Carmel is collecting awards from Florence to New York
When Moate artist Carmel Rooney was planning a trip to the Italian city of Florence to collect a prestigious art award last weekend, she didn't factor in the howling winds of Storm Éowyn!
“I had my flight booked for Friday so that I would have a day in Florence before the awards ceremony on Saturday, but Storm Éowyn put paid to that plan as all the flights were cancelled on Friday, so I had to travel out on Saturday morning instead,” she explains.
The shaky start to what she describes as “a wonderful and unforgettable weekend” didn't dampen Carmel's high spirits in the least, and she was “right on time” to pick up the International Artist of the Year Award 2025 in the jaw-dropping surrounds of Palazzo Puzzi in the Italian city on Saturday night last.
Carmel Rooney, who operates her own shop and art studio on Castle Street in Athlone, received her prestigious award from Dr Francesco Saverio Russo and Dr. Salvatore Russo, renowned art curators, writers and art organisers, and was one of only two Irish artists to be honoured at the awards ceremony.
As well as picking up her award, the local artist also had a page dedicated to her work featured in a new international art magazine 'Master Artist to Collect, Vol 1, 2025'.
“The whole trip was a dream come true for me,” says Carmel Rooney, “as I was in the company of some of the best artists from all over the world who travelled to Florence to take part in the ceremony.”
She says she was “blown away” by the beauty of Florence and of the location for the awards ceremony, in Palazzo Puzzi, which is one of the city's most renowned palaces. “The whole event was breathtaking,” she adds.
Hot on the heels of collecting her award in Florence comes the news that the talented Moate artist has been nominated for yet another international award from the same art curators. “Collecting this latest award will entail a trip to New York in April,” she says, a journey she is very much looking forward to.
The New York award – the International Prize for “The New Great Masters in New York” will be presented to Carmel Rooney on April 4 next at a ceremony at the Sanctuary at the Church of the Ascension on Kent Street in the city.