THE countdown has begun to Laytown’s annual beach fixture which takes place on Thursday, September 10th this year.

This week MEP Nina Carberry helped launch Laytown’s popular colouring competition, which sees up to 300 local youngsters colour a specially commissioned illustration created exclusively for the event by renowned racing caricaturist Birdie.

Carberry spent time speaking with the children about her remarkable career as a jockey and her new political career.

Laytown Races manager Jessica Cahalan said: “Our annual colouring competition is a wonderful way to engage with the children in our local community and to strengthen the fantastic relationship we have built with Scoil an Spioraid Naoimh over many years.

“We were absolutely delighted to welcome Nina Carberry to launch this year’s competition. Nina was incredibly generous with her time, and the children were fascinated by her stories and experiences. It was a truly special morning.”

The completed entries will be displayed at Laytown Races in September.