Offaly artist Jake Egan (10), from St Ciaran’s Mixed National School in Ballycumber, is a winner in this year’s 72nd Texaco children’s art competition. He is pictured with his prize-winning work entitled ‘My Best Friend’.

Offaly pupils among winners in children's art competition

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Two Offaly pupils have been named among the winners in this year's 72nd Texaco children's art competition.

Jake Egan (10), from St Ciaran’s Mixed National School, in Ballycumber, won second prize in one of the competition's categories, category G, for his work entitled ‘My Best Friend’.

His artwork was described by final ajudicator, Irish visual artist, curator and educator Pauline O'Connell, as a "superb and inventive" collage.

"Abstract in construction, it requires close attention as the tongue, nose and eyes gradually reveal the image of a dog, inviting the viewer to actively engage in the act of seeing," commented Pauline.

In addition, six-year-old Rían Morrissey, from Gaelscoil an Eiscir Riada in Tullamore, won a Special Merit Award for his artwork entitled 'The Cow in the Alps'

Praising Rían's entry, Ms O’Connell said it was "imaginative and demonstrated high levels of skill and creativity".

‘The Cow in the Alps’ by Rían Morrissey (6), from Gaelscoil an Eiscir Riada in Tullamore, won a Special Merit Award.

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 in previous years, it has been a platform on which young artists from Offaly and counties throughout Ireland have had their talents recognised and their creativity commended.

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