Mayo student wins new sticker competition for popular youth trad club
An Club Ceoil san Linenhall celebrates three years of music, friendship and Irish language
A young Castlebar student has been announced as the winner of a special art competition to design a new sticker for An Club Ceoil san Linenhall, the popular traditional music and Irish-language gathering for young people.
The competition was organised by Music of Mayo and the Linenhall Arts Centre to mark the third anniversary of the weekly sessions, which have become a popular fixture for young musicians across Mayo since launching in 2023.
Rose Muldowney from Castlebar claimed the top prize and her design will now become the official sticker artwork for An Club Ceoil and will be distributed to young musicians attending the sessions at the Linenhall.
Special merit awards were presented to Aideen Ní Chionnaith from Westport and Eithne Wright from Newport in recognition of the high quality of their entries.
Organisers said they were delighted by the large number of entries and the high standard of artwork submitted by young people across Mayo.
An Club Ceoil is a weekly gathering where young musicians under the age of 18 come together to share tunes, learn from one another, play traditional music and use the Irish language in a relaxed and social environment.
Deirdre Melvin, Arts Access Officer at the Linenhall Arts Centre, said it was fitting that young people played a central role in creating the club’s new visual identity.
“The informal and social nature of the meet-ups for under-18s has been key to the popularity of the sessions,” she said. “It was only fitting that young people were invited to create the new artwork. In fact, the judging panel included young artists from a local secondary school, ensuring young people were involved at every step of the decision process.”
The winners were announced during a special prize-giving edition of An Club Ceoil, with all recipients receiving hampers filled with art materials. Rose also received a framed presentation of her winning artwork.
The sessions are facilitated by renowned traditional musician Emer Mayock in association with Music of Mayo.
Since its launch, An Club Ceoil has welcomed a host of respected guest musicians and has become a valued addition to Mayo’s cultural scene.
Emer Mayock said the club continues to go from strength to strength thanks to the enthusiasm of the young musicians involved.
“An Club Ceoil has gone from strength to strength this year,” she said.“We are incredibly proud of the talented young musicians who attend An Club Ceoil, whose enthusiasm for Mayo’s music and the Irish language has made this a wonderful year. We look forward to returning to the Linenhall in the autumn,” she said.
Since launching in 2023, An Club Ceoil san Linenhall has become an important platform for nurturing young musical talent.
The sessions will resume after the summer break, continuing to offer young people the opportunity to play music, make friends and use Irish in a fun and informal setting.
Further information on An Club Ceoil san Linenhall is available from the Linenhall Arts Centre.