‘Doodle 4 Google’ competition opens for Irish students
The annual Doodle 4 Google competition is accepting entries from Irish children within five categories ranging from infants to sixth year with cash prizes on offer, plus the chance for winning entries to be featured on Google's homepage. The theme for this year's competition is: "If I could create anything, it would be..." and the awards ceremony will take place in April 2017, where five children and their teachers will be presented with Chromebooks. The overall winner will earn €5,000 towards their third-level education and the winning student's school will receive a €10,000 technology grant.

The annual Doodle 4 Google competition is open for entries, with kids ranging from junior infants right up to sixth year encouraged to sketch their way onto Google’s homepage.

With five categories accepting entries and cash prizes on offer, Doodle 4 Google’s crowning glory is children’s drawings adorning Google’s home page for one day only.

This year’s theme is: ‘If I could create anything, it would be…’ which, given its broad wording, could mean absolutely anything come April, at the awards ceremony.

At the ceremony, five children will receive Chromebooks, as will their teachers, while the overall winner will earn €5,000 towards his or her third-level education. Furthermore, the winning student’s school will receive a €10,000 technology grant.

Now in its ninth showing, Doodle 4 Google is accepting applications starting today (4 October), with a closing date of 26 November.

A judging panel will help narrow down the thousands of entrants to 75 regional winners, 15 from each category.

The categories are:

Junior infants, senior infants First class, second class, third class Fourth class, fifth class, sixth class First year, second year, third year Transition year, fifth year, sixth year and Youthreach

The 75 finalists will then have their doodles uploaded onto the Doodle 4 Google website where the general public will be able to vote for each category, starting 7 February. The grand final will then take place on 3 April.

“Innovation and creativity are the driving forces behind everything we do at Google,” said Ronan Harris, head of Google Ireland.

“Here, we’re surrounded by modern day mathematicians, scientists, inventors and artists whose imaginations are key to Google’s success.

“So what better theme to choose for this year’s competition than to let the students get their creative juices flowing. We’re constantly amazed by the level of originality and talent shown by the entrants and we are sure that this year will be no different.”

Entries are accepted here.