Heritage clicks for two young Lego fans

Grace Hawkins from Co Down took inspiration from the Tain, winning the cultural heritage category in the 4-to-7 years age group.

Meanwhile Oscar Ryan from Antrim scooped the built heritage category, also in the 4-7 years age group, with his piece, West Lighthouse Rahtlin.

The competition received more than 200 entries from across the country, with entrants turning to all aspects of Ireland’s rich and varied built, natural and cultural heritage for inspiration.

Children were asked to build their model, choose their category, write a short description of what their model represents and why it’s important to them, and then take a photo of the model and submit it via the Heritage Council website.

Winners of each of the 4-7-year-old categories will take home prizes of LEGO DK books, with a LEGO kit going to the winners of the older categories.

Heritage Council chief executive, Virginia Teehan said the competition attracted a “strong calibre of entries” and demonstrated young people’s “creativity, ingenuity and wit”.

“It shows the creative and accessible ways in which our heritage can be engaged with, as well as how eager young people are to connect with it. It is crucial that children are encouraged and supported in exploring and understanding their shared heritage, which can start on their own front doorstep in their own locality.

“I encourage everyone to visit the Heritage Council website and Facebook page, to browse the wonderful range of entries received.”