Young artists receive their awards

By Dan Walsh

Young artists from schools all around County Wexford received their awards for the Wexford County Council Annual Artwork Competition 2025 in County Hall last Thursday.

The artwork competition is an initiative run by the Environment Section of Wexford County Council in conjunction with Wexford Naturalists’ Field Club.

The theme of this year’s competition was “Bumblebees, Solitary Bees and Honeybee – Nature’s Pollinators.”

Cllr Ger Carthy, Leas -Cathaoirleach Wexford County Council, presented prizes to 40 school children representing both primary and secondary schools.

Cllr Carthy stated “that the aim of the competition was to raise awareness of the importance of Wexford’s environment and to encourage all to explore its uniqueness as something to be valued and cherished. Wexford County Council is preparing a new Local Biodiversity Action Plan, supported by the Heritage Council.

Cllr Carthy thanked Don Conroy for providing the colouring sheet and judging the artwork competition. He also thanked Wexford Naturalists’ Field Club for supporting the competition and sponsoring birdboxes. He also praised the young artists present and encouraged them to maintain a healthy respect for the environment as part of their lives.

The overall winner from Primary Schools was Alice Buki Nemeth, Glynn National School and the overall winner from Secondary Schools was Leon Carthy of Selskar College Wexford. The winning artwork was displayed in County Hall.

Full List of Artwork Winners were Junior Infants; 1^st, Ava Andrew St Leonards National School, Ballycullane; 2^nd, Tuiren Doyle Ballyduff National School; 3^rd, Julia Whelan Ballyduff National School. Highly Commended; Sariad Holmes St Kevin’s National School, Tara Hill and Tess Devereux Piercestown National School.

Senior Infants. 1^st, Elena Caffery Scoil Naomh Bríde; 2^nd, Amy O’Keeffe St Leonards National School, Ballycullane; 3^rd, Ava Cleary Gusserane National School. Highly Commended Eva Flynn Rathnure National School and Cian McHale Scoil Naomh Maodhóg, Ferns.

First and Second Class; 1^st, Kallum Hennessy Greene Kilmore National School; Joint 2^nd, James Kahwati Glynn National School and Arthur James Danescastle National School; Joint 3^rd, Saoirse Egan Gusserane National School and Shayna Walsh Glynn National School. Highly Commended Ailbhe Rose D’Arcy Scoil Ghormáin Naofa, Castletown.

Third and Fourth Class; 1^st, Ella Roche Kilmore National School; 2^nd, Faye Bernadette Murphy Kilmore National School; Joint 3^rd; Ella Tobin Scoil Ghormáin Naofa, Castletown and Hanna Doyle Ballyduff National School. Dillon O’Neill, St Kevin’s National School, Tara Hill. Highly Commended Liliwen Davies Danescastle National School.

Fifth and Sixth Class; 1^st, Hanna Violet Walsh Kennedy Park National School; Joint 2^nd, Rachael Gahan Scoil Naomh Maodhóg, Ferns andCathal Bowe Ballyduff National School; 3^rd, Addison O’Leary Scoil Naomh Bríde, Blackwater. Highly Commended Mila Barry Mythen Kilmore National School and Diana Ilnytska St Kevins National School Tara Hill.

First to Third Year; 1^st, Conan Kelly St Peters College, Wexford; 2^nd, Shara Alcock Selskar College, Wexford; Joint 3^rd, Krisztina Barta Selskar College, Wexford, and Lucy Salisbury Kennedy College, New Ross. Highly Commended Logan Murray St Peters College, Wexford.

Fourth to Sixth Year; 1^st, James Furlong St Peters College, Wexford; Joint 2^nd; Niamh O’Connor Kennedy College, New Ross and Cormac Deane St Peters College, Wexford; 3^rd, Darragh Sherlock St Peters College, Wexford. Highly Commended Luke Burke Kennedy College, New Ross.

Overall Winner Primary School; Alice Buki Nemeth Glynn National School. Overall Winner Secondary School Leon Carthy Selskar College.

Snap Into Action Primary School Winners; 1^st, Danescastle National School; Runners-up; Ballyoughter National School and Kilmyshall National School.