Ireland hosts scholarships, X-mas contest

The Irish ambassador to Korea Eamonn McKee hosted a reception at the ambassador’s residence for a group of Korean teachers of English on Sept. 28.

They are vying in a competition offering four scholarships to study in Ireland for one month. The competition provides an opportunity for the winners to improve their English and enhance their teaching skills.

The competition winners will be announced in November.

The competition is funded by the Irish Department of Education and organized by Failte Ireland, the country’s tourism agency. The competition forms a part of a policy that promotes Ireland as an education destination.

Korea, along with Japan and Turkey, has been identified as a key market for this promotion. The competition will be held annually to 2015. Check out the website, www.educationireland.ie for more information.

The Irish Embassy is also providing a Christmas card design competition in which some artistic skill is required as contestants work at creating the best Irish greeting.

There are two sections in this competition ­ a section for those under sixteen years of age and one for adults.

There will be six prizes of 500 euros for the six best cards, three for each section. Glór na nGael and the Department of Foreign Affairs are the organizers.

For more information about the competition, please email fiosru@glornangael.ie. The competition is part of the Global Gaeilge initiative and follows the success of a 2010 Christmas Card competition.

Ephilip2011@koreatimes.co.kr