Irish girl’s drawing celebrated by Google on Easter Monday

27 Mar 2016

Mia Buckley with her winning Doodle 4 Google graphic, via Marc O'Sullivan

This year’s Ireland ‘Doodle 4 Google’ winner will have her sketch hosted on the search engine’s homepage on a particularly colourful Easter Monday.

Mia Buckley’s immensely Irish Doodle was picked from hundreds of entries from right across the country, with the 100-year anniversary of the 1916 Rising inspiring an ‘Ireland is…’ theme.

The 12-year-old from Summercove National School in Cork will have her drawing seen by millions, hosted on the Google Ireland search page for the full 24 hours of Easter Monday.

Mia Buckley’s winning doodle, called ‘Ireland is a land so green’

Mia’s winning Doodle, entitled ‘Ireland is a land so green’, uses images of farm life, as well as flowers, sports and music to give the logo a creative twist.

Describing her Doodle, in verse, Mia said: “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.”

In a special grand final ceremony in Google’s EMEA headquarters in Dublin recently, 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.

“Mia’s doodle really captured Ireland’s rural heritage, as well as our love for music and sports,” said Ronan Harris, VP and head of Google in Ireland.

“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.”

Last year, six-year-old Harry Kane’s ‘My Perfect Day’ Doodle won top prize. With Kelly McCabe, from Scoil Carmel Junior National School in Firhouse, 2014’s winner, and Donegal’s Annie Coyle winning before her.