There were great celebrations in the Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow, on Thursday night (30^th May 2002) when Ray D’Arcy took time out from his busy schedule to present the finalists of the Smoke Free Carlow Art Competition with their awards.

The award ceremony, which was held on the eve of World Free Tobacco Day (30^th May 2002), was the culmination of much hard work and enthusiasm on the part of the many Carlow children who took part.

To mark their transition this September from primary school to second level, the smoke free children were asked to design a new logo for the project. The competition was kindly judged by local artist, Bev Carbery, in Pembroke Studios Carlow.

Each of the finalists received a €30 sports voucher to spend in one of the sports shops in Carlow. The overall County winner was Kate Lynch from Scoil Molaise School, Old Leighlin, who was presented with a racing bicycle and helmet by Ray D’Arcy for her talented drawing of a kite.

Pictured at the Smoke Free Carlow awards in the Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow were (l to r) front - RTE personality Ray Darcy; Kate Lynch, Old Leighlin National School (1st prize and winner of the bicycle); Monica Keane, Smoke Free Carlow Project Officer: back - Tony Whelan, General Manager, Carlow-Kilkenny Community Care Services.

In second place was Philippa Murphy from Scoil Mhuire Lourdes, Tullow, winning a voucher for €100 and third place was Kyla Ashmore from Carlow N.S who also received a sports voucher for €50. Bev Carbery choose the winners for their positive images of being free from cigarettes rather than telling others to stop smoking.

Pictured at the Smoke Free Carlow awards in the Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow were (l to r) front - Kyla Ashmore, Carlow National School, Green Road (3rd prize); Kate Lynch, Old Leighlin National School (1st prize and winner of the bicycle); Angela Murphy (highly commended); Philipa Murphy, Scoil Mhuire Borris (2nd prize) and Monica Keane, Smoke Free Carlow Project Officer: back - RTE personality Ray Darcy and Tony Whelan, General Manager, Carlow-Kilkenny Community Care Services.

The aim of the Smoke free Carlow project is to delay and prevent the onset of smoking amongst young people in County Carlow, but it also aims to encourage participation in active healthy lifestyles and to support adults who wish to quit smoking. The Health Promotion Unit of the South Eastern Health Board has been running the project since the children were in fourth class and it will continue with them into second level.

The organisers thanked the local sports shops for their part sponsorship of the prizes and the parents, teachers and community members for their continued support in the project.

Further information on the project is available from: The Health Promotion Unit.
First Floor, St. Dympna’s Hospital, Carlow. Ph:0503 43630.