Dunshaughlin sweeps the boards at LMETB Robert Ballagh Art and Photography Exhibition
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Robert Ballagh with Mathea Brady, Dunshaughlin Community College and Katerina Shmihel, St Oliver’s Community College, who won Merit Awards, Junior Schools. KEN FINEGAN NEWSPICSImage 2 of 15
Gemma Quinn, O’Carolan College who won second place, Junior Schools, with Robert Ballagh. KEN FINEGAN NEWSPICSImage 3 of 15
Jessica Walsh, Coláiste na Mí, Alla Yakymenko, VTOS Dundalk, Marie Anne Moore, DIFE and Mitra Safy, St Oliver’s Community College who won Merit Awards, Photography, with Des Clinton and Robert Ballagh. KEN FINEGAN NEWSPICSImage 4 of 15
Keith Duffy, Ó Fiaich Institute, and Ratchannon Chansungnoen, Dunboyne College of Further Education, who won merit awards, with Paul McCann, Des Clinton, and Robert Ballagh. KEN FINEGAN NEWSPICSImage 5 of 15
Lisa Jednorog, St Peter’s College, Dunboyne who won third Place, SCA, with Robert Ballagh. KEN FINEGAN NEWSPICSImage 6 of 15
Michael Gerbola, Dunshaughlin Community College, who won first place, Senior Schools, with Robert Ballagh. KEN FINEGAN NEWSPICSImage 7 of 15
Michaela Nugent, Navan Youthreach who won third place, with Robert Ballagh. KEN FINEGAN NEWSPICSImage 8 of 15
Blue Sherlock, Navan Youth Reach who won first place, Youth Reach, with Robert Ballagh. KEN FINEGAN NEWSPICSImage 9 of 15
Aimee Juhel, Dunshaughlin Community College, who won third place, Senior Schools, with Robert Ballagh. KEN FINEGAN NEWSPICSImage 10 of 15
Philip Sowa, Ashbourne CNS, who won third Place, Primary Schools, in the LMETB Robert Ballagh Art Competition. KEN FINEGAN NEWSPICSImage 11 of 15
Penny Leonard, Dunshaughlin Community School, who won first place, Junior Schools, with Robert Ballagh. KEN FINEGAN NEWSPICSImage 12 of 15
Niamh Keegan and Zara Oakes Cottin, Dunshaughlin Community College, who won Merit Awards, Senior Schools, in the LMETB Robert Ballagh Art Competition. KEN FINEGAN NEWSPICSImage 13 of 15
Ciara Moore, Ashbourne Community Nationbal School, who won second place, Primary Schools, with Robert Ballagh. KEN FINEGAN NEWSPICSImage 14 of 15
Cormac Fagan, Dunshaughlin Community Schoool, who won third place, Junior Schools, with Robert Ballagh. KEN FINEGAN NEWSPICSImage 15 of 15
Robert Crosbie, Sean Cunningham and Ava Gargan, O’Carolan College who won first place, SCA, in the LMETB Robert Ballagh Art Competition pictured with Robert, and Paul McCann at the awards ceremony held in the Droichead Arts Centre. KEN FINEGAN NEWSPICSDunshaughlin Community College scooped seven of the ten prizes in the Secondary Schools Category in the Louth and Meath Education and Training Board Robert Ballagh Art & Photography Competition 2023.
In its eighth year, the competition was open to students and learners attending LMETB’s 20 secondary schools, three post Leaving Certificate Colleges, three VTOS centres, nine Youthreach centres and four community national schools.
The Competition is open to any student or learner who wishes to submit a piece of art. There are seven categories with 38 prizes on offer.
The competition judge is Dublin artist, Robert Ballagh. A universal photography section is judged by Drogheda photographer, Des Clinton. The offical opening and awards night was held at the Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda, with 38 pieces of art adorning the gallery walls.
Organiser, Paul McCann, an art teacher at St Oliver’s Community College, Drogheda, stated that the competition was founded was to provide an opportunity for budding artists across LMETB’s education providers to showcase their talents and to achieve recognition.
Robert Ballagh said that every year the quality of work increases and it gives him joy when entering the gallery for awards night and viewing the winning entries framed and hanging as an exhibition. He stated 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 congratulated the winners in the photography category and commented on the enjoyment he gained whilst judging due to the quality of work entered, some of which were taken on smart phone cameras. He mentioned that selecting the winners was a hugley difficult task and complimented many of the entries that just missed out on a prize.
Mr McCann thanked Collette Farrell, Tony Conaghy and all the staff in the Droichéad Arts Centre for their continued support, Robuck ffrench from Tara Art Supplies for the art pack prizes, and Conor Thorne of Dealg Design, Ardee, for the framing of the winning entries, and Robert Ballagh and Des Clinton for judging the competition.
Photos: Ken Finegan/newspics