Two young artists have been chosen as winners of the Salmon of Colour colouring competition organised by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) and the National Museum of Ireland’s Natural History branch to mark International Year of the Salmon.

Eight-year-old Maisy from Lusk, Co Dublin was selected as the winner of the 8-11 category while Molly (12) from Clonsilla in west Dublin scooped the top prize in the older 12-14 category.

They emerged from more than 1,000 entrants in the competition, which ran throughout the summer months of 2019 and which asked young artists to colour in the designated image of the lifecycle of an Atlantic salmon.

The winners will now receive a €100 voucher for the National Museum of Ireland - Natural History shop and a private, guided tour of the museum.

Molly, aged 12 from Clonsilla, west Dublin, was chosen in the ages 12-14 category

The competition was delivered as part of awareness raising activities for International Year of the Salmon, which aimed to engage the public around the challenges facing salmon today.

Suzanne Campion, head of business development at IFI, said: “We are delighted that so many children took part and have engaged with us on the issues affecting salmon populations today by colouring in the salmon lifecycle and learning more about the importance of this fish and the precious nature of its existence across the Northern Hemisphere.”

In addition to the Salmon of Colour Colouring Competition, the museum and IFI partnered on a one-day Fishy Fun event in July which engaged the general public around the fisheries and angling resource and the importance of its conservation through a range of interactive activities for International Year of the Salmon.