Emma wins art competition

Emma McKernan from Cloughmills designed the winning item, Recycled Raindrops. Emma created her piece from an old umbrella, plastic bags, some wire, buttons and a plastic bottle.

She said: “I thoroughly enjoyed working on this project, We had lots of fun putting our art work together. I can’t believe I’ve won a trip to the Eden Project in Cornwall!”

Emma Irwin, her art teacher from Cross and Passion College, said, “The class that produced artwork to the ‘Make Art not Waste’ theme were very enthusiastic. They were worked extremely hard on their individual projects and I’m delighted that they thoroughly enjoyed participating as well.

“This was a great project and on behalf of the school I’d like to thank RiverRidge Recycling for the £500 cheque for the school – the art department will benefit greatly!”

Emma won a trip to world-renowned Eden Project in Cornwall and her winning unique piece of art, Recycled Raindrops, will be forwarded to the regional final where she is in with a chance of winning an ipad.

She will also be automatically entered into the Sustainable Ireland Awards 2012 – Most Inspiring Environmental Project by a Young Person, which will be held in September 2012 and there will be a regional final of all seven council finalists where the winner will win an ipad.

Brett Ross, Managing Director of RiverRidge Recycling, based in Ringsend, said: “As a Materials Recovery Facility we believe it important to engage with the community and convey our environmental values to a multi-generational audience.

“We asked students to bring to life recyclable products and create something which will tell its own environmental message. I’ve been astounded at some of the works of art that the schoolchildren have made. They have really thought about the message and brought to life their interpretation of waste, recycling and the environment we live in.”

Janice Dunlop, Recycling Officer, Moyle District Council, said: “Moyle District Council wishes to thank all the students from Cross and Passion College and Ballycastle High School for taking part and producing fantastic pieces of artwork for the regional final of ‘RiverRidge Recycling Make Art Not Waste’ competition.  

“It was evident in the artwork submitted that a great deal of time and effort went into to produce these pieces while keeping within the theme of using at least three recycled materials.  I have thoroughly enjoyed being involved in this competition and look forward to seeing next year’s entries.”

The Department of the Environment’s Rethink Waste NI programme supports the competition.

The judges for the Moyle District Council area competition were Councillor Padraig McShane, Chairman of Moyle District Council, Brett Ross, Managing Director of RiverRidge Recycling, Lily Wallace, Creative Peace Mural Society, Patricia Perry, Owner of Gloonan Gallery and Elaine Gaston, Arts Officer, Moyle District Council.

The ‘Make Art Not Waste’ school competition was open to all pupils in years 8 to 10 across seven council areas and allowed children to use their imagination to create a piece of artwork, furniture or an accessory using recyclable products.

The competition, along with media partner Sustainable Ireland, saw pupils from Ballymena, Ballymoney, Coleraine, Limavady, Londonderry, Magherafelt and Moyle council areas take part.

All seven finalists are also automatically entered for the Sustainable Ireland Awards 2012 – Most Inspiring Environmental Project by Young Person which will be held in September 2012.