Marie Connole admiring two of the entries received from Dublin this year – a work entitled ‘Ages Apart’ (left) by a pupil from The Kings Hospital School, Palmerstown and another entitled ‘Pepper Study’ by a pupil from Lucan Community College.
Children’s talents recognised at arts competition
YOUNG artists, some of whom are local, who submitted entries to this year’s Texaco Children’s Art Competition are currently having their works evaluated as the judging process gets underway.
The Texaco Children’s Art Competition, which will celebrate its 72nd anniversary this year, is popularly regarded as the longest-running sponsorship in the history of arts sponsoring in Ireland.
This year, as has been the case throughout its life, it has been a platform on which young artists have had their talents recognised and a springboard on which many have risen to national prominence.
Aside from giving students the space to give expression to their talent and skill, the competition has focused a spotlight on the quality of art teaching in Irish schools and the importance that the educational establishment attaches to the subject of art education.
Past winners whose early interest in art and the arts may well have been
encouraged by their participation in the Competition include artists, Robert Ballagh, Bernadette Madden, Dorothy Cross, and the late Graham Knuttel.
Others include late fashion designer Paul Costelloe and artist and former broadcaster Thelma Mansfield.
Other notable past winners include former Minister, Ruairi Quinn (a four-time winner), communications consultant and broadcaster Terry Prone, former ICTU Secretary and Chairman of the Pension Authority David Begg and actress Jean Anne Crowley.
Musician Ethna Tinney, Trinity College Professor of Contemporary Irish History Eunan O’Halpin and the late novelist Clare Boylan have also won the title over the years.
Winners in six age categories, plus one category reserved exclusively for young artists with additional needs, will be announced in mid-April.
Preliminary adjudicator Marie Connole admiring two of the entries received from Dublin this year – ‘Ages Apart’ (left) by a pupil from The King’s Hospital School, Palmerstown, and ‘Pepper Study’ by a pupil from Lucan Community College.
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