Cavan students to the fore at 71st Texaco Art Competition

Corlurgan NS and Loch Gowna NS students recognised.

Two Cavan students have won top prizes in this year’s 71st Texaco Children’s Art Competition.

In the 7-8 years age category, Pierre Gaultier Swords (8), a pupil at Corlurgan National School, won first prize for his work entitled ‘My Bro, My Bun’.

In addition, 8-year-old Adam Wiercioch Chinatamunnee from St Patrick's National School, Loch Gowna won a Special Merit Award for his artwork entitled ‘Still Nature with Lemons & Bananas’ judges said “displayed high levels of skill and creativity”.

Neither boys are strangers to the competition; Pierre won third prize in the six years and younger age category in 2022 while Adam won a Special Merit that same year.

Commenting on Pierre’s artwork, adjudicator Pauline O'Connell added: “Pierre utilises vivid oil pastels and a repetitive (carrot) patterned background to convey a creative harmony between nature, humans and animals”.

Meanwhile, the Competition is popularly regarded as the longest-running sponsorship in the history of arts sponsoring in Ireland, with an unbroken history that dates back to the very first Competition held in 1955.

This year, as has been the case throughout its life, it has been a platform on which young artists from Cavan and counties throughout Ireland have had their talents recognised and their creativity commended.