B

By Michelle Crean

A creative local girl is thrilled after her outstanding creative talents won first prize at the Trinity College Dublin Book of Kells Creative Competition.
12 year-old Anna Dunlea, who attends Fossa National School, won the primary school section – with her piece ‘Escape from the Book of Kells’.
The judges were astounded with the phenomenal talent that was shown by over 1,600 entries from budding artists and writers of all ages, with the most senior winner aged 82. Entries were received from across Ireland and also from the US, UK, throughout Europe and even as far as Australia!
“The Trinity Book of Kells art competition theme was to create a modern interpretation of the animals from the book of Kells,” Anna’s mom, Sandra Quill, said.
“Anna spent a few weeks working on her piece at home. She has always loved art and takes classes at the Art House in Killarney. She gets a lot of great support and encouragement at school from her teachers and principal.”
Before the awards ceremony, Anna, who lives in Barleymount, was invited up into the first floor of the long room library, which is not open to the public, and she loved seeing the areas where they conserve books and the view of the library from that height, she added.
Anna got to meet other artists and writers at the ceremony and it was a really lovely celebration.
“The long room library is like a room from a book, something you might read about in a Harry Potter book, I loved drawing all the details of it,” Anna said.
The judging panel was made up of Dr Rachel Moss, Head of the Department of History of Art and Architecture at Trinity for the art section while the writing section was judged by Professor Darryl Jones, Dean of the Faulty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.
Congratulating the winners on their great achievement, RTE news anchor and presenter Sharon Ni Bheolain, ambassador of the competition said, that the Book of Kells is a national treasure and it is so gratifying that Irish people retain such pride in its enduring charm.
“It was a pure delight to be an ambassador for this year's Book of Kells Creative Competition. I was bowled over by the standard of entries. People from every walk of life put their heart and soul into interpreting and visualising our most celebrated of manuscripts. Animals, birds and gospel scenes have all been gloriously re-imagined by our finalists and the colours and artistry leap off the page.”