County winners announced in Someone Like Me art competition

Pupils and teachers at Scoil Eoin Báiste, Nobber, and Saint Mary's Primary School Enfield 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.

Ms Caitriona Flanelly's Spraoi Class (3-5 year olds) from Scoil Eoin Báiste, Nobber, created a colourful collage for their project ‘Bright Future Through our eyes' - We are shooting for the stars, to be named junior county winners.

The senior county winner was Saint Mary's Primary School, Enfield. 'The Invisible Superpowers of Someone Like Me,' was written and illustrated by Room 27: Ms. Conneely's Senior Autism Class and the project was part of their Inclusion Week. The class members are presented as superheroes, each with a hidden challenge and a corresponding superpower.

An initiative of the National Disability Authority, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Someone Like Me art 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 Scoil Eoin Báiste and Saint Mary's Primary School Enfield 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 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.

“Selecting the county winners was not an easy task for the judges and choosing an overall senior and junior winner will be an even harder job. And, while I know it will be an anxious wait for the pupils and teachers to hear which of the 52 county winners will be awarded the national titles, all pupils and teachers should be congratulated for their entries and for coming up with ways to include all people within society.”

Scoil Eoin Baiste and Saint Mary's Primary School Enfield 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 Wednesday 28th January.