Wednesday 26th May 2010

Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, Barry Andrews TD, to present prizes to winners of the 56th Texaco Children’s Art Competition

DUBLIN, 26TH MAY 2010 - The Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, Mr. Barry Andrews TD was Guest of Honour at the 56th Texaco Children's Art Competition awards ceremony held at Citywest Hotel, Dublin today when he presented prizes to the overall winners in this year's competition.

Welcomed by Enda Riney, Country Chairman, Chevron (Ireland) Limited, the minister viewed the prize-winning entries and met the 161 young artists who had travelled from all parts of Ireland to receive their prizes.  They included the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize-winners in each of seven age categories.

Leading the list of winners was young Co. Down student Shane Finegan, a 17-year old pupil at Abbey Grammar School, Newry.  Shane won the coveted €2,000 first prize in Category A (16-18 years) for his work entitled ‘Mackerel’, a still life study of two fish, beating off competition from just under 30,000 students across the 32 counties of Ireland, and the 433 students from Co. Down, who submitted entries to the competition. In the same age category, 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, Sidney Hill, Cork, for his work entitled ‘Disconnect’.

Second youngest of four children, overall winner Shane lives with his parents John and Daire Finegan on the outskirts of Newry city. A keen artist, he has the ambition to enter the world of fashion design 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 evident 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 plus a prize of €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’.

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 Joshua Mac Aodh Bhui (6) from Gaelscoil Eoghain Ui Thuairisc, Carlow, for his work ‘Life Drawing Chalk Pastel’.

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’.

28 counties feature on winners' list - Dublin most successful county overall

This year, 28 counties were represented in the overall list of winners thereby underlining the appeal which the competition has for students across Ireland. Amongst the leading winners, Down was the most successful county taking four top prizes with other top awards in the seven competition age categories going to students from Cork and Wexford (3 each), Dublin and Mayo (2 each) followed by Carlow, Galway, Leitrim, Louth, Meath, Westmeath and Roscommon (1 each). When special merit award winners were included, Dublin was the most successful county with 36 winners overall followed by Cork (16), Down (14), Limerick (9), Antrim (8), Wicklow, Carlow, Galway and Westmeath (6 each), Monaghan, Mayo, Roscommon, Wexford and Louth (5 each), Meath and Kerry (4 each), Clare and Sligo (3 each), Donegal, Derry, Tipperary, Tyrone and Waterford (2 each) with Leitrim, Armagh, Cavan, Kilkenny and Laois receiving one each.

Addressing prize-winners, parents and teachers present at the awards ceremony, Enda Riney, Country Chairman, Chevron (Ireland) Limited said that: “The competition provides proof of the artistic talent to be found in our young people. The success that each winner achieves reflects positively on their school and its teaching staff whilst placing them on a roll of honour on which many other great Irish artists and designers have featured in the course of the competition’s 56 year history.”

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 Eoin Butler (artist & lecturer in Visual Arts), Dr. Denise Ferran (artist & art historian), Katy Fitzpatrick (Education Curator, Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane), Seán Kissane (Curator Exhibitions, Irish Museum of Modern Art) 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.

 

-ENDS-