Credit Union News

Clonmel Girl among winners in Credit Union All Ireland Poster Competition

Theme “My Credit Union – My Choice”

L to R: Mark Bailey, President, Irish League of Credit Unions, Kathleen Halpin, Clonmel Credit Union, Orla Byrne, Paula Byrne and Marty Whelan

9^th February 2010

Orla Byrne representing Clonmel Credit Union has been announced as one of  the winners of the 26^th Annual Credit Union Poster Competition. Orla’s poster, Illustrating the theme “My Credit Union – My Choice”, was successful in the 18 years and over Category.

 The awards were presented by Mark Bailey (President, Irish League of Credit Unions) and TV celebrity Marty Whelan.  Winners were presented with Award Certificates and cash prizes.

 Speaking at the presentation Mark Bailey said

With almost 3 million members who have savings of €11.9 billion, credit unions have a proud history of serving communities all over the country.  It is vitally important at this time to develop community spirit through involvement and encourage children to be creative in what are difficult times for many families.”

 Martyn Turner, the political cartoonist and caricaturist, was one of this year’s judges for the competition was impressed with the standard achieved by the entrants.  Commenting on the entries Mr Turner said

“The competition showed a high standard of entry overall. It’s encouraging to see young people taking time out from texting and twittering to participate in such events and it leaves me hopeful for the future of graphic art in Ireland.”

 Mark Bailey (ILCU President) concluded

“I commend the high standard of this year’s entries and I would also like to thank the hundreds of credit union volunteers and staff and the competition judges who all worked to make this year’s competition another success for this unique community-focussed project”.

 The judges for this year’s poster competition were Martyn Turner, artist Ursula Retzlaff-O’Carroll and John Walsh, Creative Director, AFA O’Meara.

 The winning posters may be viewed on www.cu4youth.ie.

 General information on the Poster Competition

Competition entrants were free to express their creativity using a wide variety of media.

 The competition required entrants to draw or paint posters on the theme using pencil, charcoal, pen or ink, felt-tip markets, crayon, pastel, water colours, gouache, acrylics, oils, poster colour or collage.

 There were two categories – General and Special – with five age groups in each: 7 years and under, 8-10 years, 11-13 years, 14-17 years, 18 years and over (and a further Group section in the SPECIAL category).

 The Special Category encouraged participants with a physical or intellectual disability to submit entries in free expression without the restriction of the competition’s official theme, if they so wished.

 Note to Editors

The Irish League of Credit Unions is the representative body for over 500 Credit Unions on the island of Ireland.  It is Ireland’s successful financial co-operative run by and for its almost 3 million members.  It accounts for €11.9bn of savings; €14bn in assets and (at over € 750m) is Ireland’s leading provider of social finance…by far.

 NATIONAL WINNERS: General and Special Categories

General Category Winners

Special Category Winners

Please enquire at the counter about joining our Members Car Draw. You will be in with a chance of winning a brand new car EVERY MONTH