Two Kildare schools win in national art competition
Pupils from St Raphael’s Special School in Celbridge with their winning 3D model
PUPILS and teachers at Kildare Town Educate Together and St Raphael’s Special School in Celbridge were named Junior and Senior County winners respectively of the prestigious national art competition ‘Someone Like Me’.
The achievement secures them a place at the national awards ceremony to be held in Dublin in late January, where they will join pupils and teachers from 50 other schools to compete for the much sought-after national senior and junior titles.
An initiative of the National Disability Authority, this year marks the tenth anniversary of the competition which has seen thousands of primary and special school pupils across Ireland develop an awareness and understanding of visible and non-visible disabilities through the medium of art as part of the ongoing process to create a more accepting and inclusive society.
Congratulating Kildare Town Educate Together and St Raphael’s Special School on being named county winners, director of the National Disability Authority Dr Aideen Hartney said that the number of entries this year is a tribute to the ongoing commitment of Ireland’s primary and special school teachers, who continue to play an important part in helping to create an ever-more inclusive Ireland.
“Over the last ten years, the Someone Like Me art competition has created a national conversation about visible and non-visible disabilities, helping to raise awareness and, ultimately, effect positive attitudinal change within society.
“Because of this, the competition is an important part of the work of the National Disability Authority and has become a highlight in our calendar. It gives us the opportunity to meaningfully and creatively engage with primary and special school pupils and teachers alike in a way that will benefit society not just now, but for generations to come.”
Kildare Town Educate Together and St Raphael’s Special School will now go on to compete with 50 other schools from around the country for the overall ‘Someone Like Me’ junior and senior awards, which will be announced at the national awards ceremony to held at Dublin City Hall on next Wednesday, 28 January.
Speakers at the event will include James Casserly, a young disability advocate, with the national awards to be presented by the minister of state attending cabinet with responsibility for disability, Emer Higgins.
The competition, which offers a range of prizes to the value of over €1,000, was open to all primary and special school pupils from junior infants to sixth class and more. Entries ranged from posters and collages to large sculptural installations and videos.
The junior county winner was the senior infants from Kildare Town Educate Together on Melitta Road, led by teacher Cathy Costello. The children decided to write letters of positivity, love and hope to a child they imagined to be ‘someone like me’.
The senior county winner was St Raphaels’ Special School under the guidance of teacher Maria Price. Their project wanted to show how all people are individuals and made from different abilities. They decided that they would make a G person. This 3D model is made from all different materials to show that we have different abilities and talents within us.
