A-CEART’S Spring Poster Initiative - St. Colmcille’s Kilmacrennan NS

Press Release
Date: 14th April 2010

As a follow up to St. Colmcille’s National School, Kilmacrennan Road Safety Art Competition, organised for the A-CEART Spring Road Safety Campaign, in co-operation with the Principal, Secretary, Teachers and pupils of the school, a Presentation of Prizes was held today in the school’s Gymnasium Hall

Invited to the Presentation of Medals, Certificates and Prizes, were Representatives of all the Emergency Services,  Paul Gallen Ambulance Service; Bobby Mc Menanin Fire Service; Inspector Michael Harrison Head of Traffic Letterkenny Garda Division; Sgt Sarah Hargadon Community Policing; Sgt Ollie Moran Kilmacrennan Garda Station;The Letterkenny Town Mayor Mr. Jim Lynch; Deputy Mayor Jimmy Harte; Kilmacrennan Honorary Mayor,  Adrian Boyle;  Anthony Gorman, Finn Harps;  Stephen Lambert, NRA;   Eamonn Brown Donegal RSO; Andrew Hegarty Director of Hegarty’s Ford Dealers and Sponsor of the A-CEART Car; David Mc Glynn Sales Mgr. at Hegarty’s Ford; Michael O’Donnell, Mgr. AXA Insurance, A-CEART Car Insurers; Joanne Sweeney Burke MediaBox Communications, Sponsor of the A-CEART Website; Lisa Bond Artist and Judge of the children’s exhibits; Enda & Claire Nichols ARENA 7, Main Sponsor of this Presentation day, and also a large number of County and Town Councillors.

Prizewinners were as follows:
Overall Winner: Aodhan Dorrian, 6th Class
1st Prize: Jill Mc Gettigan, 4th Class
2nd Joint Prize: Catherine Murray, 5th Class & Lauren Mc Elwaine, 6th Class
3rd Joint Prize: Colleen Kelly, 6th Class & Daria McGlynn, 4th Class
4th Joint Prize: Conor Doogan, 6th Class & Shay Mc Elwaine, 6th Class

The children of Kilmacrennan NS, presented an Engraved Trophy to Anthony Gorman, Finn Harps FC,  as a Token of appreciation for his surprise appearance at their Prize giving day.

Mary Clinton, Founder of A-CEART (Action –Campaign for Education Against Road Tragedies), expressed her heartfelt thanks to the children, the school Principal John Devenney, the school Secretary Anne O’Donnell, and their Teachers, especially Sarah Mc Laughlin, Mel O'Donnell, and Ciamha Werrity,  for their participation and co-operation with this Project, and said their Art work was of such a high standard for children of 4th, 5th and 6th classes, that we felt it only fair to give double prizes, and thanks to ARENA 7, Entertainment Centre, Letterkenny,  I was in a position to do just that.  Mary hopes, if she gets sponsorship, to turn the winning exhibit into Posters and use them to further promote road safety by circulating them throughout the County and beyond in the coming months.

Mary said, every child grows up to be a Road user, either as a Pedestrian, a Cyclist or a Vehicle Driver or Passenger. So, we as Educators, Parents, Grandparents, Guardians, Teachers, Gardai, Road Safety Officers etc, have a Moral Responsibility to instruct or young children and older ones on every aspect of Road Safety. It has to be a part of life long development. Failure to do so is handing down a life sentence to our children and the next Generation of Road users. Mary said she is very well aware of all the Excellent work being done by the Gardai, all the Emergency Services, the Road Safety Officer, the RSA and everyone with a responsibility for safety on our roads, and would hope that her small contribution would aid the good work of the aforementioned because we all have a responsibility for making our roads safer, especially for our vulnerable children.
 
Children are like little Sponges, they absorb everything and remember everything, so they have a very important role to play in Road Safety, especially when their Parents are Pre- occupied with very busy lives.
 
Mary sincerely hopes that the Posters when circulated will have a lasting effect on peoples “Lifestyle Choices and Behaviour” and contribute to saving precious lives over the coming months and beyond.

She also thanked Andrew Hegarty Ford Dealer for continued Sponsorship of the ACEART car to help promote road safety. Special thanks was also expressed to all the Sponsors of Vouchers and various prizes.  Michael O'Donnell of AXA Insurance has provided cover for the car for the third year running and Mary is very thankful for that.
 
A sincere thanks to Lisa Bond, The Croft Art Studio, Glencar, for judging the children’s Artwork at very short notice.
 
List of Sponsors and Donators:
ARENA 7 Main sponsor, Letterkenny
Eason’s Books & Cards Store, Letterkenny
The Lagoon, Restaurant, Termon
Oatfields Sweets, Letterkenny
Universal Books & Records,  Letterkenny
Mc Cullaghs Jewellers, Letterkenny
Boyles Spar Supermarket, Kilmacrennan
Links 2, Letterkenny
and A-CEART