Award presentation for young artists
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St Mary’s Enfield was presented with its Junior County Winner’s Award at this year’s Someone Like Me Art Competition National Awards Ceremony. (From left): Sam Baldwin; Director of the National Disability Authority, Dr Aideen Hartney; Dáithí Garrard; and teacher Sauna Conneely.Image 2 of 2
Rathmore NS was presented with its Junior County Winner’s Award. (From left): Emma Tuite; Director of the National Disability Authority, Dr Aideen Hartney; and Lauren Tuite. PHOTOS: Gareth Chaney.The two Meath schools who won the county prizes at the prestigious national art competition, Someone Like Me, were recently presented with their awards at Dublin City Hall.
Rathmore National School won the junior county prize, while and St Mary’s Primary School Enfield won the senior category prize in Meath and.
The awards were presented at ceremony held at Dublin City Hall which saw teachers and pupils from 52 primary schools across Ireland gather to celebrate achieving County Winner.
Now in its ninth year, the competition, which is organised and funded by the National Disability Authority, allows Ireland’s young people to learn about inclusivity and diversity through the medium of art.
Junior Infants to second class in Rathmore NS submitted a colourful drawing with a rainbow and the words "be kind" and were named as the junior winners in Meath, while fifth class from St Mary's Enfield submitted a video for their entry and were named as senior winners for Meath.
Congratulating both schools on being named county winners, Director of the National Disability Authority, Dr Aideen Hartney said that the number of entries this year is a tribute to the commitment of Ireland’s primary school teachers, who continue to play an important part helping to create an ever-more inclusive Ireland. “The Someone Like Me art competition is an important way of building an acceptance and understanding of all disabilities amongst the primary school community, and developing an autism affirming society.
“Selecting the county winners was not an easy task for the judges and choosing an overall senior and junior winner will be an even harder job. And, while I know it will be an anxious wait for the pupils and teachers to hear which of the 52 county winners will be awarded the national titles, every pupil should be congratulated for their entries and for coming up with ways to include all people within society.”
The competition, which offers a range of prizes, including €500 each for the senior and junior winning schools, was open to all primary school pupils from junior infants to sixth class and more.