Down student wins Texaco art prize

Almost 30,000 entries were received in this year’s Texaco Children’s Art Competition but they were whittled down to 161 winners when the prizes were awarded in Dublin today.

The list of winners was led by Shane Finegan (17) from Abbey Grammar School in Newry, Co Down. His still life study of mackerel won him the top prize of €2,000. Chairman of the judging panel, Prof Declan McGonagle said the young artist had exhibited “great skill, technique, imagination and maturity”.

Two other students from the same school won special merit awards in the same age category. In fact, Down was the most successful county in the competition, taking four top prizes. But when special merit winners were included, Dublin was the most successful county with 36 winners, followed by Cork (16), Down (14) and Limerick (9).

Daniel Henry (5) from St Joseph’s Primary School, Athlone was the youngest child to be placed in the top three. He came second in the six-years and under category for his picture of watermelons.

Presenting the prizes, Minister for Children Barry Andrews said the competition was always held in the highest of esteem at his school. “There were 30,000 applicants around the country and you are the people that have come to the top,” he told the prize winners. “You should be really proud of yourselves.”

Now in its 56th year, the Texaco Children’s Art Competition is thought to be the longest-running event in the history of art sponsorship.

Past winners include artists Graham Knuttel and Robert Ballagh, fashion designer Paul Costello, Ictu’s David Begg and former Labour Party leader Ruairí Quinn.