Ken Wright
EBS/INTO Handwriting Competition
By Ken Wright Photography
15, Mar 2010 - 08:37

EBS Linenhall St, Castlebar in conjunction with the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) celebrates with the Mayo winners of this year's National Handwriting Competition. This is the 18th year of the competition which has grown in size and scale over the past decade and a half. Over 300 children from dozens of schools all over Mayo sent in entries.

I.N.T.O / E.B.S. Handwriting Competition Winners presentations held in Days Hotel. Category B. Front L-R : Kasjan Derewianyk, St. Patrick’s NS Castlebar, Leah Ni Luideáin SN Thuar Mhic Eadaigh Tourmakeady, Eugene Henry St. Joseph’s NS Midfield. Back l-r; Helen Grealis teacher St. Patrick’s Castlebar, Maire English, INTO, Mary Timminey, Thuar Mhic Eadaigh Tourmakeady, Barney Kiernan, EBS,Teresa Forde, teacher St. Joseph’s NS Midfield, Pat Stenson, I.N.T.O. Photo © Studio 094.

The award ceremony was held in Days Hotel on 10 March 2010 and was attended by over 100 parents, teachers and children.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Pat Stenson, INTO rep for Mayo said: "We are delighted to be here again with EBS Castlebar celebrating with the winners of the 2010 INTO/EBS Handwriting competition for Mayo. It is fantastic to have watched the popularity of this competition grow over the last number of years and we are grateful to EBS for continuing to partner with us in our pursuit to keep the art of handwriting alive."

I.N.T.O / E.B.S. Handwriting Competition Winners presentations held in Days Hotel. Category A. Front L-R : Clodagh Heraty, St. Patrick’s NS Kilmaine, Emma Walsh, St. Patrick’s NS Kilmaine, Nicola Jordan, St. Joseph’s NS Midfield. Back l-r; Maire English, INTO, Anne Marie Warde, teacher Kilmaine N.S.Barney Kiernan, EBS, Teresa Forde, teacher St. Joseph’s NS Midfield, Pat Stenson, I.N.T.O. Photo © Studio 094.

Commenting on the achievement of the award winners, Barney Kiernan, EBS Linenhall St, Castlebar said: "EBS has a long-standing commitment to education and we believe it is important for children to continuously improve their writing skills. While computer competence is vital these days, the skill of handwriting should not be lost in this technical age as the ability to communicate in a variety of ways is critical for any student. No matter what role children play in their future lives, the ability to write a clear and legible note or letter is going to be a very important tool for them to use on a very frequent basis. Congratulations to all those who received an award today and to all those who entered. It is encouraging to see that so many students remain committed to excellence and quality in the area of handwriting.

I.N.T.O / E.B.S. Handwriting Competition Winners presentations held in Days Hotel. Category D. Front L-R : Chloe Gordan, St Aidens NS Kiltimagh, Liam Byrne, St. Oliver Plunkett NS, Ballina, Niamh Kelly, St Aidens NS Kiltimagh. Back l-r; Ann Treacy, teacher St. Oliver Plunkett NS, Ballina, Maire English, INTO, Bridie Duggan, teacher St Aidens NS Kiltimagh, Barney Kiernan, EBS, Anne Cunnane, teacher St Aidens NS Kiltimagh, Vivienne Leigh, teacher St Aidens NS Kiltimagh, Pat Stenson, I.N.T.O. Mairead King teacher St Aidens NS Kiltimagh Photo © Studio 094.

"This year EBS is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Family is and has been at the heart of EBS throughout those years. With the ‘EBS family' growing to almost half a million members, Participants were asked to a piece of prose or poem about their own family or copy a piece connected to family and some way. Entries were then submitted through their primary school teacher and the INTO coordinator in their local area. Guidelines for applicants varied for the different age groups. Entries were judged on neatness, style, flair and layout of the handwriting.

I.N.T.O / E.B.S. Handwriting Competition Winners presentations held in Days Hotel. Category F Special recognition for handwriting. Front L-R : Bartley Horan, St. Patrick’s NS Kilmaine, Fionan Ruane Scoil Cholmcille, Breaffy Ballina, Patrick Kitterick, SN Phadraig Naofa Louisburgh. . Back l-r; Brid Keane, Scoil Iosa Ballina, Maire English, INTO, Barney Kiernan, EBS, Patricia Coen , teacher , SN Phadraig Naofa Louisburgh, Orla Corbett, SN Phadraig Naofa Louisburgh, Pat Stenson, I.N.T.O. , Marian O’Connor-Byrne SN Phadraig Naofa Louisburgh, Deidre Golden, Scoil Cholmcille, Breaffy Ballina, Maureen Melvin, Breaffy NS Ballina. Missing from photo Matthew Burke, Scoil Iosa Ballina. Photo © Studio 094.

Many thanks again to Marie English, The INTO coordinator for Mayo, for her hard work

I.N.T.O / E.B.S. Handwriting Competition Winners presentations held in Days Hotel. Category G Special recognition for handwriting Front l-r; Caitlin Malone St. Colmcilles NS Westport, Ellen Black St Aidens NS Kiltimagh. Back l-r; Maire English, INTO, Barney Kiernan, EBS, Bridie Duggan, teacher St Aidens NS Kiltimagh, Pat Stenson, I.N.T.O., Vivienne Leigh, teacher St Aidens NS Kiltimagh, Susan Murray, teacher St. Colmcilles NS Westport, Anne Marie Campion, SNA St. Colmcilles NS Westport, Mairead King, teacher St Aidens NS Kiltimagh. Photo © Studio 094.

I.N.T.O / E.B.S. Handwriting Competition Winners presentations held in Days Hotel. Category E. Front L-R : Niall Finnerty, Carn NS Moygownagh, Kate Moore, St. Angela’s NS, Castlebar, Alice Forbes, St. Colmcilles NS Westport. Back l-r; Pat Dowling teacher Carn NS Moygownagh, Maire English, INTO, Barney Kiernan, EBS,Vanessa Rhodes, teacher St. Colmcilles NS Westport, Pat Stenson, I.N.T.O. Photo © Studio 094.

I.N.T.O / E.B.S. Handwriting Competition Winners presentations held in Days Hotel. Category C. Bridget Mills, St. Colmcilles NS Breaffy Ballina, Eoin Conneelly, Roundfort NS Hollymount and Sarah Walsh, St. Angela’s NS, Castlebar. Back l-r; Maire English, INTO, Suzanne McDonnell, teacher Roundfort NS, Barney Kiernan, EBS, Marise O’Hora, teacher St. Angela’s NS, Castlebar , Pat Stenson, I.N.T.O. Photo © Studio 094.