In April of this year, post-primary schools all over the country were invited to submit a poem on the theme of Ireland, past or present. There was a huge entry with over 200 poems coming from Mayo alone.
The award for the best poems from the county were announced recently and the winners were:
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Martin Moran - Colaiste Pobal Acla,
Werinoka Drost, Davitt College, Castlebar
Adriana Gomez Kelly, Sacred Heart School, Westport
THIRD PLACE
Cian Kilkenny, Davitt College, Castlebar
SECOND PLACE
Aeryn Gardner-Gibbs, Colaiste Pobal Acla
FIRST PLACE
Aoife O' Grady, Davitt College, Castlebar

Pictured in Aras an Chontae at the presentation of prizes by Michael Holmes Cathaoirleach Mayo County Council to the highly commended Winners in the Poem For Ireland competition l-r; Austin Vaughan, County Librarian, Werinoka Drost , Davitt College, Castlebar, Michael Holmes Cathaoirleach Mayo County Council, Adriana Gomez Kelly, Sacred Heart School, Westport and Martin Moran – Colaiste Pobal Acla. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2016.

Pictured in Aras an Chontae at the presentation of prizes by Michael Holmes Cathaoirleach Mayo County Council to Aeryn Gardner-Gibbs, Colaiste Pobal Acla who came 2nd in the Poem For Ireland competition also in the picture Austin Vaughan, County Librarian. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2016.

Pictured in Aras an Chontae at the presentation of prizes by Michael Holmes Cathaoirleach Mayo County Council to Aoife O’Grady, Davitt College, Castlebar who came 1st in the Poem For Ireland competition also in the picture Austin Vaughan, County Librarian. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2016.

Pictured in Aras an Chontae at the presentation of prizes by Michael Holmes Cathaoirleach Mayo County Council to Cian Kilkenny, Davitt College, Castlebar who came 3rd in the Poem For Ireland competition also in the picture Austin Vaughan, County Librarian. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2016.