Issued April 2005

2005 TEXACO CHILDREN’S ART COMPETITION WINNERS ANNOUNCED

A 16-year old Russian student Elena Afrova, currently resident in Ireland on a ten month student exchange programme, has won the €2,000 top prize in this year’s 51st Texaco Children’s Art Competition.

Elena, who hails from the town of Danilov, which is situated near the city of Yaroslavl some 200 kilometres north of Moscow, won her first prize in Category A (16-18 years) of the Competition for her painting entitled ‘Still Life With Copper Jug’. She is currently attending Regent House Grammar School, Newtownards.

Announcing the awards at a press reception held in the Royal Hibernian Academy, Gallagher Gallery in Ely Place, Dublin today (Friday, April 15th 2005), Texaco (Ireland) Limited Country Chairman, Paul Martin said that this is the first time in the 51 year history of the Competition that a top award has gone to a non-Irish student. He described Elena’s painting as ‘a work of exceptional maturity and quality worthy of exhibition in any art collection.’

In Category B (14-15 years), the €400 first prize winner was 14-year old Kevin Freeney of Gorey Community School for his self portrait entitled ‘Me’ while, in Category C (12-13 years), first prize of €300 went to 13-year old Bronagh McGlinchey of St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon for her impressive landscape entitled ‘View of Sligo’.

In Category D (9-11 years), first prize of €200 was won by Sarah Granahan of St. Angela's NS., Castlebar for her painting ‘Three Lovely Peonies’ while, in Category E (7-8 years), the first prize of €150 went to 8-year old Cork student Nicola Roche of Eglantine National School, Douglas for a work entitled ‘Springtime.’ In Category F (6 years and under), the youngest age group in the Competition, first prize winner of €100 was Ella O'Reilly O'Grady of Glasnevin Educate Together N.S., Glasnevin for her painting ‘The Giraffe, The Butterfly And The Bird.’

In Category G, reserved for entries from children who have special needs, the first prize of €400 went to 17-year old Patrick O'Carroll, Patrician Academy, Mallow for his entry ‘The Swimmer.’ Second and third prizes in all seven Competition age categories went to students from Cork, Galway, Donegal, Tyrone, Clare, Wexford, Monaghan, Antrim, Mayo and Wicklow.

Final adjudication was carried out by the Chairman of the judging panel, Professor Declan McGonagle, Professor of Art & Design, University of Ulster, Belfast. Preliminary judges were Dr. Kay O’Brien and Mr. Eoin Butler (both from St. Patrick’s Training College, Dublin); Colleen Frew, Education Officer, Ulster Museum, Belfast; Mr. Alan Bremner, Director of Television, UTV and Dr. Denise Ferran, Artist and Art Historian.

Commenting, Declan McGonagle said ‘in addition to the success achieved by Russian winner Elena Afrova, a notable aspect of the Competition is the volume of entries now being received from children outside Ireland, a trend reflected in the fact that Special Merit Awards will be presented this year to students from as far afield as Poland, Slovenia and the Philippines.

Now in its 51st year, the Texaco Children’s Art Competition is the longest running event in the history of art sponsoring in Ireland. The presentation of prizes to all winners will take place in Dublin next month.

Friday, April 15th 2005

For further information please contact:
Don Hall/Maeve Barry,
The Hall Company.
Tel: 01-6609377.
Fax: 01-6609742.
Mobile: 087-2552699
E-mail: pr@hall.ie