AN GAOḊAL
57
NATIONAL TROPHY.
A valuable Silver Cup, of handsome Irish des¬
ign, presented by Mr. W. O'Brien, to be won
by the National School Teacher who obtains the
greatest number of Passes in Irish for the year
1897. The Trophy must be on three times suc¬
cessively by the same teacher before it becomes
his or her property.
"CLEAVER MEMORIAL" PRIZES, value £50.
For the National School teachers in each of
the following counties, viz., Kerry, Galway, Cork
and Mayo, who obtain the highest percentage of
Passes in Irish during the year 1897, taking in¬
to account the total number of pupils presented
by them for Results in the Fifth and Sixth Class¬
es.
First Prize £3
Second Prize £2
Similar Prizes will be awarded to the most suc¬
cessful teachers of Irish in a group consisting
the following and any other counties in which
Irish is taught in the National Schools in 1897:
Waterford, Clare, Kilkenny, Limerick, Tyrone,
and Donegal.
Book Prizes will be presented to the three pu¬
pils in each National School in which Irish is
taught is taught who show the greatest proficien¬
cy in that subject.
CONDITIONS.
1. Competitions are open to every person, whe¬
ther resident in Ireland or not, and irrespective
of nationality.
2, A competitor may enter for more than one
subject.
3. The prizes shall be awarded by adjudicators
appointed by the Committee Adjudicators are
debarred from competing in any subject, and
their decision shall be final.
4. A prize will be entirely withheld where suffi¬
cient merit is not shown.
5. All successful compositions shall be the prop¬
erty of the Gaelic League (unless otherwise spe¬
cified), and the rights of publication and transla¬
tion of such are strictly reserved.
6. Each composition should bear an assumed
name only, and should be accompanied by a seal¬
ed envelope containing the writer's real name
and address. This envelope shall not be opened
till the award has been given. Each paper should
be plainly marked at the top with the number of
the competition.
7. All compositions must reach the Secretary
An t-Oireaċtas, 24 O'Connell street, Upper
Dublin, on or before 17th March, 1898.
8. Compositions should be written in ink upon
one side only of the paper; and where practica¬
ble it is recommended that they be either type¬
written or printed. Competitors are also recom¬
mended not to employ contractions.
9. Competitors, if required, shall produce proof
of the genuineness and originality of their com¬
positions, which must not have been previously
published.
10. Unsuccessful competitions will be returned
to competitors within two months after the Oir¬
eachtas on receipt, by the Secretary, of a written
application, accompanied by the cost of postage.
11. Competitors in singing and recitation must
lodge their names with the Secretary at least one
month before the date of the Oirreachtas, and in
the case of the Recitation Competitions, candi¬
ates must furnish the Secretary beforehand with
copies of their pieces.
12. In the Singing Competitions persons shall be
require to sing any Gaelic song which they them¬
selves may select, together with one song select¬
ed by themselves from the subjoined list. A pia¬
no accompaniment will be allowed. Professional
singers are excluded from competing.
13. Candidates are eligible for the Junior Com¬
petitions who shall not exceed 18 years in May,
1898. A certificate to this effect, signed by a pa¬
rent or a guardian, shall be required from all Ju¬
nior Competitors.
14. All poetry shall be written according to recog¬
nized Irish metres.
15. All National School Teachers who have pre¬
sented pupils in Irish 1897 are requested to hold
an examination on the same lines as hitherto, and
to forward the names of the three best pupils in
order of merit to the Secretary not later than the
17th March, 1898.
LIST OF TEST SONGS
1. Fáinne geal an lae
2. Páisdín Fionn
3 Jimmy mo ḃíle stór
}
Irish Music
& Song by
Dr P W Joyce
4. Máirín, Music by Mrs Needham.
5. Tóg suas a Ċláirseaċ. Music by
Dr. Annie Patterson,
6. An Ċúilḟionn.
7. 'S a Ṁúirnín Dílis.
8. Péarla an ḃrollaiġ ḃáin.
[We hope Gaels will study the fore¬
going rules and regulations (which we
copy from the Gaelic Journal) careful¬
ly and begin, at once, to prepare their
competitive contributions for the next
year's Oireaċtas. Keep strictly with¬
in the terms of the CONDITIONS and
the other regulation laid down by the
