The National Handwriting Awards took place in 2009 in it’s 17th year at the Teachers Centre in Portlaoise.
The competition was open to all national schools throughout the country and was launched to over 3,000 schools around the country.
Entries were received in categories ranging from infants to 6th class with a Special Merit education prize also awarded.
Participants were asked to write a piece on any subject of their choosing.
Style, flair, neatness and layout of handwriting are the criteria that judges used to assess the entries.
Each of the first prize awards were submitted to the national judging panel.
As the computer age was becoming more and more prevalent then, this competition certainly was a great way to encourage children to practise their handwriting.
Check out some great pictures below taken by Alf Harvey:
Prizewinners in the EBS/INTO handwriting competition 2009 category F. From left: Ciarn Rafter, St. Colmcilles NS with mum Catherine Rafter and Laura Whyte, St. Colmcilles NS with mum Margaret Whyte. Picture: Alf Harvey.Prizewinners in the EBS/INTO handwriting competition 2009 category G. From left: Aoife Byrne, St. Joseph’s GNS and Mary Claire Shaughnessy, Scoil Aonghusa. Picture: Alf Harvey.Prizewinners in the EBS/INTO handwriting competition 2009 category E. From left: Leanne Falkiner, St. Paul’s NS, Mountmellick; Laoise Ni Remoin, Gaelscoil Phortlaoise and Hazel Byrne, Scoil Aonghusa. Picture: Alf Harvey.Prizewinners in the EBS/INTO handwriting competition 2009 category D. From left: Hannah Kavanagh, Scoil Clonghusa; Clodagh Brogan, Emo NS and Kaitlyn Weldon, Presentation, Portarlington. Picture: Alf Harvey.Prizewinners in the EBS/INTO handwriting competition 2009 category C with Andrew Cremin, EBS. From left: Emily Miller, Scoil Aonghusa, Stradbally and Alice Dunne, Scoil Aonghusa, Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.Prizewinners in the EBS/INTO handwriting competition 2009 category B with Enda Hickey INTO. From left: Julia Mazuret, Presentation School, Portarlington and Una Rafter, Abbeyleix South School. Picture: Alf Harvey.Prizewinners in the EBS/INTO handwriting competition 2009 category A. From left: Lauren McGinley, St. Joseph’s GNS; Harry O’Sullivan, Emo NS and Molly O’Toole, Emo NS. Picture: Alf Harvey.Prizewinners in the EBS/INTO handwriting competition 2009 category F with Andrew Cremin EBS. From left: Ciarn Rafter, St. Colmcilles NS with mum Catherine Rafter and Laura Whyte, St. Colmcilles NS with mum Margaret Whyte. Picture: Alf Harvey.Prizewinners in the EBS/INTO handwriting competition 2009 category G with Andrew Cremin EBS and Enda HIckey INTO. From left: Aoife Byrne, St. Joseph’s GNS and Mary Claire Shaughnessy, Scoil Aonghusa. Picture: Alf Harvey.Prizewinners in the EBS/INTO handwriting competition 2009 category E with Andrew Cremin EBS and Enda HIckey INTO. From left: Leanne Falkiner, St. Paul’s NS, Mountmellick; Laoise Ni Remoin, Gaelscoil Phortlaoise and Hazel Byrne, Scoil Aonghusa. Picture: Alf Harvey.Prizewinners in the EBS/INTO handwriting competition 2009 category D with Enda Hickey INTO. From left: Hannah Kavanagh, Scoil Clonghusa; Clodagh Brogan, Emo NS and Kaitlyn Weldon, Presentation, Portarlington. Picture: Alf Harvey.Prizewinners in the EBS/INTO handwriting competition 2009 category C with Andrew Cremin, EBS,. From left: Emily Miller, Scoil Aonghusa, Stradbally and Alice Dunne, Scoil Aonghusa, Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.Prizewinners in the EBS/INTO handwriting competition 2009 category B. From left: Julia Mazuret, Presentation School, Portarlington and Una Rafter, Abbeyleix South School. Picture: Alf Harvey.Prizewinners in the EBS/INTO handwriting competition 2009 category A with Andrew Cremin, EBS. From left: Lauren McGinley, St. Joseph’s GNS; Harry O’Sullivan, Emo NS and Molly O’Toole, Emo NS. Picture: Alf Harvey.
