Press Release:-
Date:- 23rd June 2010
A-CEART’S SUMMER POSTER INITIATIVE.
As a follow up to:-
St, Colmcille’s National School, Termon, Road Safety Art Competition, organised for A-CEART Summer Road Safety Campaign, in co-operation with the Principal, Christie Gillespie, Secretary, Teachers and pupils of the school, a Presentation of Prizes was held today in their School Hall.
Invited to the Presentation of Medals, Certificates and Prizes, were Representatives of all the Emergency Services, Paul Gallen Regional Officer, Ambulance Service; Chief Fire Officer, Bobby Mc Menanin; Inspector Michael Harrison Head of Traffic Letterkenny Garda Division; Sgt Sarah Hargadon Community Policing; Sgt Ollie Moran Kilmacrennan Garda Station; Deputy Mayor Jimmy Harte; Kilmacrennan Honorary Mayor Adrian Boyle; 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 and 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; and also a large number of County and Town Councillors.
Prize winners were as follows:-
Overall Winner:- Orla Blades, 4th Class
3rd & 4th Class Winners:-
Ist Prize:- Nicole Mc Laughlin
2nd Joint Prize:- Derbhaile Mc Menamin
3rd Joint Prize:- Brian Alcorn
5th & 6th Class Winners:-
1st Prize;- Naoibh Mc Sharry
2nd Prize:- James Mc Sharry
3rd Prize:- Sonia Connaghan.
Mary Clinton, Founder of A-CEART (Action –Campaign for Education Against Road Tragedies), expressed her heartfelt thanks to the children, the school Principal Christie Gillespie, the school Secretary Angela Budd, and their Teachers, especially Nora O’Grady for their participation and co-operation with this Project, and said their Art work was of such a high standard for children of 3rd 4th 5th and 6th classes, that we felt it only fair to give double prizes, and Mary said, if she gets sponsorship, she hopes 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.
“In the 3rd EU Safety Programme, Ireland was yesterday awarded the PIN (Performance Index Nomination) Award by the ETSC (European Transport Safety Council) in Brussels for its success in sustained reductions in road deaths in recent years. Ireland reduced its road deaths by 41% in the period 2001 to 2009”
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 summer months and beyond.
She also thanked Andrew Hegarty Ford Dealer for continued Sponsorship of the ACEART car to help promote road safety. 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 very sincere thanks to Lisa Bond, The Croft Art Studio, Glencar, for Judging the children’s Artwork free of charge for the 2nd time.
I wish to Thank my Sponsors for this presentation:-
Judge Seamus Hughes, District Court Letterkenny, for his continued financial support of my campaign
County & Town Councillors for their support.
The Yellow Pepper, Letterkenny
Costcutters mini mart, Letterkenny
Oatfields Sweets,Letterkenny
Mace Shop, Letterkenny
Donegal Stationery,Letterkenny
Clarkes Newsagents,Letterkenny
Gallens Discount Store, Letterkenny.
Co Councillors for Allocations.