinead Hogan, Senior at RFH HS
$750.00 prize
Runner Up
Essay #15:
Peter O’Connor, Sophomore at RFH HS
$250.00 prize
***2019 Essay Question:***
Identify an Irish or an Irish-American person from history who demonstrated the spirit that the proverb speaks of and explain how this individual's courage has contributed to the tenacious spirit of the Irish.
2019 Essay Topic History
The Fighting Irish and the Cause for Liberty and Freedom
Preamble:
January 21, 2019 marked the 100-year anniversary of the signing of the Irish Declaration of Independence as submitted by the First Dáil Éireann, reflecting the will of their fellow countrymen’s desire for an independent Ireland. Arguably, this act is one of many throughout Irish history which demonstrates the sustained courage and tenacity among the Irish people.
There is an old Irish proverb "Níor chaill fear an mhisnigh riamh é."
Translated, the proverb means "The man of courage never lost it."
Courage has defined the Irish spirit throughout the centuries, regardless of whether it was fighting for freedom, surviving forced exile, undertaking voyages across the seas to foreign shores, working for social acceptance in new lands, striving for equal rights, or rising to positions of power.
Preamble:
January 21, 2019 marked the 100-year anniversary of the signing of the Irish Declaration of Independence as submitted by the First Dáil Éireann, reflecting the will of their fellow countrymen’s desire for an independent Ireland. Arguably, this act is one of many throughout Irish history which demonstrates the sustained courage and tenacity among the Irish people.
There is an old Irish proverb "Níor chaill fear an mhisnigh riamh é."
Translated, the proverb means "The man of courage never lost it."
Courage has defined the Irish spirit throughout the centuries, regardless of whether it was fighting for freedom, surviving forced exile, undertaking voyages across the seas to foreign shores, working for social acceptance in new lands, striving for equal rights, or rising to positions of power.
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