2018 Prizes
Over €2,200 in prize money was awarded to the winners of this year’s stone awards at the Sculpture in Context in the National Botanic Gardens sponsored by McKeon Stone. Yvonne Mc Keon presented the prizes to the award-winning sculptors.
Limestone Variations on a Natural Theme
McKeon’s Kilkenny Blue Limestone has been used by sculptor Peter Randall-Page to create three massive works representing geometric forms of the kind which frequently occur in the natural world. They are currently on public display at Castle Drogo, near Drewsteignton in Devon, England.
Silkie: A Limestone Seal
Sculptor Helen O’Connell has used McKeon’s Kilkenny Blue Limestone to create a sculpture representing a basking seal. The seal, called ‘Silkie’, is on show at Dublin’s unique Cultural Centre for Children, The Ark in Temple Bar.
2017 Prizes
Over €2,200 in prize money was awarded to the winners of this year’s Sculpture in Context in the National Botanic Gardens sponsored by McKeon Stone.
Seeds of Wonder
Alan Counihan’s work was created at the McKeon limestone quarry at Three Castles and their fabrication workshop at Brockley Park, Stradbally, County Laois. Assisted by fellow sculptor Ruairi Carroll, Alan created two large limestone seed heads, from which emerge multi-coloured glass shapes representing seeds. The glass was the work of Jerpoint Glass of Glenmore, County Kilkenny. The work reflects the natural world and the process of germination and growth. It also refers to the college’s role in education and discovery, as the surface of each of the two sculptures is inscribed with patterns referring to learning; numeracy on one, literacy on the other.
