Catherine Staunton (teacher) and pupils Megan Conneely and Cian Colgan from The Downs NS, with Mark Maguire, IMMA.

The Downs National School wins national art competition with creative multi-media installation

‘Someone Like Me is just like Someone Like You’

Story below video.

A group of fifth and sixth class pupils from The Downs National School are the overall winners of the ‘Someone Like Me’ art competition supported by the National Disability Authority. 

The primary schools initiative aims to promote disability awareness, nurture understanding and highlight the similarities that exist within people of all abilities.

The winning entry, selected from a shortlist of 45, is a multi-media animation showing a girl with a disability enjoying everyday life. 

The pupils from The Downs NS, overseen by their teacher, Catherine Staunton, created the animated movie consisting of approximately 600 individual frames. 

For each frame, they created scenes, characters, furniture and props from paper, card, plasticine, paint, colours, wire and mesh which they then filmed and pieced together.

Announcing the winning entry, Minister of State with special responsibility for Disabilities, Finian McGrath TD, said: “The ‘Someone Like Me’ competition is all about promoting inclusion and positive attitudes towards everyone and it allows children to creatively express these topics through art and craft.

“The winning school demonstrated an amazing understanding of the theme of the competition. The level of work and detail involved in the creation of the animated movie highlights their dedication and commitment to the project and they are deserved winners.

“I would also like to commend all of the county winners who were narrowed down from more than 2,400 submissions received from schools representing every county in Ireland. 

“The exhibition of your work here showcases the artistic talents of our primary school pupils and demonstrates a great understanding of the importance of inclusivity and celebrating people of all abilities.”

Helen Guinan, National Disability Authority chairperson, said: “The National Disability Authority (NDA) is very happy to be supporting Someone Like Me. The quality and breadth of the winning entries reflects the interest and creativity of the pupils involved. 

“Creating positive attitudes at primary school level is important. The NDA has commissioned four national surveys on public attitudes to disability since 2001. The evidence from each survey suggests that the earlier that positive attitudes towards disability and mental health are introduced the greater the opportunities are to promote inclusive education and to improve outcomes for persons with disabilities as they grow older.”

The judging panel for the competition included Caomhán Mac Con Iomaire, education administrator at the National Gallery of Ireland, Mark Maguire, assistant curator for Engagement and Learning at the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA), and Ellen Keane, three-time Paralympian as well as the European Paraswimming Champion 2018.