Junior Painter 2025: young artists impress judges at awards ceremony

Finalists and more than 70 guests attended the 16th Junior Painter of the Year awards ceremony at the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin.

Sightsavers Ireland’s Junior Painter of the Year competition inspires primary school children across the country to get creative and produce artwork that shows the importance of disability inclusion. It invites children to submit a painting or drawing that reflects their understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals and how they can help create an equal world.

Since it launched in 2009, the contest has returned with a new theme each year. The 2025 theme ‘A fairer world is in sight’ received hundreds of entries on subjects such as environmental protection, equality, peace, kindness and accessibility.

This year’s overall winner was Elina from County Tipperary. She drew inspiration from Irish Aid’s Global Citizenship Education programme, which encourages young people to think critically about the world, their role in it and the changes they wish to see. Elina’s award-winning drawing depicted a scene from an inclusive school in Cameroon, featuring flags from around the world and messages of inclusion. In second place was Natalia from County Kildare, while Alina from County Tipperary came third.

At the event, Sightsavers’ global youth champion James Casserly welcomed the audience with an opening speech, and the education officer for Irish Aid’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Emer Carney, presented awards to all 26 winners.

Application details for the 2026 competition will be shared on Sightsavers Ireland’s Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or X in October or November.