'This Is Living' photo exhibition displays talent of Athlone secondary school students
A 'This Is Living' photographic exhibition which drew to a close at Athlone Library last week has been described as a huge success.
Organised by Athlone Drug Awareness Group, the initiative involved secondary school students from across the Athlone area who were invited to explore themes of positive wellbeing and healthy lifestyles.
Participants were challenged to showcase what 'This Is Living' means to them through sport and movement, nature and the outdoors, music, art and creativity, and places, objects, or scenes that symbolise positive experiences.
Athlone Drug Awareness said the standard of entries received was exceptional, with students demonstrating remarkable creativity, imagination, and photographic talent.
Their photos were exhibited at the library from May 25 until June 19, which provided an opportunity for the wider community to view and celebrate the positive choices, experiences, and perspectives of local young people.
The competition winners were recognised during the launch of the new Athlone Drug Awareness Group website in mid-April, where prizes were presented to winners and participants.
The winners were as follows. Category 1 (1st to 3rd year students) 1st Place: Mishea Finneran, Coláiste Chiaráin; 2nd Place: Conor Harris, Coláiste Chiaráin; 3rd Place: Vova Lukianets, Athlone Community College.
Category 2 (TY to 6th year students) 1st Place: Eilish Breheny, Our Lady's Bower; 2nd Place: Niamh Moran, Our Lady's Bower; 3rd Place: Shiobhan Ní Chluaid, Coláiste Chiaráin.
The drug awareness group expressed its gratitude to Athlone Library for hosting the exhibition and congratulated all of the winners and participants, saying the photographs "beautifully captured the spirit of positive living and demonstrated the many ways young people find joy, connection, achievement, and wellbeing in their everyday lives".
The group said it would also like to thank all participating schools, teachers, families, and, most importantly, the students whose enthusiasm and creativity brought the competition to life.
Athlone Drug Awareness Group is looking forward to hosting another exciting creative competition next year.
For more information about its work, visit: www.athlonedrugawareness.ie