What's New
Art Competition Winning Entries go on Display
08/11/2010 11:23:00
On Saturday 13 November, Highlanes Municipal Art Gallery, Drogheda will launch an exhibition of winning entries from the Boyne Valley Honey Book of Kells National Art Competition; the competition was developed and organised by The Boyne Valley Honey Company.
The exhibition will also feature a rare fine art replica of the Book of Kells.
The competition attracted huge interest from aspiring artists up and down the country, but only three winners (1st, 2nd and 3rd) could be chosen from the three categories (primary, secondary, and third/adult). Three Fine Art Facsimiles of the Book of Kells were presented to the overall winners from each category while runners up received cash prizes.
Entrants to the competition were asked to create a work of art based on one of the following briefs; The Book of Kells itself, the monks who illustrated the manuscript, the materials they used to create it, or life in 9th century Ireland.
Amanda Dillon from Chapelizod in Co. Dublin was named overall winner of the third level/adult category. Josh Joyce from Skerries in Co. Dublin, and a student at Drogheda Grammar School, was named overall winner in the secondary school student category, while teacher Fionnuala Brennan accepted the overall prize in the primary school student category for her 6th class from St. Brigid's School in Killester.
Speaking about the launch of the exhibition, Gillian Hennessy, Brand Manager for Boyne Valley Honey commented, “We were overwhelmed by the quality of entries we received. Each of the winners in their respective categories demonstrated an original and imaginative interpretation of the brief. We are delighted to announce that all of the winning entries plus a selection of other entries will remain on display in the Irish Cement Room, Highlanes Municipal Art Gallery until 12th January 2011.”
Highlanes Gallery, director, Aoife Ruane welcomed the special exhibition commenting “we are delighted to be hosting this unique competition exhibition which, as an idea, originated in Drogheda in the dynamic Boyne Valley Honey company. This type of activity encourages and acknowledges creativity in young people and adults, and the exhibition, I expect will stimulate the audiences who will visit and engage with it while on display at the gallery over the coming months.”
Runners up included; Noel McCloskey from Dundrum, Co. Dublin and Michael O' Neill from Enfield in Co. Meath, who won second and third place respectively in the third level/adult category. Group entrants Claire McKenna, Marie McFadden, and Rachel O' Keefe from Kells in Co. Meath, and the 1st year art class from CBS on Sexton St in Co. Limerick won second and third place respectively in the secondary school student category. Scoil Cholmcille from Co. Donegal, and six year old Mia Farrell from the Burren in Co. Clare won second and third place respectively in the primary school student category.
For more information about the Highlanes Municipal Art Gallery go to www.highlanes.ie