Friday 15th January 2010

DUBLIN, January 2010 - The search is on to find the budding young artists who will enter this year's 56th Texaco Children’s Art Competition.

Primary and second level schools throughout Co. Mayo have received brochures setting out details of the Competition, the closing date for which is Friday, February 26th next. Copies of the brochure are also available through Texaco service stations and on-line at www.texacochildrensart.com.

Annually, some 30,000 students compete for the 161 top prizes that are awarded across seven age categories, including one exclusively devoted to special needs students.

Judging will take place throughout the month of March 2010 and winners will be announced in mid-April 2010 with prize-giving to follow in mid-May 2010. First held in 1955, the event is now in its 56th year.

Distinguished past winners include former Labour Party leader Ruairi Quinn TD, artists Dorothy Cross, Graham Knuttel and Robert Ballagh, fashion designer Paul Costello, broadcasters Thelma Mansfield and Terry Prone, ICTU General Secretary David Begg, actress Jean Anne Crowley and musician Ethna Tinney.

-ENDS-