A baby Picasso from Castlefinn has become the youngest artist to ever secure a prize in the Texaco Children’s Art Competition.
Little Neal Gallagher was just one-years-old when he painted a stunning picture, titled ‘ ‘Sunshine and Rainbows’.
The CPI Creche pupil’s art scooped the third prize in Category F – the youngest age group in the national contest for children aged 6 and under.
Now aged two, Neal shared his success with his older brother, Charles, who won second prize in the same category!
Brothers Charles and Neal Gallagher with their mum Orla
Creativity clearly runs in the family, as Charles’ artwork entitled ‘Moo Moo Rua’ also caught the judges’ eyes. Charles was aged five at the time that he created his masterpiece.
Charles attends St. Mary’s National School, Castlefinn.
Charles’ work is described by Final Adjudicator, Professor Gary Granville as “art that combines the inanimate with the living, through a warm and successful juxtaposition of a tractor with a cow.”
Of Neal’s picture, Professor Granville said it was “an abstract piece, that, at the age of 23 months, shows not only remarkable manipulative dexterity but also an energy and compositional form that is highly accomplished.”
Neal (Bernard) Gallagher’s entry to the Texaco Childrens Art Competition 2023
Charles (Dominic) Gallagher’s entry to the Texaco Childrens Art Competition 2023
In addition, two Donegal winners each won Special Merit Awards for artworks that Professor Granville said ‘were imaginative and displayed high levels of skill and creativity’.
They were Alice Friel (4), from Errigal Montessori & Creche, Letterkenny and Kerri Doherty (14) from Abbey Vocational School, Donegal Town. No stranger to the Competition, Kerry won third prize 12-13 years age category last year.
Kerri Doherty – Texaco Child Art 2023
Alice Friel – Texaco Child Art 2023
The Texaco Children’s Art Competition is popularly regarded as the longest-running sponsorship in the history of arts sponsoring in Ireland, with an unbroken history that dates back to the very first Competition held in 1955. This year, as has been the case throughout its life, it has been a platform on which young artists from Donegal and counties throughout Ireland have had their talents recognised and their creativity commended.
