The Museum of Childhood Ireland and Marsh’s Library present its annual Bloomsday competition, open to anyone under 18, with prizes for primary school and second level entrants!
Theme: Finding Home
Inspired by James Joyce’s Ulysses and the journeys we all take.
Background
In James Joyce’s Ulysses, Leopold Bloom wanders through Dublin on 16th June 1904, searching for connection and belonging. Throughout his day-long odyssey, Joyce explores what “home” truly means—is it a place, a person, a feeling, or something we carry within ourselves? This year, we invite young writers to create their own stories inspired by the theme of home and belonging.
The Challenge
Write an imaginative story (fiction or creative non-fiction/poem) that explores the theme of “Finding Home.”
Your story/poem might explore:
- A character’s journey to find where they belong
- What “home” means when you’re far from the place you know
- The moment someone realises they’ve found their home
- Losing and rediscovering a sense of belonging
- How home can be a person, not just a place
- Creating a new home in an unfamiliar setting
- The small details that make somewhere feel like home
- How where you live can change how you see the world
Writing Competition Categories
Junior Category (Ages up to 11)
Word limit: 300-500
Focus on theme, clear storytelling and imaginative ideas, style, words and language evoking James Joyce
Intermediate Category (Ages 12-15)
Word limit: 400-600
Focus on clear storytelling and imaginative ideas, style, words and language evoking James Joyce
Develop characters, setting, and theme with greater depth
Senior Category (Ages 16-18)
Word limit: 500-1000
Focus on clear storytelling and imaginative ideas, style, words and language evoking James Joyce
Develop characters and setting with greater depth
Demonstrate sophisticated narrative techniques and thematic exploration
Reference Ulysses
We also welcome art submissions across the age categories, and will be happy to showcase your Bloomsday art entries and name on our online gallery for Bloomsday. Shortlisted entrants will receive a certificate and art materials as prizes courtesy of Faber-Castell.
Writing Guidelines
Your story should include:
- A clear sense of character and voice
- Vivid descriptive details that bring your setting to life
- A narrative arc (beginning, middle, and end or inversion!)
- A thoughtful exploration of the theme of “home” or belonging
- An echo of James Joyce
You can choose style or genre:
- Realistic fiction set in contemporary Ireland or elsewhere
- Historical fiction (perhaps set on 16 June 1904, like Ulysses!)
- Fantasy or science fiction with the theme at its heart
- Creative non-fiction
- Experimental or poetic narrative
Rules and more information
Deadline is Noon, 6st May 2026 and the author must be under 18 on that date.
As authors must be under 18, they cannot submit their own work. Entries must be emailed by a parent/teacher or responsible adult, with appropriate parental permission.
Do not include the entries in the main body of the email. Send them as an attached file (e.g., a Word document or PDF)
Each attached file must include:
- The story itself
- The writer’s first name, age and their location (county or country)
Make sure you do not include any other author identification details in the file.
In the email itself, the adult submitting must:
- Confirm that the story is original, and that it is the work of the author.
- Tell us if the author is attending a primary or a second level school.
- Provide contact and personal details for the adult submitting the story.
If you are a teacher submitting on behalf of some of your class, you only need to confirm originality once, for all entries submitted. Please also include your school name and roll number. This information will be used to identify prize-winning schools.
Important Dates
Competition Launch: 16th April 2026
Writing Workshops from the Museum: April/May 2026. Contact us if your school would like to get involved. Email:mmcallister@museumofchildhood.ie
Submission Deadline: 6th May 2026
Finalists Announced: Bloomsday 16th June 2026
Awards Ceremony at Marsh’s Library, September 2026