Donegal students win national Credit Union art awards

Donegal is celebrating national success after two local entries were named winners in the 2025 Credit Union Art Competition, following a national final held at Croke Park.

Vironika Shpyl, representing B&S Credit Union in Ballybofey, won first place in the Age 11–13 category, while Alannah Graham and Tristan Dowd from Abbey Vocational School, representing Donegal Town Credit Union, were named Group Winners. Both Donegal entries were selected from more than 25,000 artworks submitted by young artists from across Ireland, making the wins a significant achievement for the county.

The Credit Union Art Competition is one of Ireland’s longest-running youth art initiatives and attracts tens of thousands of entries each year from schools and communities nationwide. This year’s theme, “The Future Is…”, invited participants to imagine what lies ahead, with judges praising the Donegal-winning entries for their creativity, originality, and strong vision.

ILCU President Brendan Jenkins commended the high standard of this year’s entries, noting that the creativity and imagination demonstrated by young people were exceptional. “Through their work, these artists offer inspiring visions, rich in hope and innovation, of what the future could be. Their pieces reflect both personal dreams and collective possibilities, reminding us that the future is shaped by the ideas and aspirations we choose to nurture today.”

Brendan Jenkins added: “This competition is about far more than winning prizes; it’s about confidence, self-expression, and community pride. Every participant should be immensely proud of their contribution. On behalf of the ILCU, I extend my congratulations to all our award recipients. Indeed, sincere thanks to every artist who took part in making this year’s competition such a wonderful celebration of creativity.”

The Credit Union Art Competition remains a cornerstone of the credit union movement’s commitment to nurturing creativity and supporting young people in communities nationwide. By encouraging artistic expression, credit unions help ensure the arts continue to thrive as a vital and accessible part of Irish life.