PICTURES: Portlaoise student wins Peace Poster Contest

The winners of the Lions International Peace Poster Competition were welcomed to Áras an Chontae, Portlaoise by Laois County Council's Arts Office. The winners of first and second prize were presented with a plaque by President of the Lions Club Sean Cruise and the overall winner of the Laois contest was announced as Abigail Blood from Maryborough NS, Portlaoise. Abigail’s work will go forward to the next stage of the international competition. CONTINUE READING BELOW PHOTO

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The Lions International Peace Poster Contest is an international contest that allows children, ages 11 - 13, to creatively express what compassion means to them and to share their unique image of compassion and to encourage social connection and understanding. The theme this year is “Peace Without Limits” and it is the 19th year Laois County Council has hosted the event, organised jointly by the Lions Club and the Arts Office.

"Thanks to Lions members Mary O’Riordan and Barbara Stanley - the main organisers of the competition. Thanks also to the judges, artists, Ray Murphy and Siobhán Keogh. They did not have an easy job picking the winners from the schools who participated this year," said the organisers. 

Winners and schools include:

1 st Prize Abagail Blood, 2 nd Prize Macques Morga -  Maryborough NS
1 st Prize Kaiah Keenan, 2 nd Prize Siobhan Dolan - Killanure NS
1 st Prize Lola Costello, 2 nd Prize Sean Tynan  - Gaelscoil Thromaire
1 st Prize Sophia Dunne, 2 nd Prize Ciarán Cahill - Kolbe Special School
1 st Prize TJ Dooley, 2 nd Prize Rosie Ryan - Rushall NS
1 st Prize Rosalie Delaney, 2 nd Prize Aoibhe Murphy - Paddock NS, Mountrath
1 st Prize Eimear Kavanagh, 2 nd Prize Ineyah Baby - Scoil Bhríde, Mountrath
1 st Prize Ishaan Krishna, 2 nd prize Molly-Mai Dollard - Clonenagh NS
1 st Prize Isobel Cuddy, 2 nd Prize Joseph Delaney - Camross NS

The posters will be on display to the public in Áras an Chontae for two weeks for visitors to view the work.