23 Kildare Artists go Incognito for Charity Art Sale
It’s been revealed that 23 Kildare artists have gone into hiding for this year’s incognito online art sale in aid of the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation
The much-loved annual event, in which the identities of the artists remain top secret, and are only revealed once the art deal is done, will take place on Wednesday, May 20.
As seen above, one of the postcard-sized artworks from this year featuring a scene from Oscar award winning 2025 film Hamnet, starring Kerry born actress Jessie Buckley and Kildare actor Paul Mescal.
Among the Kildare artists taking part in incognito 2026 are Shirley Hackett from Leixlip, Martin Gale from Ballymore Eustace, and Claire Murphy from Kilcock.
To mark the sale’s tenth anniversary, organisers have announced that this year’s collection features a newly-enlarged 6 x 8-inch postcard size. The collection of almost 2,000 original artworks, each costing €75, can now be viewed at www.incognito.ie
Funds raised are life-changing for the 39 Kildare familiescurrently receiving care from the charity. In the decade since the sale was first inaugurated, a total of €1.4 million has been raised, supporting vital in-home nursing and respite care for Jack and Jill families across the country.
The brains behind incognito, curator Lucinda Hall, recalls how the novel art sale came about: “It was actually my hairdresser who told me about the mystery art sale concept that he had come across in London. I was having dinner one evening with Jonathan Irwin, my friend and Jack and Jill Founder, and he was always on the lookout for new and innovative fundraising ideas. The rest, as they say, is history.
My thanks to our wonderful incognito artists who have come back, year after year, to support this exciting fundraiser for Jack and Jill. It truly means the world to have their continued support and I’m excited to share this year’s milestone collection. Huge thanks also to our brilliant incognito buyers, who are avid fans and many of whom have incognito galleries at home!”
For Deirdre Walsh, CEO of the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation, incognito has meant more children can be cared for:
“Since incognito started, it has made such a real-world impact for the work that we are able to do. In those ten years, we have gone from supporting children up to the age of five years, to six years, and now to seven years. Last year, for the first time, we introduced a counselling service for all families too, providing additional support.
Ultimately, what both artist and art buyer delight in is what their support means for parents—time for much-needed sleep, or time for coffee with a friend, or perhaps time to take a sibling to see a movie or go to a match. We are so grateful to the artists for giving, and to the public for buying, as the gift of time makes a significant difference for Jack and Jill families.”
As seen above, one of the postcard-sized artworks from this year featuring a scene from Oscar award winning 2025 film Hamnet, starring Kerry born actress Jessie Buckley and Kildare actor Paul Mescal. For all the latest news on the incognito 2026 Art Sale, check out: @facebook.com/2026incognito or @instagram.com/jackandjillcf