The Irish Cultural Society announces its annual writing contest for students in the 9 th through 12 th grades in the Nassau County high schools. The materials describing the contest have been mailed to the English Departments of the Nassau schools, and they have been posted on the Society’s website, irish-society.org

The students entering the contest are asked to write a persuasive letter from the point of view of a representative of the Northern Irish Tourist Board. In the letter, the writer will try to persuade a potential Northern Ireland tourist to come to Northern Ireland for a holiday The entrant will make reference to the many attractions found in Northern Ireland, such as the Giant’s Causeway, the site of the building of the Titanic, the historic city of Derry, the beautiful golf courses of Northern Ireland, and cultural attractions, such as the Ulster America Folk Park. Entrants can find suggestions for other attractions in Northern Ireland on the Society’s website, irish-society.org under “Helpful Hints.”

In addition, the website under “Helpful Hints” suggestions to the contestants about how to approach the project. Entries are due by March 17, 2010.

The Society has been sponsoring a writing contest for twenty-six years. This year thirty-four cash prizes from $250 to $40 will be awarded at an Awards Night on May 4 at the Garden City Library. Every entrant receives a Certificate of Merit mailed to the student’s sponsoring teacher. The Society will also make a gift of books to the school libraries of all of the entrants.

Any interested student can get copies of the material in the English Department of the student’s school and on the website, irish-society.org