Kildare County Council Announces Recipient of Castle Park Mural Award
28 August 2026: Kildare County Council is delighted to announce that acclaimed street artist RICE (Eduard Sacrest) has been selected as the recipient of the Castle Park Mural Award. Delivered through Kildare’s Empowering Communities Programme with Creative Places Athy, the award will see RICE engage with young people in Castle Park, Athy to co-create a community mural within the estate.
Barcelona born artist, Eduard Sacrest, aka RICE, is based in the UK and works primarily in the field of urban art, interacting with public space using the environment and streetscapes to express interests, concerns, and spark reflection on social challenges. He combines studio and street work with social projects, using mural painting and street art as tools for community engagement and positive social change. His work is seen on walls and urban street settings around the world, as well as galleries and museums.
RICE will work closely with Kildare’s Empowering Communities Programme and residents of Castle Park, Athy, through a series of creative workshops taking place over the Halloween period. Participants will have the opportunity to explore themes of identity, community, and belonging, culminating in the creation of the mural. The project aims to act as a catalyst for meaningful community engagement, encouraging young people to reflect on the diversity, strengths, and unique experiences that shape their community, leaving a lasting visual legacy that reflects their voices and experiences.
Announcing the award, Laura Buckley, Creative Places Athy Coordinator, said: “We are thrilled to have internationally renowned street artist RICE to Castle Park, Athy to collaborate with young people in the area on the creation of a new mural, providing a platform to make their voices heard and to directly influence and shape their local environment.”
Speaking after the announcement, Joe Boland, Director of Services, Kildare County Council said: “This is an exciting first project for the next three-year phase of Creative Places Athy, and we are delighted to partner with Kildare's Empowering Communities Programme on this community-focused creative collaboration. Bringing together a renowned international artist and local young people, the project reflects our commitment to participation, creativity, and placemaking.”
The Castle Park Mural Award is funded by Kildare’s Empowering Communities Programme, supported by Creative Places Athy and is kindly sponsored by Athy Plant Hire and Sales.
Creative Places Athy is funded and supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Kildare County Council and aims to support and grow arts and cultural strengths in Athy with individuals, artists/creatives and local communities.
