Competition Rules and Procedures
- Students must register for the Competition through this website.
You must provide the name, address, email and phone number of your school. A ‘Teacher Point of Contact’ must certify your eligibility to participate in the Competition, include a contact email and consent to be contacted in connection with your entry if needed (for example, if you are being considered for a prize). The ‘Teacher Point of Contact’ must be your School Principal, Deputy Principal, Year Head or other Co-ordinating Teacher in the school. - To upload your essay, please click the “Upload Your Essay” link in the registration acknowledgement email.
- Your essay must be completed using our Oireachtas Essay Competition template.
You can download the template here.
You must insert your ID Number in the box indicated on the template. - You must rename the essay file using your ID Number, e.g.
123456789.doc. - To upload your essay, please click the “Upload Your Essay” link in the registration acknowledgement email.
You must retain soft and hard copies of the essay submitted. These must be produced by you before you can be designated a Competition Winner or Highly Commended. - The deadline for registration for the Competition is 12 noon on Friday 7th November 2025. The deadline for submitting essays is 12 noon on Friday 21 November 2025.
- Entries will be anonymised before being assessed by a team of judges. Entrants must ensure that their essay does not contain details that would easily identify who they are.
- The winning entry will be announced in Spring 2026.
- The Competition Organisers reserve the right to extend deadlines and announcement dates applicable to the Competition, to change the number or nature of prizes being awarded and to add names to the judging panel as the effective administration of the Competition requires.
- The judges’ decision will be final. No correspondence concerning the assessment of any essay is possible. All correspondence with the Competition Organisers, other than the submission of essays, must be by way of email to info@oireachtasessay.ie.
FAQ
When can you register?
Closing date for competition registration is 12 noon on Friday 7th November 2025.
When do you get your registration ID number?
Within a few hours of registration it will be in your email box.
What if you don't get a registration ID?
Try to register again. Failing that, contact us here: info@oireachtasessay.ie
How must the essay be submitted?
To upload your essay, please click the “Upload Your Essay” link in the registration acknowledgement email. You must use the ID Number sent to you after you Register as the sole and only name for your essay. No part of the content of your essay should be capable of identifying you.
When will the results be announced?
The winners of the Oireachtas Essay Competition will be announced in Spring 2026.
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