Future Ireland: Writing Competition

This is an open call for submissions on our current featured topic –

Future Ireland: Alternative Conversations about Unity and the Union

You can read a little more about the aims of the project here, and the types of contributions that we’re seeking. Here are some examples. 

But we suspect that you might have some even better ideas. So we’re putting out an open call for articles on this topic. 

The best three articles will win a prize (tbc – don’t get too excited!) and will be featured on the blog. We may also edit a book based on the project, and selected articles may also be included in this.

Overall, we are looking for new and unexpected conversations about a new Ireland. New Ireland can be interpreted however you like, as Irish unity, as a reformed Northern Ireland within the context of the union, new relationships between the islands etc. These could include –

Creative imaginations of what a new Ireland could be like.

Personal stories and reflections on your ideas about a new Ireland (e.g. as a mother, a farmer, a migrant, a loyalist, an atheist, a small business owner, a Dublin renter, a born-again Christian, an Irish speaker, someone with a disability, a GP, a worker etc.).

Data driven analysis of an specific aspect of a new Ireland.

Specialist sectoral analysis of the implications of unity, contrasted with the union.*

Re-imaginations of the union and relationships between these islands.

The criteria for submission are:

• Articles should ideally be between 600-800 words, 1000 words maximum. 
• Articles can be for, against, undecided or agnostic about unity and/or the union. 
• Articles must focus on new ideas, personal experiences, data and creative thinking, rather than well worn traditional arguments. The emphasis must be on the future.  
• Articles from political parties and politicians are welcome, but regurgitations of expected party political positions will not be included as part of this series. 
• Contributions from republicans, unionists, nationalists, loyalists, neithers and others are all welcome. But again, we are looking for new ideas and/or depth of analysis rather than articles rehashing familiar arguments. 
• Professional journalists are not eligible to enter the competition. But if you are a journalist and would like to contribute to the wider project, we’d love to hear from you. Regular writers on the site are also ineligible for the competition, but are more than welcome to contribute. In both cases, just drop Claire or David a line.
• You may write under a pen name, but real names are preferred.
• Articles must be submitted to [email protected] by 15th November 2018, with ‘Future Ireland Competition’ in the email title.

NB. The deadline has been extended to 15th November 2018.

Winners will be decided by a panel, notified by 26th November 2018, and will feature on the blog after that.

Contacts: Claire – [email protected]; David – [email protected]

*If you’re an economist, social policy specialist, or have detailed knowledge of a specific sector, feel free to contact us directly, rather than via the competition.

Claire Mitchell

Claire Mitchell is a writer and researcher from Belfast. Formerly senior lecturer in Sociology at Queen’s University Belfast. More at www.clairemitchell.net

clairemitchell.net