Donabate girl takes first place in nationwide art competition

The fourth annual Childminding Ireland’s Art Competition saw 11-year old Emma Aubert take home the first prize.

The nationwide competition received a record number of entries with 340 children taking part – representing a 60% increase in last year.

Childminding Ireland, which runs the competition said it “missed displaying all the entries on their office walls as due to Covid-19, entrants sent their creations in digital format.”

This year’s entrants submitted various works of art including “cute penguins and dramatic mountain scenes to hand drawn portraits of Harry Potter and first finger paintings form the youngest entrants.

“There was even an entry from 11 month old Lili.”

Bernadette Orbinski Burke, chief executive of Childminding Ireland said “there were so many wonderful entries it made it a very difficult task to choose the winners.

“I believe fostering a love of art from an early age helps to develop a wide range of skills in children.

“It also encourages children to explore the world around them as well as providing an avenue to channel feelings and ideas they may have.”

The three winning entries were as follows:

1^St Place: Emma Aubert, age 11 and her childminder Anne Audebert in Donabate, Co Dublin.

2^nd Place: Leona Duffy Saive, age 7 and her childminder Nathalie Saive in Castlebar, Co Mayo.

3^rd Place: Amara Flinders Strachan, age 2 and her childminder Laura Burns, in Dunhill Co Waterford.