Two Mayo artists shortlisted for portrait competitions

From hundreds of entries, the shortlists for this year’s AIB Portrait Prize and AIB Young Portrait Prize have been announced by the National Gallery of Ireland.

This year, two artists from Mayo have included in the shortlist. Artist Áine O’Hara, now based in Dublin, has been named among the 26 artists shortlisted for the AIB Portrait Prize with her photograph 'Day 261 Bedbound/I miss ye', while 18-year-old Danny Walsh has been nominated along with 19 other young artists for the AIB Young Portrait Prize with 'Queen of the May', a work in acrylic on canvas.

The AIB Portrait Prize shortlist includes paintings, video and photography by artists from across the country. The winner of the AIB Portrait Prize will receive a cash prize of €15,000 and will be commissioned to create a work for the National Portrait Collection, for which they will be awarded a further €5,000.

Two additional awards of €1,500 will be given to highly commended works. Judges for the AIB Portrait Prize are: Gareth Reid, artist; Professor Emily Mark-FitzGerald, Professor in the School of Art History & Cultural Policy in UCD; and Dr. Barbara Dawson, Director of the Hugh Lane Gallery.

The AIB Young Portrait Prize returns for its seventh year in 2025, showcasing the artistic talent of young people aged 18 and under. Five winners (one from each respective age category and an overall winner) will be selected from the shortlist.

Winners will receive a bespoke art box and a cash prize. The overall competition winner will be awarded a personalised wooden box of high-quality art materials and a cash prize of €500. This year’s AIB Young Portrait Prize judges are: Cian O’Brien of COBA: Cian O’Brien Arts; Neil-Jack (Alphonsus) Hamilton, artist; and Alice Rekab, artist.

Exhibitions of the shortlisted works in both competitions will be on display in the Portrait Gallery (Room 23) in the National Gallery of Ireland from November 8 to March 15. The winners of the prizes will be announced at a ceremony held in the National Gallery of Ireland on November 25.

The National Gallery of Ireland has partnered with Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, and Waterford Gallery of Art to present the AIB Portrait Prize and AIB Young Portrait Prize 2025. Following the exhibitions at the National Gallery of Ireland, the works will travel next year to Letterkenny from April 4 to June 20 and to Waterford from July 18 to October 11.

Dr. Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, commented: “We’re thrilled to continue our collaboration with AIB on the annual AIB Portrait Prize and AIB Young Portrait Prize. Watching entries arrive and the shortlist be announced for the competitions is a highlight of our year every year.

“We’re excited for the exhibitions to open here at the gallery in November and happy that audiences in Donegal and Waterford will have a chance to see these works close to home at the Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny, and Waterford Gallery of Art in 2026.”

Colin Hunt, Chief Executive Officer of AIB, added: “Irish portraiture holds a valuable place in our cultural tapestry. The AIB Portrait Prize and AIB Young Portrait Prize capture a moment in time in Irish society and are a reflection of our people, our stories and our history. These Portraits demonstrate the wonderful creativity and talent of portrait artists of all ages in communities across the country. Last year I had the pleasure of meeting the entrant artists and seeing their work. AIB is very proud to once again sponsor these competitions and I am delighted to see the inspiring works that artists have produced this year.”

Find out more about the portrait competitions at www.nationalgallery.ie.