Young Mayo artist claims national credit union accolade

A young Mayo artist has been named a national winner in the 2025 Credit Union Art Competition, earning recognition at one of Ireland’s most prestigious youth art events.

Kevin Lee Sweeney, representing Ballina Credit Union, won first place in the Age 14–17 category, with judges commending his artwork for its creativity, emotional depth, and expressive response to the theme “The Future Is…”.

Kevin was selected from over 25,000 entries submitted nationwide, making his success a proud moment for his family, school, and the wider Ballina community.

His achievement was celebrated at the national final in Croke Park, alongside winners from across Ireland.

ILCU President Brendan Jenkins commended the high standard of this year’s entries, noting that the creativity and imagination demonstrated by young people was 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 our 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.

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