Tuesday 13th April 2010
DUBLIN 13th APRIL 2010 – Shane Finegan, a 17-year old student at Abbey Grammar School, Newry has brought glory to his school and to his county by winning this year's 56th Texaco Children's Art Competition.
Against competition from the just under 30,000 students from across the 32-counties of Ireland, and the 433 students from Co. Down, who submitted entries to the Competition, Shane won the coveted €2,000 first prize for his work entitled ‘Mackerel’, a still life study of two fish.
Second youngest of four children, Shane, who lives with his parents John and Daire Finegan, is keen on art and has the ambition to enter the world of fashion and follow in the footsteps of renowned Irish designer Paul Costello, himself a former Texaco Children’s Art Competition winner.
Commenting on his work, the Chairman of the judging panel and fellow Ulsterman, Professor Declan McGonagle said that Shane had exhibited great skill, technique, imagination and maturity in winning the top award against such intense competition.
Considered to be the first time in the 56 year history of the Competition that the top prize has been won by a Newry student, Shane’s success reflects the emphasis being placed on art teaching at Abbey Grammar School. This is seen in the fact that two other Abbey Grammar School students, Niall Murchan (18) and Jonathan Taylor (17), each won special merit awards in the same age category and €100 each for their works entitled ‘Big Hairy Spider’ and ‘My Bicycle’ respectively. A fourth Newry student, Beth McEvoy (11) from Sacred Heart Grammar School also won a special merit award in her age category for a work entitled ‘The Mascarade Lady’.
Announcing the awards at a reception held in Dublin Castle today (Tuesday, 13th April 2010), Enda Riney, Country Chairman of Chevron (Ireland) Limited, owners of the Texaco brand, described Shane Finegan as a talented young artist whose success reflects so positively on his school and its teaching staff. “His success provides further evidence of the strong artistic talent to be found in our young people whilst placing him on the roll of honour alongside the many other great Irish artists and designers whose names have featured amongst the award winners in the Competition in the course of its 56 year history,” Mr. Riney said.
Also in Category A (16-17 years), second prize (€1,000) was won by Aleksandra Fudali (16), a student at St. Brogan’s College, Bandon for her work entitled ‘Portrait of a Girl’ while third prize (€750) was won by Enda O’Riordan (16) from Christian Brothers College, Sydney Hill, Cork for his work entitled ‘Disconnected’.
In Category B (14-15 years), the €450 first prize was won by another young Co. Down artist and a previous category winner in 2008, Lara Darby (15), a student at Bangor Academy, for an untitled portrait study. Second prize (€350) went to student Jingze Du (14) from Coláiste Éinde, Salthill for his work entitled ‘Still Life with Peppers’. Third prize went to Liam Keighley (14) from Gorey Community School for his life-like study entitled ‘Brown Hare’.
In Category C (12-13 years), first prize of €350 went to Shania McDonagh (12) from Gaelscoil Uileog de Burca, Claremorris for her study entitled ‘Grandad Gabriel’. Second prize (€250) was won by another Mayo student, Sinéad Timlin (13) from Jesus & Mary Secondary School, Gortnor Abbey, Crossmolina, for a painting entitled ‘A Starry Winter’s Night’ while third prize (€200) went to Celine Earle (13) from Gorey Community School for her work entitled ‘My Cat’.
In Category D (9-11 years), first prize of €250 was won by 11-year old Julie Twomey, a student at Cloghroe NS, Cloghroe, Cork for her painting entitled ‘Lucy Looking In’. Second prize (€200) was won by Shane McCann (10) from Tullyallen NS, Co. Louth for his work entitled ‘Time on your Hands’ while third prize (€150) went to Aoife Hamilton (11) from Scoil Náisiúnta Baile Mhic Airt, Dúngarbhán for her work ‘Nóiníní Móra’.
In Category E (7-8 years), the first prize of €200 was won by 8-year old Glasnevin Educate Together student Finn O’Reilly for his entry entitled ' Still Life of Orchids’. Second prize (€150) was won by Maria McStay (7) from St. Joseph's Primary School, Downpatrick for her work entitled ‘Proud Peacock’ while third prize (€125) went to Ború Powell (7) from Rossan NS, Carrigallen, Co. Leitrim for his work entitled ‘The Old Kettle’.
In Category F (6 years and under), the youngest age group in the competition, first prize winner of €150 was 6-year old Emma McInerney from Dunboyne JNS for a work entitled 'Birdie’. Second prize (€125) was won by Daniel Henry (5) from St. Joseph’s PS, Athlone for his work entitled ‘Watermelon Delight’ while third prize (€100) was won by Andreas Bester (6), Scoil Barra Naofa, Monkstown for his work ‘'Two Pretty Birds’.
In Category G, reserved for entries from children with special needs, first prize of €450 went to 14-year old Deirdre Manny, a student at St Joseph's Secondary School, Rochfortbridge for her entry entitled 'Still Life’. Second prize (€300) went to Cheryl Mulholland (14) from Longstone School, Dundonald, Co. Down for her work ‘I Believe in Fairies’ while third prize (€200) went to Aaron Salinger (11) from St. Michael’s School, Chapelizod for his work ‘Under Sea Monsters’.
Final judging was carried out by the Chairman of the judging panel, Professor Declan McGonagle, Director of the National College of Art & Design, assisted by preliminary judges Katy Fitzpatrick (Education Curator, Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane), Seán Kissane (Curator: Exhibitions, Irish Museum of Modern Art), Eoin Butler (Artist & Lecturer in the Visual Arts), Dr. Denise Ferran (Artist & Art Historian) and Colleen Watters (Art Education Officer, Ulster Museum).
Now in its 56th year, the Texaco Children's Art Competition is the longest running event in the history of art sponsorship in Ireland. This year, the Competition attracted just under 30,000 entries with students from all of the 32 counties taking part. The presentation of prizes will take place in Dublin next month.
-ENDS-