The National Sandcastle Competition took place on Sunday attracting contestants and lookers-on from far and wide and was a great success in so many ways.
Despite a fairly dodgy weather forecast the beach was very busy and, because there wasn’t a car in sight it seemed to me, and this may be just my imagination, everyone seemed that extra little bit more relaxed.
Anyway, this is not the occasion to raise such matters, the main event was in progress when we arrived and fantastic creations were emerging from the sand in various stages of completion.
There were any amount of castles poking their turrets skyward, fish swimming, dolphins leaping (are they fish too?) an octopus or two and, bizarrely, a sofa and a wedding cake. There was no end to the creativity and fun on display.
This maybe a fun event and just by taking part all entrants were winners but there has of course to be “official” winners too and they are as follows:
National Sandcastle Competition Winners 2022
Under 8’s
- Zander Rice –Wicklow – Star Fish
- Vaesta- Laytown – Dinosaur
- Eabhn Curran – Bettystown – Sunglasses
Under 13’s
- Lilly.Cara & Julie.- Laytown – The World In Our Hands
- Gvomous,- Duleek –The Lizzard
- Sofia Callan, Ukraine – Panda in the Sea
Family Category
- The Lambs – Bettystown- Dolphin
- The Crehan’s – Donnycarney- Pyramids
- Ryan & Tara Toner – Laytown –Sea Shell Castle
Sarah Corcoran, Niamh Farkin and Ava Callinan making mermaids at the 2022 National Sandcastle competition at Bettystown Beach. Photo: Andy Spearman.
Junior Sculpture
- Cuan Martin Mac Quale – Dundalk – Cockatiel & Fox
- Holly Mairen –Mornington – Turtle
- Cillian & Osin Boyle – Kildare -Dolpin
Senior Sculpture
- Heather & Ruby – Wales & Donegal – Minion Islandr
- Evia Ofmane – Drogheda – Sea Snail
- Phil & Paudi Daily – Laytown – Treasure Skeleton
Congratulations and a big thank you are due to the organisers Susan Wogan, Rory McInerney, Martina Maguire, and Garret O Brien and of course to local Councillor Tom Behan who presented the Prizes
Thanks also to the Local Sponsors without who’s generous contributions the Festival could not take place. Take a collective bow Liz and Roger Pickett, The Cottages Ireland, Jimmy Gilna, The Cottage Inn Laytown. Paul Lappin, Workspace Drogheda, and Aldi Laytown
The organisers also want to thank Meath County Council and The Beach Wardens for their assistance with the event with a special note of thanks to Rory Mc Inerney a grandson of the founding member Dick O Reilly who has travelled up from County Clare for the event each year since he was eight years old.
Thank you to all the judges who gave up their Sunday Afternoon to assist and judge the various categories. Not an easy task but thankfully they got the judging done just before a haymaker of a downpour sent people scuttling for home.
