Connect with us
Limerick Fairtrade Christmas Card Competition winners announced Limerick Fairtrade Christmas Card Competition winners announced

award

Limerick Fairtrade Christmas Card Competition winners announced

Published

on

Pictured were, triplets from Corpus Christi Primary School, Moyross, Morgan, Simone and Katelynn and their brothers, Antone and Blake Reddan with cards Morgan helped desig for the Limerick Fairtrade Christmas Card Competition. Picture: Alan Place/Fusionshooters.

Limerick Fairtrade Christmas Card Competition winners announced

Pictured were, twins from Corpus Christi Primary School, Moyross, Patricia and Bridget Kerrigan with cards Patricia helped design. Picture: Alan Place/Fusionshooters.

Christmas has come early for two Limerick students after they were named overall winners of the 2015 Limerick Fairtrade Christmas Card Competition at a ceremony in The Strand Hotel.

Alicia OConnor from Meenkilly NS in Abbeyfeale and Victoria Morozova from Laurel Hill Secondary School were chosen ahead of hundreds of other local primary and secondary school students to have their cards reproduced and sent to a variety of local businesses, shops and cafes that have supported the Fairtrade initiative.


advertisement




advertisement




advertisement




advertisement




advertisement



Limerick City was awarded status as a Fairtrade City in 2005 as a result of the concerted efforts by local people to ensure that Fairtrade produce was made widely available.

Ahead of this week’s awards ceremony, Fairtrade Ireland congratulated the City on its 10th anniversary and its continued promotion of Fairtrade produce. The national organisation also commended Limerick for “contributing significantly to its work in promoting Fairtrade and enabling disadvantaged producers from poor countries to receive a better deal.”

This year’s annual Christmas card competition – the theme of which was “A Fairtrade Christmas” – was run by the Limerick City Fairtrade Group and supported by the Environment Section of Limerick City and County Council. First prize in the Primary Section went to Alicia O’Connor from (Meenkilly NS) with Victoria Morozova (Laurel Hill Secondary School) being named overall winner of the Senior Section.

 

PRIMARY SCHOOLS – Highly Commended

Joseph Hartnett, St Mary’s Boys NS , Abbeyfeale; Craig Kiely, Liam Judge, Emmanuel Alfred, Princess Daniel, Our Lady of Lourdes, Rosbrien;  Molly OBrien, Yvonne Stack, Adam O Kelly, Scoil Mhuire, Broadford; Katelyn Cantillon, Megan Cantillon, Patricia Kerrigan, Morgan Reddan, Corpus Christi Primary School, Moyross; Olivia Roche, Lauren Campbell, Aronnya Khan, Tamara Orosz, Harvey Hogan. Bella Collins, Milford NS, Castletroy;  Molly McNamara, Alyssa Long, Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh, Roxborough, Aoife ONeill, Paul McRedmond, Dasha Gruznova, Donoughmore NS, Donoughmore, Sandra Hartigan, Granagh NS;  Grace Dillion, Scoil Caitrona NS, Cappamore, Ciara Hayes, Matthew Daly, Knockainey NS;  and Conor Murphy and Eli Morris, Meenkilly NS, Abbeyfeale.

SENIOR STUDENTS – Highly Commended

Kallem Quinn, Catherine McAuley School, Limerick;  Aine Moriarty, Joan Beary, Sarah Frawley, John the Baptist Community School, Hospital; Evan Condon, Sean Barrett, Desmond College, Newcastle West; Lauren Doyle, Coláiste Nano Nagle, Sexton St, Limerick; and Olivia Sztymer, Laurel Hill Secondary School.

 

Mayor of the Metropolitan District, Cllr Jerry O’Dea praised the students for the standard of their work and particularly thanked the Fairtrade Committee for their “terrific efforts on behalf of producers in developing countries.”

He said, “Fairtrade is an important ideal and it is great to see Limerick City and County Council, businesses and householders showing their ongoing support. This competition helps to remind people in Limerick of the importance of purchasing Fairtrade produce and supporting suppliers of such goods not only in the run up to Christmas but also year-round.”

The Mayor continued, “The people of Limerick and Ireland can hold their heads up high and declare that they are delivering a fair deal for farmers and workers in the developing world, through better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability and fair terms of trade. We must continue to support all companies that ensure farmers get a fair price for their raw material and are given a chance to face a better future.”

Dolores O’Meara, Chair of the Limerick City Fairtrade Committee explained, “2015 was designated the European Year of Development.  What better way to support developing communities across the globe than to buy their produce – bananas, tea, coffee, cocoa!  There is a saying that ‘No individual person can do everything but everyone can do something’.  If we put that into practice, we can change the fate of many communities one purchase at a time.”

She added, “In 2016, Fairtrade Ireland will be celebrating 20 years of Fairtrade in Ireland.  The concept of Fairtrade was so new then.  In those two decades we have come a long way; the majority of consumers now recognise the Fairtrade logo and each year the value of Fairtrade products bought increases.”

“The good news is that the focus last year on Fairtrade bananas resulted in 24% increased sales.  We should not be complacent however because that still only amounts to 9% of all bananas sold in Ireland. We can do more and I would ask Limerick consumers to remember to make Fairtrade choices when doing their Christmas shopping this year,” concluded Ms. O’Meara.

To visit the Fairtrade website, click here

Check out the Fairtrade Ireland Facebook page here and Twitter here

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.