10-year-old Kildare artist wins Sightsavers Ireland Junior Painter of the Year

Elora Ní Laoire, a 10-year-old artist from Gaelscoil Uí Fhiaich, County Kildare has triumphed in Sightsavers Ireland's annual 'Junior Painter of the Year' competition, taking home the top prize for her work titled 'Global Identity, that's how it's meant to be.'  

Ní Laoire's winning piece depicts a schoolhouse split in two. One side showcases a school in Uganda, while the other portrays a school in Ireland. Inspired by Sightsavers Ireland’s work on disability inclusion and by Sightsavers Ireland’s website www.putusinthepicture.ie, she cleverly incorporates Braille and showcases children with disabilities thriving in inclusive school environments. 

This visual metaphor emphasises the interconnectedness and unity envisioned in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also reflects Sightsavers Ireland’s commitment to make schools more inclusive for students with disabilities in both Africa and Ireland through our Global Citizenship Education Programme with Irish Aid. 

“I made my painting because I wanted everyone to be able to realise that everyone around the world should have the right to go to school, no matter where they live or who they are,” Elora said about her winning artwork that took her two whole days to complete. 

This year’s judges were ecological artist Ashleigh Downey and illustrator and cartoonist Jordan Barry-Browne. During the judging, Downey was taken by the level of detail the young artists show in their work, with some including Braille, creating their own taglines such as ‘Don’t litter or the birds won’t twitter’ as well as references to several of the SDGs.  

"Junior Painter of the Year" is a Sightsavers Ireland initiative that celebrates its 15th year this year. It invites all primary school children of all abilities across Ireland to express themselves creatively while learning about the SDGs, global citizenship and how they can empower people with disabilities.

This year, hundreds of young artists across Ireland submitted entries. From these, 48 talented individuals were chosen as winners across 6 categories. The awards ceremony was hosted by Google in their Dublin offices.

Elora, the overall champion, received an Apple iPad, a class tour of the Google offices, and a Global Citizens Art Workshop with Judge Ashleigh Downey and Sightsavers Ireland. The second-place spot went to Tommy Ó Ceallacháin of Scoil Chaitlín Maude, Tallaght, who walked away with a Lego TECHNIC VTOL Heavy Cargo Spaceship as well as the Global Citizens Art Workshop, while third place went to Elizabeth Dancenko of Scoil Bhríde Kilcullen, Co. Kildare, who received a Lego Friends Castle. All participants walked away with their framed artwork and a personal plaque and certificate.

Ciara Smullen, CEO Sightsavers Ireland, said: ‘The level of entries which the Junior Painter of the Year continues to receive is phenomenal. It is one of our most popular events in our calendar each year. Engaging young people at primary school level in the Sustainable Development Goals and seeing their perspectives on the world that we live in in full vibrancy through art is what makes the event so special and popular. Congratulations to all of the winners and well done to all of the 2024 participants.’