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Toyota Ireland Announces Dream Car Art Contest Winners

Toyota Ireland announced the names of the 15 winners of its first annual Dream Car Art Contest, who were honoured in an awards ceremony at Dublin Zoo. Toyota Ireland invited children across three age categories (Under 10 years, 10-12 years, 13-15 years) to draw or paint their idea of their ‘Dream Car’. The national contest received over 3,000 entries exceeding all expectations.

RTE's Emma O’Driscoll and renowned artist Don Conroy judged the contest. Commenting on the Toyota Dream Car Art submissions, Judge Emma O’Driscoll said "The creativity of entries mixed with pure artistic talent made for a standard of art that can compete on a global scale.” Judge Don Conroy remarked “I’m very impressed with the extraordinary talent shown by the young people who entered the competition -- wonderful, positive views and talent. The art of the future will be in safe hands, thanks to these budding artists.” The winners’ works of art are now entered to compete in the Toyota Dream Car Art Global Contest for a chance to win a trip to Japan.

Each finalist has been presented with a €250 art voucher which will be provided to their school. The winners, who received prizes ranging from xBox Kinect games consoles to art camp classes, were:

Category 1: Under 10

1. Matthew Thornton from Delgany National School, Co. Wicklow
2. Darren Pradeep from St. Conaire’s National School in Shannon, Co. Clare
3. James Adye-Curran from Kilcommon National School, Co. Wicklow
4. Lucca Browning from St. Mary’s Boy’s School, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14
5. Siobhan Tyrrell from St. Mochtas National School, Clonsilla, Dublin 15

10 to 12 Years

1. Emma Urquhart from Crughwell National School, Crughwell Co. Galway
2. Nicholas Pochinkov from St. Gerard’s School, Bray, Co. Wicklow
3. Cian Walker from Corlurgan National School, Co. Cavan
4. Emily Gaughan, Divine Word National School, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16
5. Lara McGovern from Corlurgan National School, Co. Cavan

13 to 15 Years

1. James O’Brien from Gonzaga College, Ranelagh, Dublin 6
2. Agata Romanska from St. Caimins Community School, Shannon, Co. Clare
3. Justyna Fajkowska from Loreto Convent, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
4. Maria Butt from Loreto College, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath
5. Conor Barron from Castleknock Community College, Castleknock, Dublin 15

Commenting on the announcement, David Shannon, Managing Director of Toyota Ireland said: “We were thoroughly impressed with the high level of imagination and creativity that went into the more than 3,000 pieces of art we received. We were really surprised and pleased with the huge response to the competition and look forward to kicking off the next Dream Car Art Contest in October 2012 and seeing what the next wave of Ireland’s aspiring artists will come up with.”