Cork students showcase their artistic talents in Holly Bough

Sun, 22 Dec, 2024 - 15:14

Mayfield Community School is celebrating 50 years of educating students on the northside of the city and to mark the occasion, the Holly Bough invited students there to create the artwork for this year’s fiction section in the publication.

Sophie Power and Zahira O’Flynn with some of the original artwork they created for this year's Holly Bough. Picture Chani Anderson

The section this year is led with a short story by Cork author Conál Creedon and features a range of short stories and poems.

Pictured are 5th and 6th year students who created original artwork for this year’s Holly Bough publication with their principal Kieran Golden and art teacher Olwyn Brady in Mayfield Community School. Picture Chani Anderson

Under the guidance of art teacher, Olwyn Brady, senior cycle art students created an abundance of illustrations, paintings, lino art and drawings for the edition – so many, in fact, that it wasn’t possible to include them all.

Sophie Lane and Molly O’Neill with some of their original artwork. Picture Chani Anderson

“It was an interesting way of showing the students how illustrators work,” said Ms Brady, adding that it also presented students with the opportunity to take art out of the art room.

Isabelle Collins and Sarah Cummins with some of the original artwork they created. Picture Chani Anderson

Ms Brady, who has spent 20 years working at the school, said that students embraced the stories; some which had humour and others sadness, and they particularly enjoyed the social history and ties to place within the individual pieces.

Students, Keira Busteed and Brendan Barrow with some of the original artwork they created. Picture Chani Anderson

“There were different conversations in the classroom as a result of this project,” she said.

On a visit to the school, students told the Holly Bough that they loved taking part in the brief and especially enjoyed looking at their own different interpretations of the stories and poems.

Joseph Salis with the original illustration he created for this year's Holly Bough. Picture Chani Anderson

Holly Bough editor Mary Corcoran said: “To say we were blown away by the artwork is an understatement.

“I want to thank Olwyn Brady and the students at Mayfield Community School for their wonderful contributions to this year’s edition.”

Keeley McCarthy, Nathan Hehir and Courtney Gahan with some of their original artwork. Picture Chani Anderson

Mayfield Community School principal, Kieran Golden, also congratulated the pupils.

He said that the school, while respecting its past, continues to build towards its future, and is looking forward to starting a new school extension with the construction of two additional classrooms.

“Our students are at the heart of what we do and deserve the very best and we will do everything we can to ensure that they will get the best that there is,” he said.

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