Two Mayo artists shortlisted for National Gallery awards

Two Mayo artists have taken one step closer to national honours as they progressed to the shortlist of the Portrait Prize competitions at the National Gallery of Ireland.

The prestigious competitions, which bring together some of the greatest portraits from around the country, are run in conjunction with AIB and receive hundreds of entries each year.

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This time around, 26 artists have been shortlisted with a chance of scooping a €20,000 cash prize. Mayo’s Aine O’Hara is among those nominees, with her snap ‘Day 261 Bedbound/I miss ye’ earning rave reviews.

The National Gallery of Ireland also runs the AIB Young Portrait Prize, with 19 people aiming for national glory in this one. There will be five category winners in this section, as well as an overall winner who will receive €500 in cash.

Claremorris native Danny Walsh will be among the candidates in this one. The 18-year-old has displayed breathtaking skill with his acrylic portrayal of ‘Queen of the May’.

Many artistic experts will pore over all entries before casting their final judgement, with winners announced on Tuesday, November 25.

In the meantime, exhibitions showcasing the brilliance of the artwork will run in room 23 of the National Gallery of Ireland, on Merrion Square in Dublin, from Saturday, November 8, until Sunday, March 15, 2026.

From there, both artists will see their work travel to the Regional Cultural Centre in Lettekenny from Saturday, April 4, 2026, to Saturday, June 20, 2026, and the Waterford Gallery of Art from Tuesday, July 18, 2026, to Monday, October 11, 2026.