Schools Art Competition

Some of Ireland’s most talented young artists travelled to the Central Bank on Tuesday, 22 May to attend a prize-giving ceremony for the winners of our Schools Art Competition.

The competition called on students to take inspiration from people or events from the past 75 years and design a coin to commemorate the Central Bank’s 75th anniversary.

The competition drew a phenomenal response with over 1200 entries received in four separate categories across primary and post-primary schools.

Both national and regional winners were presented with their prizes by Philip Lane, Governor of the Central Bank and Sharon Donnery, Deputy Governor, Central Banking.

A design by Roisin Ní Chlochartaigh & Nora Bairéád from Scoil Cholmáin, Carna, Co. Galway was named National Winner in the Primary School category.

The judges said they were struck by the delicate nature, yet powerful message of their design, which included a dove to symbolise peace in Northern Ireland.

The National Winner in the Post-Primary School category was Sarah Murphy from Coláiste an Chraoibhín, Fermoy, Co. Cork.

The judges said Sarah’s design cleverly embodied many core themes of Irish society over the past 75 years including our natural environment, Irish literature and developments in equality in Irish society.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Governor Donnery said she was delighted to get the opportunity to personally meet the competition winners and praised the artistic talents of all the entrants.

She said: “We had an excellent response from primary and secondary school students to our coin design competition, with hundreds of individual entries received from across Ireland. Throughout the judging process it was evident that students were clearly inspired by a wide range of events from across the last 75 years, with creativity and talent on display across the designs all the way from junior infants to Leaving Certificate students.”

National winners

National Runners Up

Regional Winners

Special Mention:

Elizabeth Wallace
Coláiste Lú, Chapel Street, Dundalk, Co. Louth

Prizes

• Regional winners receive €100 voucher each.
• National runners-up receive €250 voucher each.
• National winners receive a €500 voucher. They will also have their winning design printed in 3D and displayed in the Central Bank Visitor Centre during 2018, following which the winning schools will take ownership of this display.

If you have any questions in relation to the Art Competition, please e-mail [email protected]
We wish to sincerely thank all entrants and look forward to running similar events in the near future.
Stay in touch by visiting our Visitor Centre or  please e-mail [email protected]

• Central Bank of Ireland - 75 Years of Public Service