Children’s author and rugby analyst Brent Pope joined former primary teacher and current Minister of State Aodhán Ó Ríordáin and pupils from primary schools across Dublin to promote positive attitudes towards disability with the launch of a new essay competition.

With over 53,000 children under 15 with disabilities in Ireland, ‘Someone Like Me’ asks youngsters to celebrate the differences that make themselves and their school friends unique.

Pope, who will join Galway children’s author Deirdre Sullivan and a range of other judges to choose the national winner in the Department of Justice and Equality competition, said: “I am no stranger to feeling different and really believe it is so important that we celebrate our uniqueness, what sets us apart.

“Writing and expressing ourselves is a terrific way to do this and I am really looking forward to judging the entries from around the country.”

Essays can be submitted in writing up to 200 words in length, or as an audio or video recording of up to five minutes. Each school will be limited to one entry; the method of selecting this entry will be left up to each school. 

Each winning student, at both county and national level, will receive vouchers for arts materials in the form of books, audio or video. The overall national winner’s school will also receive computer, audio and video equipment.

The closing date for entries is Friday 23 October, with the overall winner to be announced at an event this December. 

For entry details as well as posters and lesson plans, see primaryschoolscompetition.com