Issued Friday, 5th April 2002

RECORD ENTRY FOR THIS YEAR'S CHILDREN'S ART COMPETITION

Entries in year's Children¹s Art Competition have reached record levels.

By the closing date over 50,000 paintings had been received.

From over 1,500 primary and second level schools throughout Ireland - north and south - students from as young as under-5 years up to 18 years of age have entered the competition.

Now in its 48th year, the Texaco Children's Art Competition was launched in 1955 and ranks as the longest running event of its kind in the history of art sponsoring in Ireland.

Over the past number of weeks, entries have been sorted and the preliminary and final judging process has been completed.

Overseeing the judging process was final judge Declan McGonagle, Director, City Arts Centre, Dublin.

Next week, the names of all of the twenty-three winners in each of seven categories will be announced at a special press reception which takes place in Dublin's Herbert Park Hotel.