Kildare County Council announces recipients of 2025 arts awards

Kildare County Council’s Arts Service has announced the recipients of the Creative Places Athy Arts Grants and Awards 2025.  

These awards mark the beginning of an exciting year of artist-led and community driven creative activity across Athy and the surrounding municipal district. 

Funded by the Arts Council of Ireland / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and Kildare County Council, Creative Places, Athy continues its mission to celebrate and strengthen the cultural life of the town, supporting artists, amplifying local voices, and deepening creative engagement within communities.  

As we look ahead to 2026, these awards recognise projects and practices that will bring new ideas, collaborations, and creative energy to Athy throughout the coming year. 

READ NEXT: Ongoing delay of Celbridge Campus Project slammed by Kildare North TD

Creative Places Athy Artist Award 

The recipients of the Creative Places Athy Artist Award are: 

Angelina Foster, Arthur Greene, Cathy Callan, Ciara O’Keeffe, Eileen Hutton, Elsie Nolan, Emily Rainsford, Ioana Constantin Pipelea, John MacKenna, Kate Park, Martin Malone, Natasha Conway, Nick Bryson and Paul Linehan. 

This award supports professional artists at all stages of their careers to develop their practice. Throughout 2026, their work will contribute to a diverse and dynamic range of artistic activity across Athy.  

Creative Communities Award  

The recipients of the Creative Communities Award are:  

Cathy Callan, Dave Ryan (InSync), Leish Burke (Griese Youth Theatre) and Virginia Byrne. 

This award supports community groups developing collaborative projects with professional artists. Projects led by these recipients will foster creative connections strengthening Athy’s collective creative life throughout 2026. 

Reacting to the announcement, Eláine Donnelly, Acting Arts Officer, Kildare County Council said: “This cohort of awardees brings artistic excellence, community commitment, and a deep sense of imagination to the Creative Places Athy programme for 2026.

"Their work will animate public spaces, inspire participation, and build connections across Athy. Creative Places Athy continues to evolve through the people who shape it, and this year’s award recipients will lead some of the most exciting creative work happening in the county.”