Getting ready for a cartoon challenge in Annaghdown this morning.

There was great fun in both Coláiste Baile Chláir and Annaghdown National School this morning when one of the leading cartoonists in Ireland, Caoimhe Lavelle, visited the schools in association with the Galway Cartoon Festival.

Caoimhe, who is based in Dublin, came to Gaeltacht an Eachréidh to lead two 90 minute cartooning workshops ‘as Gaeilge’ in the two schools.

This is her third year to work with us in Claregalway and her first year to visit a primary school in the area for a cartooning workshop in Irish. The festival sees these school workshops as a great way of bringing cartooning out into the community.

Caoimhe, who has Irish language cartoons on display during the festival, began the morning with a group of first years in Coláiste Baile Chlair.

She has given them the challenge of producing cartoons of their own on the theme of Hallowe’en by Friday of next week and the festival will choose three winners, not necessarily the best cartoons but those who have shown the greatest imagination or put the most effort into their cartoons.

The ‘Cartoon Challenge’ has become an annual event for Gaeltacht an Eachréidh and the judges at Galway Cartoon Festival are looking forward to receiving the entries. Vouchers worth €100, €50, and €25 will be given to the three winners next month.

Afterwards, the Claregalway students accompanied Ms Doran and Mr Seoighe on a trip into the city centre to visit some of the cartoon exhibitions on the last day of the festival.

Caomihe then visited Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Breandán, Eanach Dhúin, for a workshop with children from fifth and sixth class. The children showed wonderful imagination during the 90-minute workshop and we are already looking forward to returning to the school next year.

 

Taking on the cartoon challenge at the workshop at Coláiste Baile Chláir

 

Getting ready for the ‘Cartoon Challenge’ with Caoimhe Lavelle

 

Caomihe Lavelle at Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Breandán, Eanach Dhúin, this morning.