Issued May 2004

PRESIDENT McALEESE GUEST OF HONOUR AT 50TH TEXACO CHILDREN'S ART COMPETITION PRIZEGIVING

President unveils postage stamps issued to mark 50th Anniversary of the event.

President Mary McAleese was Guest of Honour at the prizegiving ceremony for this year's 50th Texaco Children's Art Competition which took place at the Burlington Hotel, Dublin yesterday (Wednesday, 19th May). President McAleese was welcomed by Paul Martin, Country Chairman, Texaco (Ireland) Limited.

After viewing the prize winning entries, President McAleese met with the 161 young artists and their parents who had travelled from all parts of Ireland to receive their prizes. Amongst them were the Overall Winner of the Competition, Malahide student Niamh Fanning, plus the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize winners and twenty Special Merit Award winners in each of seven age categories. Besides presenting prizes to the top winners, President McAleese unveiled four postage stamps each of which feature artwork from young award winners. The stamps are being issued by An Post to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Competition which has been held annually since 1955.

Credited with having helped foster the development of art education in Ireland, especially in its earlier years, the Texaco Children's Art Competition is acknowledged to be the longest running sponsorship in the history of art sponsorship in Ireland. Open to all children from 6 years and under up to 18 years, including a category devoted exclusively to children attending Special Needs Schools, the Competition continues to attract up to 50,000 entries annually.

This year, twenty-six counties are represented in the overall list of winners. Amongst the first prize winners, Dublin was the single most successful county taking three awards followed by Galway with two and Clare and Leitrim with one each. Second and third prizes in all seven age categories went to students from Dublin, Waterford, Sligo, Mayo, Wicklow, Donegal, Meath, Carlow, Kerry, Clare and Antrim. In overall terms, Dublin was the most successful county with 41 winners followed by Antrim (18), Wexford (12), Mayo (10) and Galway (8).

Overall Winner of the Competition and recipient of the Stg£1,000 UTV/Texaco Young Artist Commission was 17-year old Malahide student Niamh Fanning of Malahide Community School for her painting entitled 'Down the Hill' which also won first prize in Category A (16-18 years). In Category B (14-15 years), first prize went to 14-year old Edgar Grunewald of Garbally College, Ballinasloe for his painting entitled 'Pools of Reflection - Ha'penny Bridge' while, in Category C (12-13 years), first prize winner was Ailish Fitzpatrick, age 13, of Kilrush Community School, Kilrush Co. Clare for her painting 'Fish On A Dish'.

In Category D (9-11 years), first prize was won by 11-year old Cian Keogh, a student at Brushstrokes Art School, Marino Mart, Fairview for his painting entitled 'Head 11' while, in Category E (7-8 years), the first prize went to another Dublin student Dylan McKeon, age 8, of St. Mary¹s Boys National School, Haddington Road for a work entitled 'Let Sleeping Wolves Lie'. In Category F (6 years and under), the youngest age group in the Competition, first prize winner was Emer McMahon, age 5, of St. Joseph's National School, Mohill, Co. Leitrim. In Category G, reserved for entries from children attending Special Needs Schools, first prize went to 14-year old Victoria Farnan from Presentation Secondary School, Presentation Road, Galway for her painting entitled 'Flowers In My Garden'.

Congratulating the winners on their success, Paul Martin, Country Chairman, Texaco (Ireland) Limited said 'In this special 50th Anniversary year, you have the distinction of representing the many thousands of young artists who have taken part in the Texaco Children's Art Competition throughout the course of its 50 year history. Following in their footsteps, I hope that you will remember with pride the contribution which you have made in fostering an interest in art amongst the younger generation and in underlining the important position which Children's Art holds within the wider world of arts in Ireland'.