Standard of entries to city-wide art competition was ‘incredible’

A CITY-WIDE art competition has seen nine local schools awarded trees, while students at a tenth are now the proud custodians of a bespoke bug hotel.

As part of Tree Week 2024, Cork City Council ran a competition across its 10 libraries and its mobile library, with schoolchildren of all ages encouraged to draw pictures of their favourite tree or plant.

Shane O’Sullivan, digital and marketing manager with Cork City Council, said he and his colleagues in City Hall had been “blown away” by the standard of the pictures entered in the competition.

“Over the course of the campaign, we received over 100 incredible submissions from kids aged from 4 to 11, with some naming their favourite trees that are located across the city and indeed in their own garden.

“In all, 10 winners were chosen, with nine schools receiving a tree to be planted on their school grounds, with an outright winner, St Mary’s School in Rochestown, winning a bespoke bug hotel,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

“I just want to thank my colleagues in the libraries across the city for facilitating the competition this year and to say the standard and volume of entries was incredible.”

Mr O’Sullivan said the campaign had sought to encourage children of all ages to think about nature and their surrounding environment.

“Judging by the fantastic response we received, the children across Cork love being in nature. We are already looking forward to making the competition bigger and better in 2025,” he added.

St Mary’s School is a school for children from all over Cork who have a primary diagnosis of mild intellectual disability. Cathy Davis, who teaches in the school, said the new bug hotel was a very welcome new arrival.

“There is a great love of nature among the pupils, and this will be a lovely addition to the school,” she said.

Thomas Kane, executive parks and landscape officer with Cork City Council, said National Tree Week had been a resounding success.

“Our school competition sparked creativity and environmental awareness among students. We distributed 2,500 trees to enthusiastic residents and planted an impressive 4,000 more throughout the city,” Mr Kane said.

“These efforts showcase our community’s dedication to a greener, healthier Cork City.”