Climate Change and Bio Diversity Art Competition Swords Tidy Towns and Swords Woodland Association – 2024

By Matt Cullen, Schools Liaison Officer, Swords Tidy Towns

It was November 2023 that the Climate Change and Biodiversity Art Competition 2024 was initiated. All primary schools were consulted at this time to see if the art competition would be of interest to both the students and the school staff. The feedback from most schools was very positive, consequently in January 2024 the Climate Change and Biodiversity Art Competition was launched. All the schools concerned that entered the competition were provided with all the relevant details about it in February 2024. To facilitate the schools, the final entry date was extended until after the Easter period and the judging commenced in the middle of April. The competition was a collaboration between Swords Tidy Towns (STT) and Swords Woodland Association (SWA). It was open to students to enter it from all primary schools in Swords. The following schools participated; St.Colmcille’s GNS, Old Borough N.S., Rivervalley CNS, Scoil an Duinninigh, Feltrim and Gaelscoil Bhrian Boroimhe. A total of 202 entries were received, we were delighted with the response from each school and wish to thank the students, teachers, and each school for their time and participation in the art competition. We would have loved to display all the art entries but this was not possible, however, we displayed all the prizewinning posters and the commended art entries.

Students were encouraged to use their creativity and were asked to submit a poster that reflects the themes of Climate Change and Bio Diversity. They were given the opportunity to create the poster in any medium on A3 paper. It was truly wonderful to see such a diverse and very creative range of posters entered by the students, especially given the very young age profile of all the students concerned. The judges wish to thank both the students and teachers for all their great work. They were delighted with the high standard of the entries. Swords Tidy Towns are very thankful to judges Eric Duffy (STT) and Edward Stevenson (SWA) for their help in the judging of the competition.

The outcome from the judging resulted in the following students receiving vouchers:

1 st Prize: (4 to 8 yrs.) Myah Whelehan McNally (Rivervalley CNS) €100 voucher
2 nd Prize: (4 to 8 yrs.) Giovana Cavaicante (Rivervalley CNS) €50 voucher
3 rd Prize: (4 to 8 yrs.) Anna Doherty (Rivervalley CNS) €25 voucher
1 st Prize: (9 to 12 yrs.) Andrea Quinn (St. Colmcille’s GNS) €100 voucher
2 nd Prize: (9 to 12 yrs.) Kayleigh Ni Chaomhanach (Scoil an Duinninigh, Feltrim) €50
3 rd Prize: (9 to 12 yrs.) Aiman Shaheen (St. Colmcille’s GNS) €25 voucher
Merit Prize: (4 to 8 yrs) Donovan Hourigan Murphy (Broadmeadows CNS) €20 voucher
Merit Prize: (9 to 12 yrs.) Grace Duddy (Scoil an Duinninigh, Feltrim) €20 voucher

Merit Prize (9 to 12 yrs.) Caoimhe Ni Oireachtaigh (Gaelscoil, Bhrian Boroimhe) €20

Due to the incredibly high standard of entries, three additional Merit Prizes were added to the original 6 prizes allocated. Also, certificates were issued to 10 students for their commended art entries. Congratulations to all the winners and to all the students whose artwork was commended. The winning entries and commended posters were on display in The Atrium, County Hall, Fingal. County. Council, Swords during Bio Diversity Week from Tuesday 22nd to Friday 24th May 2024 from 9am to 5pm. The award ceremony was held on Wednesday 23rd May at 2.30 pm in the Atrium and was very well attended. The joyful atmosphere at the event, especially from the response from all the children concerned,) made it a very memorable and worthwhile event.

Many thanks to all involved (including Fingal County Council, and especially Deborah Tiernan, Executive Biodiversity Officer, FCC,) for their help in making this competition a great success. It shows the level of interest, commitment, and the importance by all in focusing attention on the themes of Climate Change and Bio Diversity.