2023 Credit Union Art Competition Winners Revealed

Posted on: 11 Feb 2024

The Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) is delighted to unveil the winners of its much-anticipated 2023 Art Competition. This year's competition, themed ‘My Community & Me’, inspired entrants to explore and express their unique perspectives on their local communities, exploring what makes their community unique—be it the people, the daily scenery, or the sense of belonging.

The Credit Union Art Competition is one of the longest-running and most distinguished competitions of its kind. Each year, over 30,000 talented children and adults from credit unions across Ireland submit their entries. The final, hosted by Grainne McElwain this year, was held in Croke Park where the winners and runners up of each category (both General and Additional Needs) and their families were invited to attend a prizegiving.

ILCU President Martin Busch said “We were delighted to welcome all the finalists to Croke Park for another exciting final as we celebrate our 40^th year of the Credit Union Art Competition. The standard of entries we receive never fails to amaze us. Each year, the judges are tasked with the difficult job of whittling down the top entries for each category. The Art Competition is a fantastic way to view the talent and creativity across Ireland.”

The Credit Union Art Competition is dedicated to supporting and developing the arts in Irish society. The credit union movement has always had a keen commitment to promoting and encouraging involvement in the arts across communities and engaging with young people across the country.

Martin Busch continued “The theme for this year’s competition encouraged people to focus on the importance and meaning of community in our everyday lives. Community is at the core of credit unions, each being owned and operated by its members. It is a place where understanding, value, support, and empowerment can be felt.”

“We wholeheartedly congratulate the winners for their outstanding achievements and extend our appreciation to all of the participants for generously sharing their remarkable artistic talents and their creative and unique perspectives on their communities.”
 
The winners of each category for the 2023 competition are as follows:

Age 7 & Under

• General category: Iarla O'Dea (representing Cairde Credit Union, Dungarvan)

• AN category: Morgan Steele (representing Larne Credit Union)
   

Age 8-10

• General category: Jessica Kearney (representing Mitchelstown Credit Union)

• AN category: Tudor Andreí Stefanov (representing Naomh Brendain Credit Union, Loughrea)

Age 11-13

• General category: Annamária Pēcsi (representing Westport Credit Union)

• AN category: Kevin Lee Sweeney (representing Ballina Credit Union)
   

Age 14-17

• General category: Aoibhe Devereux (representing Cairde Credit Union, Dungarvan)

• AN category: Naoishe Johnston (representing Antrim Credit Union)
   

Age 18

• General category: Katie Fleming (representing Enfield Credit Union)

• AN category: James Wellwood (representing Premier Credit Union, Tipperary)
   

Group

• Blackthorn class, c/o St. Itas Special School (representing Drogheda Credit Union)

 
Further details on winners and runners up across each category can be found at https://www.creditunion.ie/news/art-competition/