Westmeath Artists Award exhibition opens in Athlone's Luan Gallery
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Nicola Gilcreest, Carmel Duffy, Laura McCormack, Miguel Amado, Celine Sheridan, winner of the Westmeath Artists Award, 2025, and Cllr Paul Hogan at the Westmeath Artists Award exhibition opening on Friday last.Image 2 of 5
Pictured at the opening of the Westmeatyh Artists Award exhibition in the Luan Gallery on Friday were Cllr Paul Hogan, Nicola Gilcreest, Arts Officer, Aishling Muller, artist, Miguel Amado, Guest Curator, and Laura McCormack, Acting Arts Officer, Westmeath County Council.Image 3 of 5
Karan Stuart Trainor, Morgan Fagg, Chrissie Kelly and Helen Maloney at the Athlone Photography Club exhibition which opened on Friday in the Boardwalk Gallery at Luan Gallery.Image 4 of 5
Lynda Mooney, Cllr Paul Hogan, Minister of State for the Office of Public Works, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, Miguel Amado and Carmel Duffy, Manager of Luan Gallery, at the Westmeath Artists Exhibition opening.Image 5 of 5
Nicola Gilcreest, Karan Stuart Trainor, Laura McCormack, Aoife Banks and Cllr Paul Hogan pictured at the Luan Gallery on Friday last.The work of 30 talented Westmeath artists has gone on display in this year's Westmeath Artists Award exhibition at the Luan Gallery.
Entitled Mythologies of the Personal and the Land, the exhibition was officially opened last Friday evening, November 28, with addresses from Cllr Paul Hogan, Leas-Chathaoirleach of Westmeath County Council; Laura McCormack, Acting Arts Officer, Westmeath County Council; and Miguel Amado, Director of Sirius Arts Centre.
The Westmeath Artists Award is a collaboration between Luan Gallery and Westmeath Arts Office, celebrating and supporting the development of visual artists’ practices and careers in the county, with funding from the Arts Council of Ireland.
The award exhibition showcases work by practicing professional visual artists from Westmeath, selected through an open call by guest curator Miguel Amado, Director of Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh, Cork.
All of the exhibiting artists were eligible for a professional development award, which was announced at the exhibition opening in Luan Gallery last Friday.
The winner of the Westmeath Artists Award 2025 was Celine Sheridan, who will receive the Luan Gallery Visual Arts Development Award of €1,500, along with additional professional development supports, including a future solo exhibition at Luan Gallery, a studio residency at Abbey Road Artists’ Studios, and a residency stipend and mentorship from guest curator Miguel Amado.
The joint second runners-up, Aishling Muller and Mimi Seery, were each awarded a monetary stipend, mentorship from guest curator Miguel Amado, and residency opportunities at Cowhouse Studios and Sirius Arts Centre, respectively. Third runner-up Paul Roy received a monetary stipend and mentorship from guest curator Miguel Amado.
Carmel Duffy, Manager of Luan Gallery, said: “We are delighted to continue this important partnership between the Arts Office and the municipal visual art gallery in supporting the professional development of practicing artists in Westmeath.
"Now in its fourth year, the award has once again attracted submissions of a very high standard, reflecting the breadth and diversity of artistic talent within the county.
"The award also serves as an important platform for bringing these artists and their practices to the attention of leading curators and directors across Ireland, including this year’s guest curator, Miguel Amado.
"We look forward to working with and promoting the talented artists selected for this year’s awards exhibition.”
The exhibition showcases 59 works by the 30 artists, several of whom are exhibiting for the first time in Luan Gallery.
The Westmeath artists selected for exhibition were; Caroline Coyle, Martina Coyle, Teresa Doyle, Bertille de Lestrade, Mark Duffy, Helen Duncan, Lorraine Dunne, Mariia Golubieva, Tina Hayes, Lelia Henry, Liz Johnson, Fiona Kelly, Orla Kelly, Hilary Kinahan, Garry Loughlin, Ursula Meehan, Lorraine Mimnagh, Aishling Muller, Joan Mulvihill, Emma O’Brien, Valeriia Poliushko, EL Putnam, Catherine Rock, Paul Roy, Mimi Seery, Nóilín Shaw, Celine Sheridan, Annette Treacy, Ann Wingfield and Lesley Wingfield.
Laura McCormack, Acting Arts Officer for County Westmeath, said, “The Westmeath Artists Award offers local artists the hugely valuable opportunity to exhibit their work in the award-winning Luan Gallery, and feature in its dynamic annual programme of contemporary Irish and international art.
"The award has, for the past three years, showcased the very best of Westmeath’s visual art. We are looking forward to seeing the selected works on display this December as we continue to celebrate local talent.”
Alongside the Westmeath Artists Award Exhibition, Moments in Focus, an exhibition of works by Athlone Photography Club members, also opened on Friday last in the Boardwalk Gallery at Luan Gallery.
This exhibition highlights the impressive talent and wide-ranging photographic approaches of Athlone Photography Club members. The images featured include sweeping landscapes, portraits, street photography and abstract compositions.
Both of these exhibitions will continue until Bank Holiday Monday, February 2, 2026, with seasonal closures over the Christmas period.