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By Sean Moriarty

Budding artist Andrew McGillicuddy become the first boy to win the annual Bird’s Carnival Art Competition in its 10 year history.

Every year for the last 10 years, the Bird family, operators of the well-known fun fair that runs in the Fair Hill car park, organise a series of fun events for local and visiting children as part of its annual Carnival Week.

This year’s judges were Tracy and Daniel Sexton of the Art House Killarney.

The winner of the annual art competition is presented with the Michael Courtney Memorial Cup, named after one of Killarney’s most progressive town councillors. He also won a series of art classes courtesy of Art House Killarney.

Cllr Courtney was a long-time supporter of Bird’s annual visit to the town and was a judge on previous competitions organised by the fun fair family.

“We started this concept to give kids a chance to show their talent,” Dom Bird, grandson of the company’s founder William, said. “The standards are increasing every year. This is the 10th year we have presented the Michael Courtney Memorial Cup. He was a great supporter of Killarney tourism and a great benefactor to the town. I am delighted to say, that all the previous winners were girls, but this year we have the first boy get his name on the trophy.”