Issued April 2003

2003 TEXACO CHILDREN'S ART COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Top prize winners in this year's Texaco Children's Art Competition were announced by Mr. Pat O'Shaughnessy, Country Chairman, Texaco (Ireland) Limited at a press reception held in Dublin's Herbert Park Hotel today (Wednesday, April 9th 2003)

First prize in Category A (16-18 years) went to 17-year old West Cork student Sarah Attridge of Schull Community College for her painting entitled 'Days Gone By'. In Category B (14-15 years), first prize winner was Eoin Kenny of Gorey Community School for his painting entitled 'Courtown Woods' while, in Category C (12-13 years), first prize went to Valerie Coleman of Cloghroe National School, Cloghroe, Co. Cork for her painting 'A Jug of Primrose'.

In Category D (9-11 years), first prize was won by John Macken of St. Senan's National School, Templeshannon, Enniscorthy for his painting 'Park Squirrel' while, in Category E (7-8 years), the first prize went to another Enniscorthy student Sean Murphy of Caim National School for a work entitled 'Fruit'. In Category F (6 years and under), the youngest age group in the competition, first prize winner was Adam Bradley, age 6, of St. Thomas Junior National School, Lucan.

In Category G, reserved for entries from children attending special needs schools, first prize went to Sean Stillwell from St. John's Special School, Dungarvan - the second year in succession that St. John's has taken the top award in this category.

Second and third prizes in all seven competition age categories went to students from Dublin, Wexford, Kerry, Clare, Donegal, Cork, Down, Tyrone, Louth, Limerick and Mayo.

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

Commenting, Declan McGonagle said "in choosing this year's winners, judges set out to identify those young and developing artists whose works are most original and most distinctive whether in subject, overall idea, freshness of approach, technique or materials used".

Now in its 49th 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.