Cork girl wins Doodle 4 Google 2016 with Irish celebration

7 Mar 2016

12-year-old Cork student, Mia Buckley, from Summercove National School. Image via Marc O'Sullivan

The winner for this year’s Irish Doodle 4 Google 2016 competition has been announced, with 12-year-old Cork student Mia Buckley from Summercove National School winning for her design celebrating Ireland.

The Doodle 4 Google finals came following nearly 100 regional finals across the country, with entrants aiming to get their design chosen to go live in Ireland on the Google homepage later this month on Easter Monday, 28 March.

In a special grand final ceremony in Google’s EMEA headquarters in Dublin, Buckley was presented with her award, as well as a €5,000 scholarship towards her third-level studies and a Google Chromebook.

Meanwhile, Buckley’s school, Summercove National School, will also receive a €10,000 technology grant for her efforts.

This year’s competition was different to previous years as this year was part of Google’s 2016 Commemoration Programme, with students being asked to design a Doodle on the theme ‘Ireland Is…’, to show what Ireland means to them.

Doodle 4 Google winner

Buckley’s winning doodle, entitled ‘Ireland is a land so green’ uses images of farm life, as well as the flowers, sports and music that encapsulate Irish life.

Describing her Doodle, Buckley said rather poetically: “Ireland is a land so green with grazing cattle to be seen. Steeped in rich history with music and sports so fine. I love this Irish home of mine.”

Speaking at the grand final ceremony, Ronan Harris, head of Google in Ireland, said: “Mia’s Doodle really caught our eye and she really captured Ireland’s rural heritage, as well as our love for music and sports.

“She did a fantastic job incorporating the Google logo using vibrant colours and a clear design. We were truly impressed and we look forward to everyone else seeing the Doodle when it goes live.”

Aside from Buckley’s major win, four other group winners were also announced including: