Issued Tuesday, 16th April 2002

TEXACO CHILDREN'S ART COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Top prize winners in this year's Texaco Children's Art Competition, for which a record 50,000 entries were received, were announced by Mr. Pat O'Shaughnessy, Country Chairman, Texaco (Ireland) Limited at a press reception held in Dublin's Herbert Park Hotel today (Tuesday, April 16th 2002).

First prize in Category A (16-18 years) went to 17-year old Dominic Devine from Omagh, Co. Tyrone. Dominic, a student at Omagh Christian Brothers Grammar School, won his award for a painting which depicts a small dwelling set in a rural landscape.

In Categories B and C, first prize went to students from Gorey Community School. In Category B (14-15 years), first prize was awarded to 14-year old Kevin Roche for his painting entitled 'Reflections'. In Category C (12-13 years), one of last year's top winners, 12-year old Eoghan O¹Keeffe, took first place for his charcoal drawing entitled 'Old Woman'.

In Category D (9-11 years), 11-year old Stephen Campbell, a student at Sacred Heart College, Omagh, was awarded first prize while, in Category E (7-8 years), the first prize winner was Rebecca Keating, age 7, from St. John's National School, Cratloe for her painting entitled 'The Big Ship'.

The youngest prize winner of the competition was in Category F (6 years and under) where 4-year old Anastasia Edwards from Irish Street, Downpatrick won first prize for her painting entitled 'Rose From the Titanic'. In Category G, 12-year old Dean O'Brien of St. John's Special School, Dungarvan won first prize for his entry entitled 'The Black Water'.

Second and third prizes in all seven competition age groups went to students from Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford, Kerry, Clare, Antrim, Cork, Down, Kildare and Roscommon.

The Chairman of the judging panel was Mr. Declan McGonagle, Director, Dublin City Arts Centre. Preliminary judges included Dr. Kay O¹Brien and Mr. Eoin Butler (both from St. Patrick's Training College, Dublin), Dr. Denise Ferran and Mr. Alan Bremner, Director of Programming, UTV.

Now in its 48th year, the Texaco Children's Art Competition is the longest running event in the history of art sponsoring. The presentation of prizes for all winners takes place in Dublin in May.