Shannon Goddess art competition launched, with prizes of over €4,000

An international art competition on the theme of Sinnan, the mythological goddess of the River Shannon, has been announced this week.

A prize fund worth over €4,000 has been made available for the 'Art for Sinann' competition, which is being financed by Coventry University.

Athlone native Ralph Kenna, a lecturer at the university, came up with the idea for the competition.

He explained that all forms of Sinnan-inspired visual or literary art can be entered, and there will be three prizes of £1,000 each, along with £1,000 worth of prizes for entries from children.

The competition, announced this week in the Westmeath Independent and the London-based Irish Post newspapers, will accept entries up to February 1, 2021.

In Irish mythology, rivers are personified as divine figures attributed with gifts of poetic inspiration and mystical wisdom. The aim of this art competition is to re-ignite awareness of Sinann (pronounced 'Shun-awn' or 'Shin-un') who has often been forgotten in the mists of time.

Sinann sought all-encompassing knowledge at Connla’s well – a place where nine hazel trees of wisdom grew. The pursuit of knowledge is also the aim of Coventry University’s Fluid and Complex Systems Research Centre (FCS), which has a 'Maths Meets Myths' research programme that uses mathematics to investigate world mythologies and epic literature.

Knowledge and education are also the themes of Rathcroghan Visitor Centre in Roscommon. Home to Cruachan Aí, it is the largest unexcavated Royal Site in Europe and of central importance in Irish mythology. Meanwhile, podcast creators The Story Archaeologists are experts in Irish mythology and Sinann in particular.

Coventry University, Rathcroghan, The Story Archaeologists and the Irish Post are now teaming up with a broad panel of judges from diverse backgrounds. Their contribution to the judging process will help to promote Sinann and all she stands for – research, education and enlightenment.

The competition is open to everyone, and can be entered by professionals or amateurs from anywhere in the world. There are no restrictions on the types of media allowed, which could involve paintings, drawings, ceramics, photography, design, crafts, poetry, short story, music, etc. Entries can be in Irish or English.

Three artists will each win £1,000, and it is hoped - depending on the number of submissions - to offer a larger number of smaller prizes for entries by children.

Submissions can take the form of text or photographs of art sent by email to: editor@irishpost.com.

These should be accompanied by a short description of how the art relates to the goddess Sinann.