Talented kids honoured at prize-giving for Féile an Fhómhair art competition

THE CURTAIN came down on another very successful bilingual Féile an Fhómhair festival with the presentation of prizes in the popular autumn art competition. The competition for primary schools is a celebration of the Irish language as well as a means of raising awareness of the beauty and abundance of the season.

Pupils in primary schools throughout Carlow and neighbouring counties were invited to produce an artistic piece of their own choice on the theme ‘An Fómhar/Autumn’ with any text on the entry to be ‘as Gaeilge’. Teachers enthusiastically facilitated the competition during their art classes and delivered the finished pieces to Glór Cheatharlach.

Hundreds of entries depicting nature, the environment, Halloween and seasonal scenes bursting with the rich colours of autumn were received, creating a mammoth task for the judges, who had to choose winners in each category from first to sixth class as well as an overall winner.

Entries came from several schools, including Scoil Fiacc Naofa, Gaelscoil Eoghain Uí Thuairisc, Scoil an Easpaig Uí Fhoghlú, Holy Family Girls’ School, Tinryland NS, Scoil Naomh Bríd in Muinebheag and SN Leighlin an Droichid.

A very enjoyable prizegiving ceremony was held in the Cathedral Parish Centre recently, to which the winning artists, their parents and teachers were invited.

Winners in the first-class category were Mucken Zhou of Scoil Fiacc as well as Freya Ní Choigligh and Éabha Ní Chamhraí, both of Gaelscoil Eoghain Uí Thuairisc.

Second class: Aleksander Jedrusinski and Harsimar Kaur of Scoil Fiacc, with Neala Ní Shíocháin and Robert de Brún of Gaelscoil Eoghain Uí Thuairisc.

Third class: Sofia Mamakova (Holy Family School), Georgie Charlwood Ní Bhroin (Gaelscoil), Emily Ní Néill and James Haicéad, both of Tinryland NS.

Fourth class: Aria Marjanovic and Natalie Ní Chuidithe of Holy Family Girls School, Henry Ó Donnchú (Gaelscoil), Faye Díring (Tigh an Raoireann) and Adam Ó hAirtnéada (Bishop Foley School).

Fifth class: Aoife Nic Gearlann and Síofra Ní Bholgúir (Gaelscoil) as well as Lucisa Cachia (Holy Family School).

Sixth class: Roy Cai (Scoil Naomh Bríd, Muinebheag), Agota Kiklaite (Holy Family Girls School), Juliette Ní Dheigneáin (Tigh an Raoireann), Mikey Ó hAonghusa (SN Leighlin an Droichid) as well as Alfie Pléimeann, Bobby Ó Meachair and Nessa Barún, all of Gaelscoil Eoghain Uí Thuairisc.

All of the prize winners were presented with a certificate and a selection of art materials, while Agote Kiklaite, a sixth-class pupil at Holy Family Girls School, was declared overall winner of the competition for her amazing creation.

Agote was delighted to accept the Féile an Fhómhair trophy in addition to her art supplies.

Congratulating all of the winners, Bríde de Róiste and Emma Uí Bhroin of Glór Cheatharlach thanked all of the teachers for facilitating the Féile an Fhómhair autumn art competition as well as the hundreds of pupils who took part in this year’s event.