Actor and playwright Tara Lynne O’Neill with the help of Alice Smyth, launches Electric Ireland’s Shooting For The Stars Children’s Competition. Picture by Brian Morrison
The competition invites children between the ages of 7-11 who are interested in football and stories, to sharpen their pencils, ‘boot up’ the laptops and create their very own story about girls’ football.
Entrants are invited to submit an original story with a girls’ football theme:
* The competition opened on April 16
* The competition is open to girls and boys aged 7-11
* They are asked to write a story about girls’ football which is between 300-500 words
* Details on how to enter can be found at http://www.electricireland.com/shootingstars
The winner will have their story illustrated by a professional illustrator and produced in a book by Blackstaff Press which will then be distributed through the Irish FA Shooting Stars network and will be made available to schools and libraries across the North of Ireland.
There will be two runners-up each of whom will receive a prize of a NI kit and a Shooting for the Stars book.
The stories will be judged by a panel led by actor and playwright Tara Lynne O’Neill who will be supported by illustrator Rory Jeffers, Gail Redmond, Women’s Development Officer at the Irish FA and Clare McAllister, Northern Ireland Residential Manager Electric Ireland.
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Tara Lynne, who has written Rough Girls a play about women’s football and is a keen supporter of the game, commented: “I am genuinely excited to be involved in this wonderful project.
“Women’s football is a subject very close to my heart and I believe that the Electric Ireland Shooting for the Stars book will be an inspiration to many girls.
“I would encourage all parents and families of children aged between 7-11 to support their child in getting involved in this fantastic project.
“To children I would say, let your imagination run wild.
Tara Lynn O’Neill who plays Mary Quinn in Derry Girls
Clare McAllister, said: “We are thrilled to launch this competition that will result in the commissioning of a book for children.
“Our goal with our Electric Ireland Game Changers campaign of which this competition is part, has always been to recognise the importance of sport at a young age and to highlight female football across all ages.
“Along with the other judges, I’m excited to read the stories we will receive and see the winning entry take shape as a book that will be shared amongst girls across Northern Ireland.”
Gail Redmond, said: “At the Irish FA, we’re behind a raft of programmes from grassroots to elite to encourage young girls right across the country to get involved in our game.
“Interest in the women’s game is growing all the time so this is a great time to launch this competition with Electric Ireland Game Changers campaign to highlight the importance of sport for young girls who have an interest in football.”
The competition will close on Friday, May 14 at 5pm.
For more information on the competition and how to enter please visit the website: http://www.electricireland.com/shootingstars
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