Louth artist wins top prize in Co-operative Housing Ireland Awards
Dundalk resident Geraldine Martin won first place at Co-operative Housing Ireland’s 2026 Art and Gardening Competition Awards for her piece ‘Getting Teeth Brushed Before Bed’, a pencil and watercolor work capturing a familiar family moment.
Dundalk’s Geraldine Martin won first place at Co-operative Housing Ireland’s 2026 Art and Gardening Competition Awards.
Geraldine won the adult category of the art competition with her piece which depicted her fiancé, Andy, brushing the teeth of their dog, Chase.
The couple met through Co-operative Housing Ireland and Geraldine decided to choose the familiar family moment to capture what home means to her.
The Co-operative Housing Ireland Art Competition invited member tenants to explore the theme, 'Home Is…'.
The ceremony brought member tenants and their families together from communities across Ireland to recognise their work and share ideas and inspiration.
Co-operative Housing Ireland Community Engagement Specialist Aoife Kirk noted on the day: “Competitions are about much more than selecting winners.
“They give people the opportunity to develop their skills, share ideas, take pride in their achievements and connect through common interests.
“Art and gardening may seem like very different pursuits, but both are expressions of creativity, care, patience and passion. They can transform spaces, tell stories, inspire others and add to the beauty of our homes and communities.
“Building strong communities, both where we live and among people brought together by shared talents and interests, is at the heart of our Community Engagement work.”