‘My Happy Robot Tom’ is today’s glorious Google Doodle

7 Apr 2017

Erica Redmond and her winning Doodle. Image: Conor McCabe Photography

‘My Happy Robot Tom’ adorns Google’s Irish search page today (7 April), as this year’s Doodle 4 Google competition winner gets her moment in the sun.

Earlier this week, Dubliner Erica Redmond saw off thousands of competitors to win the latest instalment of Doodle 4 Google.

Six-year-old Redmond’s ‘My Happy Robot Tom’ was inspired by Google’s theme for 2017: ‘If I could create anything, it would be …’.

Redmond, from Scoil Carmel Junior School in Firhouse, took the top prize, saying that Tom would be an ideal robot to help with her chores and become her friend.

“Tom is always happy and loves to play games with me,” she said.

“I gave him multicoloured legs because I love rainbows. I used all the letters from Google as parts of my robot: the Gs are ears, the Os are eyes, and the L and E are my robot’s power switches, connected with curly cables.”

My Happy Robot Tom

Erica Redmond’s 2017 winning Doodle. Image: Google

Last year, 12-year-old Cork student Mia Buckley from Summercove National School won for a Doodle entitled ‘Ireland is a land so green’, illustrating farm life as well as the flowers, sport and music that encapsulate Irish culture.

Mia Buckley’s 2016 winning Doodle 4 Google

Mia Buckley’s 2016 winning Doodle: Image: Google

In 2015, Harry Kane won for his ‘My Perfect Day’ Doodle.

Harry Kane’s 2016 winning Doodle 4 Google

Harry Kane’s 2015 winning Doodle. Image: Google

In 2014, Kelly McCabe, also from Scoil Carmel in Firhouse, took the honours.

Kelly McCabe’s 2014 winning Doodle 4 Google

Kelly McCabe’s 2014 winning Doodle. Image: Google

Donegal’s Annie Coyle, who designed 2013’s winning Doodle, was inspired by her love of all things aeronautical.

Annie Coyle’s 2013 winning Doodle 4 Google

Annie Coyle’s 2013 winning Doodle. Image: Google

Gordon Hunt was a journalist with Silicon Republic

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