Issued March 2002

48TH TEXACO CHILDREN'S ART COMPETITION - REGISTRATIONS POINT TO RECORD ENTRY

With the closing date for receipt of entries now passed, early indications are that the number of entries received in this year's 48th Texaco Children's Art Competition will exceed the 40,000 mark.

Prior to the closing date, a total of 1,534 national and secondary schools through Ireland - North and South - had registered their intention to submit entries. A high volume of entries received from schools that did not register their interest in advance is expected to increase this figure significantly.

From the Republic of Ireland, the largest number of schools registered was in the Dublin area with 254 registrations. Next came Cork with 125 schools registered followed by Galway with 91 registrations. A high number of registrations also came from Mayo (74) and Wexford (56) - two counties that traditionally do well in the competition.

After Dublin City and County with 34 awards, Mayo last year recorded the second highest number of winners in the Republic of Ireland with 20 awards. Wexford took 3rd place with 17 awards.

From Northern Ireland, the highest level of registrations this year has came from Antrim (110) followed by Down (58) and then Derry and Fermanagh with 40 registrations each.

Judging begins later this month and the results will be announced in mid-April.