Eoin scoops national prize with picture-perfect entry
A FIFTH class pupil in Courtnacuddy National School recently received awards for winning the Junior Category of the inaugural Ireland National School Photography Awards.
Eoin Cloke’s entry ‘Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow’ depicts two horses in the snowfall that the county experienced in January. For Eoin, he has a passing interest in photography but, competition coordinator and teacher Claire Kickham said, he did not have any background in photography through parents or family. He just happened, she said, to be in the right place at the right time to snap the charming image.
The school had a good return from the competition as, out of 28 entries from second, third, fifth and sixth class, they had a number of finalists and highly commended participants.
Eoin took the top prize in the Junior Category, winning two digital cameras, one for the school and one for himself, and two framed copies of his photograph. The other two finalists were: Conor Leacy from third class and Abbey Doyle from fifth class. Both will receive certificates and a framed copy of their photographs.
There were also three Highly Commended images, which were snapped by Aideen Reck, Kyle O’Callaghan and Cora Dunne - all second class pupils. They will receive certificates and the school intends to print the images for them, as well as printing certificates for all of the participants.
Ms Kickham said they had been trying to further promote and develop ICT skills in the school and the competition had been a great way of doing that.
‘We’re very proud of Eoin and his won- derful photograph, and all of the pupils who participated. Next year, we hope to get the whole school involved and, now that we have a school camera, we can use it throughout the year to build up a portfolio of work from the kids.’
INSPA is a national children’s photography competition which is open to all primary schools located in the Republic of Ireland. This year’s award partners were The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, Image Masters Photography, MummyPages and Dublin Zoo and the awards saw over 150 primary schools from across the Republic of Ireland request to participate.