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The 2023 National Fossil Art Contest

UCC’s Ireland’s Fossil Heritage ran the second national fossil art contest in Spring 2023. 

The theme of the competition was “Irish fossils ALIVE” and was open to children living in Ireland from 4 – 18 years old in four age categories (under 8 years, 9 –12 years, 13 – 15 years, 16 – 18 years). Prizes were awarded in each age category. The overall winner of the contest was chosen from the top prize-winners in each category and won a once-in-a-lifetime experience of a day out fossil hunting with palaeontologists from UCC, including one overnight B&B stay for the winner and one parent/guardian. The winner of each age category received a guided tour of the fossil labs at University College Cork (UCC) and a behind-the-scenes look at our fossil collections. Second prize in each age category won a print of an iconic Irish Fossil and third prize won a T-shirt with Ireland’s Fossil Heritage logo. A number of highly commended awards were made in each age category. All prize-winners received a small collection of real fossils as part of their prize.

The top selected entries were invited to display their art pieces at a public exhibition at the Glucksman art gallery in Cork in June 2023.

“Fossils have an amazing ability to make science accessible to people from all walks of life,” says senior program manager Professor Maria McNamara. “We want to celebrate our curiosity in the natural world and how we can express this in a creative way through art.”