merrion street

Dinny McGinley T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, will present the awards to the winners of this year's 59th Texaco Children's Art Competition in a ceremony at CityWest Hotel, Saggart, Co. Dublin, at noon today.

The first prize in the competition was won by Simon Minias (16), a fifth-year student at Gorey Community School, Co. Wexford. This was Simon’s first time entering the competition. His winning piece, entitled ‘My Sister Sophie’, is an exceptionally detailed portrait study in grey graphite pencil and white pencil highlights set against a white oil pastel background, which competition adjudicators said was “wonderfully composed and superbly executed”.

All of the 126 winners will be in attendance at the prize-giving ceremony in CityWest this afternoon. Speaking in advance of the event, Minister of State McGinley said: “This event, which is the longest running sponsorship in the history of arts in Ireland, encourages participation within the community and it allows these very talented artists to show off their amazing creativity. To show such outstanding creativity at such a young age certainly augurs well for their studies and indeed careers in the years ahead. This is a celebration of the individuality and uniqueness of our youth.”

The Texaco Children’s Art Competition, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2004, is the longest running sponsorship in the history of arts sponsoring in Ireland. Since it began life in 1955, it has enjoyed an unbroken history of success. Past winners include Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D. (a four-times winner); artists Bernadette Madden, Dorothy Cross, Graham Knuttel and Robert Ballagh; fashion designer Paul Costello; broadcasters Thelma Mansfield and Terry Prone; ICTU General Secretary David Begg; the late novelist Clare Boylan; actress Jean Anne Crowley; and musician Ethna Tinney.