Annual Wexford Lion’s Club Exhibition 2026
The Annual Wexford Lions Club Exhibition is open in the lower and upper galleries at Wexford Arts Centre on Saturday 17th January at 2pm. This exhibition was officially opened by guest adjudicator, Fine Art Painter Oonagh Latchford.
The Annual Wexford Lions Club Exhibition celebrates local talent and offers a platform for artists who are at various stages of their careers as well as those with an interest in art who wish to see their work realised within a gallery context. For this reason, it is an important show within the Wexford Arts Centre’s visual arts programme. The Exhibition will be on view from Saturday 10th January – 5th February 2026.
The Annual Wexford Lions Club Exhibition celebrates local talent and offers a platform for artists who are at various stages of their careers as well as those with an interest in art who wish to see their work realised within a gallery context. For this reason, it is an important show within the Wexford Arts Centre’s visual art programme.
As a result of the tremendous success of last year’s show and the remarkably high-quality work received, the theme for the 2026 Lions Club exhibition has again been left entirely open. The open brief allows participants the freedom to create exciting and original artwork, and to tell their own stories. These stories or experiences can be related through a varied range of subjects such as urban and rural narratives, abstraction and even pure imagination.
Also, this year we will again feature the Young Lions gallery, dedicated exclusively to the work of young, budding artists. Young artists are encouraged to experiment with all types of mediums and objects – paints, glitter, buttons, transfers; Lego…the list is endless. As the Lions Club International celebrated its centenary in 2017, a Perpetual Children’s Trophy will be awarded again this year to a Young Lion for a work that explores the history and/or reflects on the aims and overall ethos of the organisation.
We will also feature the People’s Choice Award, run in association with Wexford Tidy Towns, which was launched in memory of Denis Collins. Denis provided support for countless writers and artists during his lifetime as a former Artistic Director of Wexford Arts Centre, gallery owner, and editor and publisher. He was also a social activist and volunteer with organisations including Wexford Tidy Towns, Fair Trade, and Amnesty International.
Wexford Lions Club has served the community of Wexford since 1979 and provides support to the local community. This support may be monetary, such as food vouchers at Christmas for families and individuals in need, or by giving their time to assist community projects such as The Trabolgan Holiday Project, The Message in a Bottle Project and the Carer’s Weekend Project where carers are treated to a weekend in Ballyvaloo Centre and are provided with counsellors, reflexologists, and motivational speakers.
Wexford Arts Centre & Wexford Lions Club would like to thank Spectrum Art & Framing, Light and Shadow Wexford, Helen McClean, Wexford Tidy Towns and
Wexford County Council for their ongoing and generous support of this exhibition. For further information on the exhibition please contact Visual Arts Manager, Lisa Byrne via email lisa@wexfordartscentre.ie.
More about the Adjudicator; Oonagh Latchford
Latchford holds a BA (hons) in Art. Originally from Dublin, she now lives and works in Wexford. She is a current artist in residence in Westgate Visual Art Studios. She has recently been shortlisted for the John Richardson French Residency Award. An exhibition of shortlisted work will take place in Hambly & Hambly in March 2025. She was recipient of an Arts Council of Ireland Agility Award 2021, Artlinks bursary 2018 and County Wexford Arts Department’s Tyrone Guthrie award 2014. She has been awarded primary school residencies under the auspices of the Living Arts Project in 2014, 2106, 2017 and in 2018. (Other awards can be seen in the artist CV/Exhibition listing section) In addition to her studio practice, she works as a lead facilitator within County Wexford Arts Department Arts Ability programme.
ADULT AWARD WINNERS 2026
Selected by Fine Art Painter, Oonagh Latchford
Sponsored by: Light & Shadow Wexford, Helen McLean, Spectrum Art & Framing, Wexford County Council, and Wexford Lions Club.
Overall: Sean Fitzpatrick, The Boy and the Jade Hour, Oil on Board.
Merit 1: Patricia Gallagher, Slow Day at Sea, Oil on Canvas
Merit 2: Sheila Kissane, Under the Surface, Oil on Canvas
Merit 3: Adrian Twomey, 4%Dutch, Oil on Canvas
Bio-diversity 1: Elaine Sommers Cashen, Spring Clover, Charcoal on Board
Bio-diversity 2: Catriona Brady, Feathered Friends, Watercolour on Board
Helen McLean Art Award: Jane Prendergast, Flahavans, Acrylic on Canvas
CHILDREN’S AWARDS WINNERS:
Sponsored by: Light & Shadow Wexford, Helen McLean, Spectrum Art & Framing, and Wexford Lions Club.
Under 6 years: Mae Rica Daly, The Pink Behind the Glow, Mixed Media on Canvas
7-9 years: Nessa Brady, Northern Sights Mixed Media on Board
10-12 years: Biancia Goclek, Rose Pillows, Acrylic on Board
13-15 years: Sharon Patucova, Equilibrium, Acrylic on Canvas
16 years +: Ruth O Toole, Truth Uncensored, Acrylic on Canvas
Helen McLean Art Award (under 10 years): Tamara Egan, 67, Pastel on Board.
Helen McLean Art Award (over 10 years): Lucy Lawler, Feline Fisherman
Perpetual Trophy: Roisin Brady, Just Chillin’, Mixed Media on Board
Image Credits:
1: Sean Fitzpatrick, The Boy and the Jade Hour, Oil on Board.
2. Elaine Sommers Cashen, Spring Clover, Charcoal on Board
3. Biancia Goclek, Rose Pillows, Acrylic on Board
4. Adrian Twomey, 4%Dutch, Oil on Canvas
5. Jane Prendergast, Flahavans, Acrylic on Canvas
For further information on the exhibition please contact lisa@wexfordartscentre.ie
