Eight-year-old Offaly girl wins Young Designer of the Year Award

Lillian wearing her award winning design pictured with her mother Mandy

placeholder image — Lillian wearing her award winning design pictured with her mother Mandy

Lillian Cully designed, crafted, and sewed the dress herself and also modelled the piece on the day at Croke Park, presenting it to a panel of three judges

A YOUNG Offaly student has won the Young Designer of the Year Award at the Project Fashion Irish Young Designer Awards, held at Croke Park, Dublin.

Lillian Cully (8), from Tegan Court in Mucklagh, attends a local Project Fashion class at the Arden Centre in Tullamore, where she works weekly with local designer Áine Claffey.

Her “Neon Jungle”–themed dress topped the category, standing out among over 400 contestants from across Ireland.

Lillian designed, crafted, and sewed the dress herself and also modelled the piece on the day, presenting it to a panel of three judges.

Following her win, Lillian’s dress will now be displayed at Pavilions Shopping Centre, Swords, and Dundrum Town Centre.

The event was hosted by Lorraine Keane and held in support of Barnardos Ireland.

The judging panel included: Helen Steele, acclaimed Irish fashion designer, Ella de Guzman, CEO of SioPáella and Ruth O’Connor, fashion journalist specialising in emerging talent

Lillian started Project Fashion and Design at the Arden Centre about a year and a half ago and attends class there weekly.

Lillian, who is daughter of Bernard and Mandy Cully, attends Mucklagh National School.

Her tutor, Áine Claffey, said: “Lillian is so talented — it comes very naturally to her. She has a real flair for design and comes to class every week with great ideas, working independently to bring them to life.”

Lillian’s winning creation will also be displayed on the Project Fashion website.