Drogheda students have once again exhibited some extraordinary talent in the Louth & Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) Robert Ballagh Art & Photography Competition.
Now in its’ sixth year, the competition is open to students and learners attending LMETB’s 18 Secondary Schools, three Post Leaving Cert Colleges, three VTOS Centres, nine Youthreach Centres and four Community National Schools in the two counties. There are six categories with a total of thirty prizes on offer.
The competition judge, Robert Ballagh, is arguably Ireland’s most well-known living artist, while the photography section is judged by internationally renowned Drogheda photographer, Des Clinton.
The competition took on a different format this year with on-line submissions only and unfortunately no awards ceremony was possible due to Covid-19 restrictions.
The award winning students also missed out on the opportunity to have their work framed and exhibited in a gallery for two weeks for the public to enjoy.
This year’s winners will however be invited to have their work framed and put on show as part of next year’s winners’ exhibition which promises to be a double delight.
The competition organiser, Paul Mc Cann said that the reason he, Declan Clarke and Deidre Harrington founded the competition was to provide an opportunity for budding artists across LMETB’s education providers to showcase their talents and to achieve some recognition for same.
He praised the students for their outstanding work and complimented their parents, teachers, principals and coordinators for their mentoring and encouragement.
The Drogheda students to do well in the competition were:
- Sarah Carey, a first year student at St. Oliver’s Community College who received a Merit for her Artwork “Any Carrots?”
- Sherona Dogherty-Kermath of Drogheda Institute of Further Education, who received a Merit for her Artwork “Seascape” in the PLC and VTOS section of the Competition.
- Sasha Coverda of Drogheda Institute of Further Education came first in the PLC and VTOS section with her painting “Skylines”
- Sophie Byrne of Drogheda Youthreach came first in the Youthreach section with her Artwork “Ash”.
- Pia Mc Cann, 6th year, St. Oliver’s C.C., won third prize in the Senior Schools section with her paining “The Gift of Speech”.
- Marina Evseena, 6th year, St. Oliver’s C.C. received a Merit for her Artwork “City Seraph” in the Senior Schools section.
- Lucy Redmond, 2nd year, St. Oliver’s P.P., “Untitled” came third in the Junior Schools section.
- Krystian Zebrowski, Drogheda Institute of Further Education received a merit for his photograph “Self-Portrait” in the photography section.
- Katie Duffy, Drogheda Institute of Further Education, came second in the photography section with her photograph entitled “X-Ray”
- Jodie Harper, Drogheda Institute of Further Education came third in the PLC and VTOS section with his picture “Isolation”.
- Faye Christie, Drogheda Institute of Further Education, “Lillies” came second in the PLC and VTOS section/
- Daria Nowak of St. Oliver’s C.C. came third in the photography section of the competition with a photo called “Trapped In My Own Mind”.
- Alice Troy of Drogheda Youthreach, came third in the Youthreach section of with her picture “Do You See Me”.
Robert Ballagh expressed his delight at the high standard of entries this year adding that the creative process is a great confidence booster and that submitting and winning, reinforced this confidence boost in the best possibly way.
Des Clinton also asked that his congratulations be passed on to the winners in the photography category and commented on the enjoyment he gained whilst
The exhibition will be available to view on the Droichead Arts Centre Digital Platform, Viewing Rooms (https://droicheadartscentre.viewingrooms.com) from 14 May.
