Top art prizes for local students
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Anna Towell pictured with her prize-winning work 'Sightseeing' at the announcement of the top winners of the Texaco Children's Art Competition.Image 2 of 7
Kasey Crotty's artworkImage 3 of 7
Pierre Gaultier Swords artworkImage 4 of 7
Emily McMahon's artworkImage 5 of 7
Kim Linette Ndlovu's artworkImage 6 of 7
Holly Fitzpatrick's artworkImage 7 of 7
Senan McElvaney's artworkSeven students across Cavan and Monaghan have won top prizes in this year’s 72nd Texaco Children’s Art Competition.
Anna Towell (18) from Virginia won second prize in the 16-18 years age category for her work 'Sightseeing'. Her "sunlit composition in acrylic" was praised by final adjudicator, Irish visual artist, curator and educator Pauline O'Connell: "The subject wears a wide-brimmed hat that shields him; his face is already marked by warmth and light. Anna’s blending of tones is handled with confidence and sensitivity.”
Emily McMahon (17) from Our Lady’s Secondary School, Castleblayney, Kim Linette Ndlovu (11) from Guang’s Fine Art Studio, Monaghan, Kasey Crotty (7) from Farnham National School, Drumelis; Pierre Gaultier Swords (9) from Corlurgan National School, who has previously won in the 7-8 age category in 2025 and was placed third in the 6 years and younger section in 2022; and Holly Fitzpatrick (6) and Senan McElvaney from Art Flow Studio, Monaghan all won Special Merit Awards for their artworks.
The pieces were described by Pauline as "imaginative" and having "demonstrated high levels of skill and creativity".
The Texaco Children’s Art Competition is popularly regarded as the longest-running sponsorship in the history of arts sponsoring in Ireland, with an unbroken history that dates back to the very first Competition held in 1955.
It provides a platform on which young artists from Cavan, Monaghan and counties throughout Ireland have had their talents recognised and their creativity commended.