A special educational needs school in Co Donegal has been chosen as “Ireland’s favourite building” as part of the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) public choice award.
The institute said the Little Angels School building in Letterkenny captured the imagination of the public with its “immense practicality and inclusive design”.
The building is situated within a landscape of sensory gardens, trails and amenity areas.
This year, 44 buildings or public spaces were shortlisted for the public choice award, including six international buildings from as far as the US and Japan.
President of the RIAI Fionnuala May said the award was open to all its members.
She said the architecture awards take in “a wide variety of projects that have been completed during 2025”.
Speaking about the winning entry, Ms May said the building “seeks to define what a school should be”.
The school in Letterkenny was designed by McGarry Ní Éanaigh Architects
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, she said the New Special Educational Needs School in Letterkenny defines both the school’s “bare function” and also its “atmosphere and character”.
“And it was really important that was done because it seeks to have early intervention with children with mild or moderate autism and severe and profound.
“And so, it needed, in order to satisfy those needs, to meet all those needs, it needed to consult with everything.
“It’s very beautiful as well though,” she said.
The building houses the Little Angels School in Letterkenny
Chief Executive of the Donegal Education and Training Board Anne McHugh said the award was a “fantastic achievement” for the Little Angels School and for McGarry Ní Éanaigh Architects.
“This beautiful school building is a special building in so many ways that not only represents the vision of the architects but represents the hard work of so many dedicated people,” Ms McHugh said.
“To have that vision and hard work validated with the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland Public Choice award is incredible.
“This building gives the students and staff an environment they can truly be proud of.
“It’s a wonderful day for the entire school community and we sincerely thank the public here in Co Donegal and across the country for recognising it with this wonderful award.”
RIAI said Project Connect at RCSI in Dublin was sensitive to its historic surroundings
The runner-up for Ireland’s favourite building was Project Connect at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland on St Stephen’s Green in Dublin.
The institute said the building balanced “bold contemporary architecture with sensitivity to its historic surroundings”.
In third place was the Shackleton Experience on Emly Square in Athy, Co Kildare.
The Shackleton Experience in Athy transformed a protected structure
The building “boldly” reimagined a protected structure as a civic and cultural home for Ernest Shackleton’s legacy, transforming it into a “world-class visitor experience”, the RIAI said.
All the entries can be viewed on the RIAI website.
The RIAI Irish Architecture Awards will take place tomorrow evening, where the full list of winners across all categories will be announced.