Student talent shines at the 2025 Junior Cycle Visual Art Exhibition

November 29, 2025

A Junior Cycle Visual Art exhibition was held at ATU’s Galway City Wellpark Road campus, bringing together more than 250 students and family members from schools across Galway and Roscommon.

A total of 95 artefacts were displayed, showing a wide range of themes, materials, and individual styles. Under the Junior Cycle Visual Art curriculum, students used a sketchbook to explore a theme, experiment with techniques and develop ideas before producing one final realised piece as part of their state-certified assessment.

Edit Gyenesne Harczi and Lili Reka Gyenes. — Christian Ciobanu, Claregalway

The exhibition was curated by second-year student teachers on ATU’s Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Art and Design & Communication Graphics programme, under the mentorship of lecturer Maria Moore. It was a collaboration between ATU, the Galway Education Support Centre and the Galway Art Teacher’s Community of Practice, and was sponsored by Cregal Art. The event was officially opened by ATU President, Dr Orla Flynn.

Maria Moore, ATU Lecturer; Dermot O’Donovan, Head of the Department of Creative Education; and Dr. Orla Flynn, President of ATU — Ger, Keira and Ruth Kelly, Castlegar

Dr Dermot O’Donovan, Head of Department of Creative Education at ATU, said he was impressed with the level of talent on show:

It was wonderful for ATU Galway City Wellpark Road campus to be able to host this exhibition, showcasing the extraordinary creativity and talents of students studying Junior Cycle Visual Art. A huge thanks to our ATU student teachers for curating the exhibition, which was a great learning experience for them. The event would not have been possible without the meaningful collaboration with the post-primary schools in the region and the Galway Education Support Centre.

Liam Mitchell, Director of Galway Education Support Centre, added:

“We were delighted with the level of interest from teachers and students at this year’s Junior Cycle Visual Art exhibition at ATU. The range and quality of research books and artefacts on display was exceptional. The feedback from schools arranging visits to see the work was so positive. Special thanks to our Galway Art Teacher’s Community of Practice for selecting their students’ work, and we look forward to even more schools participating in the future.”

Photo caption: Shannon Cunneen, Claregalway

Catherine Howley

Digital Communications Officer

Atlantic Technological University

+353 089 219 0501

catherine.howley@atu.ie