Local Student in Google Art Final
A FIFTH Year student at Borrisokane Community College needs people to get online this week and vote for her in the 'Doodle 4 Google' art competition.
Dara Darcy has reached the final stage of the prestigious competition with her inspiring work titled 'Ireland is Equal'. The theme of this year's Doodle 4 Google is 'Ireland is...' School students of all ages were invited to take the Google logo and apply their image of what Ireland means to them in this the centenary of the 1916 Rising.
But rather than doing something historical, Dara decided to focus on our recent past with her artwork, which invokes last year's marriage equality referendum.
“On the 22nd of May, Ireland made history by becoming the first country in the world to introduce same-sex marriage by way of universal ballot,” she said. “Ireland is equal to all, and a country I'm proud to call my home.”
Taking a template of Google's well-known logo, Dara's picture includes a proposing couple, two Gs connected by a rainbow of all colours, diamond rings in the shape of two astrological symbols of the female, the Irish and Yes Equality flags, and balloons, ribbons and confetti to emphasise the emotion of celebration. She said it took only a couple of hours to complete the work, which she created with watercolour and pen.
Living in Milford, Borrisokane, Dara is a daughter of Donal Darcy and Bernadette (née Mulcahy, originally from Gortmore). She has an older sister and brother, Anna and Sean. Dara said her talent probably derives from the Mulcahy side of the family, members of whom are very artistic. Though an excellent student across all subjects, she has a passion for art and has always wanted to study art at third level.
Recognition in the Doodle 4 Google will surely stand her in good stead in this regard. “Even to have gotten this far in the competition is a phenomenal achievement,” said Dara's art teacher in Borrisokane, Eileen Forde.
Ms Forde hoped that as many people as possible would get behind the local student and vote for her in Category 5 (Transition, Fifth & Sixth Year) of the national competition. Each of the five category winners and their teacher will receive a Google Chromebook.
The overall winner will be selected in March by a team of Google web designers and will have their winning entry displayed on the Google Ireland home page for 24 hours, during which it will be seen by millions of people. The winning artist will also receive a €5,000 college scholarship as well as a €10,000 technology grant for their school.
Voting takes place at www.google.ie/doodle4google up until this Sunday, February 14th. You can also vote for Dara's artwork through a link on the Borrisokane Community College website, www.borrisokanecc.ie.