A young Laois student scooped the ‘Special Judges Category’ prize in the 2022 ‘Something Fishy’ national poster competition.
Katie O’Neill, a sixth-class pupil from Presentation Portarlington Primary School, was recently named the winner.
The competition, which is organised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in conjunction with Blackrock Education Centre, received artistic entries from across the country.
Earlier this year, primary school students around the country were challenged by Inland Fisheries Ireland to create a poster with the ‘catch-photo-release’ (CPR) message that could be used in awareness campaigns.
Announcing the winners Suzanne Campion, Head of Business Development at Inland Fisheries Ireland said: “I’m delighted to be able to congratulate this year’s winners in the national Something Fishy poster competition.
“We received a host of beautiful posters containing important conservation-based messaging.
“It is reassuring to see the level of awareness that today’s young people have on issues around conservation and protection of our fisheries resource.
“Engagement in these issues early on is promising for future generations to be active stewards over our inland fisheries and the surrounding environment.”
Katie, as winner of the ‘Special Judges Category’, will receive a tablet to the value of €200.
Niamh Murray, Director of Blackrock Education Centre said: “It was fantastic to see the number of entries in this year’s Something Fishy competition.
“I was incredibly impressed by the standard of artwork created by the young people. They are all winners as far as I am concerned!
“It is also greatly encouraging to witness young people wanting to be involved in environmental issues and the competition was a perfect way to harness this interest.
“The future looks very good with such committed, environmentally aware young people. Their artwork will go on to feature in awareness campaigns nationally on fish conservation.”
From the entries, the poster competition judging panel also selected the winners of the sixth class and fifth class categories from Ardfield National School in Clonakilty, Co. Cork, and Sacred Heart School, Clondalkin, Co. Dublin.
The national poster competition is an important element of the wider ‘Something Fishy’ Educational Programme, aimed at primary school pupils aged between ten and thirteen.
It educates students on the importance of biodiversity and on having sustainable habitats, fish and angling.
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