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Aoife helps save the elephants
06.05.10
by Linda McGrory
A YOUNG schoolgirl with strong Buncrana connections
has won a nationwide art competition to help save
endangered Asian elephants.
Aoife Burke, 10, created the design for the
sculpture that will represent Ireland at the epic
Elephant Parade in London this summer.
Aoife's mum is Gillian (nee Doherty) from Mill Brae,
Buncrana, but the family have lived in Drogheda, Co
Louth, for many years. Her grandfather is well known
local man Denis 'Ginger' Doherty.
Gillian said the family were delighted with Aoife's
achievement. The winning artwork was inspired by
Irish myths and legends and the design was executed
in Clonakilty, Co Cork, by acclaimed Irish artist
Bill Griffin, who paints entirely with his fingers.
Aoife's elephant will go on display with more than
250 other 5ft fibreglass elephant sculptures from
around the world, at various London locations
including Covent Garden Piazza.
They will then be presented to Elephant Family
patron, the Hollywood actress, Goldie Hawn, before
being auctioned by Sotheby's. |
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The Elephant Parade
exhibition is backed by Dublin Zoo and Clonakilty
District Chamber of Tourism. Leading Irish financier
Dermot Desmond is also a supporter. Mr Desmond
praised the Irish entry and Aoife's wonderful
imagination.
"Elephant Parade is a clever and colourful way to
promote Clonakilty and Ireland itself," said Mr
Desmond.
"I've always had a soft spot for elephants and I
support the charity Elephant Family and their
efforts to save them. Congratulations to Aoife Burke
for creating such an imaginative design to represent
Clonakilty and Ireland in this epic event."
Elephant Parade is part of an international movement
by Elephant Family to save the Asian elephant, whose
numbers in the wild have dropped by almost 90% in
the last hundred years. The parade itself, will be
one of the biggest public art exhibitions ever held
in London. They say elephants never forget. Well,
Aoife, who is off with her family to London for the
parade at the end of June, will probably never
forget her Elephant Parade experience any time soon
either. |
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