Tipperary pupils were together as one in peace poster competition

Above: The winners and runners-up from the five primary schools, along with the overall winner, Yeva Bilous, Presentation Primary School; Lions Vice President Bet O’Grady and Clonmel Lions Club President, Catherine Murphy

At a special awards ceremony in the Talbot Hotel, prizewinners in the Clonmel Lions Club Peace Poster Competition were congratulated for the tremendous effort they put into their artwork which, this year, carried the theme of ‘Together As One’.

Lions Club president and project co-ordinator, Catherine Murphy, told pupils, teachers and parents that the standard was exceptionally high and the task of choosing a winner was made very difficult.

She paid a special tribute to Maureen Purcell, who acted as an independent adjudicator on behalf of the club.

The final outcome saw ten winners and runners-up from the five primary schools who took part - Ss Peter and Paul’s Primary, Presentation Primary, Gaelscoil Primary, St Mary’s Primary CBS and St Mary’s Parochial.

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There was also one overall winner, whose painting will now go on to represent Clonmel Lions Club at national level in the New Year.

This competition is a global initiative and the national winner will go on to represent Ireland at international level, with Lions clubs from all over the world taking part.

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President Catherine Murphy outlined the background to the competition, which is run each year under the title of Lions International Peace Poster Contest.

She thanked everyone who took part in the event at local level, which saw almost 100 entries from the five schools involved.

This is a very special and unique contest, which encourages young people to create their own unique themed poster.
It gives children worldwide an opportunity to express their vision of togetherness and what it means to them, and then being able to express this through the medium of art.

Catherine extended a special thank you to the teachers, parents and guardians who actively encouraged the children to take part, and even though there can only be a certain number of winners, she hoped that the taking part was a worthwhile experience.

Never has the importance of togetherness being so relevant and this project will be seen in some way as maintaining our focus on what we all hope and strive for.

Encouraged by the huge response to the project, Clonmel Lions Club hopes to continue this as an annual event, with even more schools taking part in the future.

The club thanks all the young, budding artists and wishes overall winner, Yeva Bilous, from the Presentation Primary School, every good wish with her poster at national level.

The club hopes that the experience will be one that she will enjoy and will stand to her in all her future endeavours.

The following is the list of winners: Ss Peter and Paul’s:
first place: Finn O’Keeffe.
second place: Seán Ryan.

Presentation Primary:
first place: Mariah O’Reilly.
second place: Ava Sabatini Mackey.

Gaelscoil Primary:
first place: Baynham Makunike.
second place: Grace Marshall.

St Mary’s Parochial Primary:
first place: Anna Manalac.
second place: Varya Lomova.

St Mary’s Primary CBS
first place: Charlie Kiely.
second Place: Nathan Donoghue.

Overall Winner:
Yeva Bilous of the Presentation Primary School.