Clare students win big at Texaco children's art competition

10 talented Clare students have won top prizes in this year’s 71st Texaco children’s art competition. 

In the 12-13 years-old age category, Emily Coffey (age 12), a pupil at C.B.S. Primary School in Ennis won second prize for her work entitled ‘Warmth’. Commenting on her artwork was Final Adjudicator and Irish visual artist, curator and educator Pauline O'Connell.

She said, “Emily uses coloured pencils to depict an embrace between owner and pet: the central positioning of the dog evokes contentment as it looks out from within the soft tonally blended warm coat.” A previous winner, Emily won first prize in the 9-11 years-old age category last year.

In the 7-8 years-old age category, Fiadh Skerritt (age 8), from Ennis Art School, won third prize for her work entitled ‘Self Portrait – Dreaming,’ for which Ms O’Connell said, “Fiadh blends harmonious colour mixing and a dreamy frontal gaze with thoughtful tonal transitions to create an emotional atmosphere.”

In the 6 years and under age category – the youngest age group in the competition – Amelia Murray (age 6), from Ennis Art School, won first prize for her work entitled ‘Best Friends’ and was described by Ms O’Connell as “one which reflects the natural bond between child and animal – where the anticipation of a possible walk conveys a sense of companionship.”

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In addition, seven Clare winners each won Special Merit Awards for artworks that Ms O’Connell said "displayed high levels of skill and creativity."

They were Brigid Wilton (17) from St Joseph's Secondary School, Spanish Point; Shane Keane (13) from Kilmaley National School, Ennis and – all from Ennis Art School – Hayley Dixon (16); Zara Davis (13); Cathal Barry (7); Doireann Enright (5) and Michael Ryan (9).

No strangers to the competition, Hayley and Michael both won Special Merit awards last year.

The Texaco children’s art competition is popularly regarded as the longest-running sponsorship in the history of arts sponsoring in Ireland, with an unbroken history that dates back to the very first competition held in 1955.

This year, as has been the case throughout its life, it has been a platform on which young artists from Clare and counties throughout Ireland have had their talents recognised and their creativity commended.