Tuesday 12th April 2011

DUBLIN 12th APRIL 2011 – Keith Blake, an 18-year-old student at Presentation Secondary School, Ballingarry, Thurles has brought glory to his school and to Co. Tipperary by winning first prize in this year's 57th Texaco Children's Art Competition for his self-portrait entitled ‘A Warm Place’. This is the second occasion in recent times that the first prize has gone to Tipperary - Lucy Carragher from Birdhill having been the overall winner in 2008.

In winning the coveted first prize, Keith fought off competition from more than 30,000 students from across the 32-counties of Ireland who took part in the competition. Of these, some 1,482 entries were received from Tipperary - a significant increase on the 915 who took part last year and the fifth highest level of entries received from any county.

For his prize, Keith will receive a cheque for €2,000 which will be presented to him at the prize giving ceremony which takes place in Dublin in May when all of the 161 winners will be in attendance. In addition, he will have his winning painting displayed in an international exhibition hosted by Japan's International Federation for Arts and Culture that will take place in the prestigious Ueno Royal Museum in Tokyo later this year.

Son of Martina and Denny Blake from Kilbreedy, Killenaule, Keith is brother to an older sister Roisin and a younger brother Robbie.  Keen on art from a very young age, he has been greatly encouraged by his art teacher Louise Norton who, his mother confirms, has been a big influence on his development.  For the past three years, he has featured among the prize winners taking a third prize in 2009 and special merit awards in 2008 and 2010. Looking to the future, he hopes to pursue a career in art.

Commenting on his work, the Chairman of the judging panel Professor Declan McGonagle said:  “in his composition Keith has demonstrated a clear ability to control the medium of oil paint while producing a portrait which remains fresh and spontaneous, with a sense of the person, even though the subject’s eyes are closed.”

Also in Category A (16-18 years), second prize (€1,000) was won by Maire-Clare Doran (18), a student at St. Louis Grammar School, Kilkeel, Co. Down for her work entitled ‘The Lovely Lily’ while third prize (€750) was won by Oenone Stafford (17) from Gorey Community School for her work entitled ‘Arklow Harbour’.

In Category B (14-15 years), the €450 first prize was won by Mayo student Bryna Molloy (15) a pupil at Slowey School of Art, Ballina for a work entitled ‘Despair’. For the second year in succession, second prize of €350 was won by Jingze Du (15) from Coláiste Éinde, Salthill for his work entitled ‘Night Light’. Third prize of €250 went to Dónal Ó Cionnfhaolaidh (15) from De La Salle College, Waterford for a work entitled ‘Florence’.

In Category C (12-13 years), first prize of €350 went to Shania McDonagh (13) from Mount St. Michael Secondary School, Claremorris for a work entitled ‘Bill’. Second prize (€250) was won by Juliette Morrison (13) from St. Vincent’s Secondary School, Dundalk for a painting entitled ‘Raining Men’ while third prize (€200) went to Jack Gilligan (13) from Strandhill Art Class, Sligo for his work entitled ‘Winter Wonderland’.

In Category D (9-11 years), first prize of €250 was won by 11-year old Austin Grehan, a student at Scoil Bhríde Primary School, Ranelagh for his painting entitled ‘Hurt’. Second prize (€200) was won by Ali O’Neill (11) from Scoil Náisiúnta an Chroí Naofa, Glounthaune, Cork for a work entitled ‘Open Your Eyes’ while third prize (€150) went to another Cork student Karla Bester (11) from Scoil Barra Naofa, Monkstown for her work ‘Frog Dance’.

In Category E (7-8 years), the first prize of €200 was won by 7-year old Kerry Grimes from Scoil Naomh Éanna, Carrickmacross for a work entitled 'Flower Power’.  Second prize (€150) was won by Fionnán Henry (8) from Summerhill National School, Athlone for a work entitled ‘Bird’s Nest’ while third prize (€125) went to Eoin Conneely (8) from Scoil Náisiúnta Chomáin Naofa, Hollymount, Co. Mayo for his work entitled ‘A Valentine’s Gift’.

In Category F (6 years and younger), the youngest age group in the competition, first prize winner of €150 was 6-year old Olivia Curé from Gaelscoil de hÍde, Oranmore for a work entitled 'Rosie Whiskers’. Second prize (€125) was won by Olivia Rutherford (6) from Ratoath Junior National School, Co. Meath for her work entitled ‘Iguana’ while third prize (€100) was won by Carole Greene (5) from Roxboro National School, Derrane, Co. Roscommon for her work ‘Dorothy, Tin Man and Lion at the Emerald City’.

In Category G, reserved for entries from children with special needs, first prize of €450 went to 15-year- old Deirdre Manny, a student at St Joseph's Secondary School, Rochfortbridge for her entry entitled 'Welsh Poppies’. This is the second year in succession that Deirdre has taken first prize. Second prize (€300) went to Ben Cornelissen (13) from Rathfriland High School, Co. Down for his work ‘The Tatler Cat’ while third prize (€200) went to Thomas Sullivan (12) from Waterpark College, Waterford for his work ‘Robins In The Snow’.

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 Aoife Ruane (Director, Highlanes Municipal Art Gallery, Drogheda), 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 (Acting Head of Learning, Ulster Museum).

Announcing the awards at a reception held in Dublin Castle today (Tuesday, 12th April 2011), Enda Riney, Country Chairman of Chevron (Ireland) Limited, owners of the Texaco brand, praised all of the winners for their skill and enthusiasm and thanked the many teachers from schools throughout Ireland who have given their support to the competition throughout its 57 years history.

The Texaco Children’s Art Competition, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2004, is the longest running sponsorship in the history of arts sponsoring in Ireland. Now in its 57th year, it began life in 1955 and since then it has enjoyed an unbroken history of success. This year, it attracted more than  30,000 entries with students from all of the 32 counties taking part. The presentation of prizes will take place in Dublin next month.

Past winners whose early interest in art and the arts may well have been encouraged by their participation in the Competition include Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn TD (a four-times winner), artists Bernadette Madden, Dorothy Cross, Graham Knuttel and Robert Ballagh, fashion designer Paul Costello, broadcasters Thelma Mansfield and Terry Prone, ICTU General Secretary David Begg, novelist Clare Boylan, actress Jean Anne Crowley and musician Ethna Tinney.

-ENDS-