Over the last number of years, Athy Sing and Sign have organised an Irish Sign Language (ISL) Festival every September, funded through Kildare County Council’s Creative Ireland programme. Due to COVID 19, the Festival was reimagined into a Visual and Virtual ISL Festival this year.

The visual arts component includes a new mural by acclaimed street artist Solus, Derek O’Sullivan which was installed in Athy in early September 2020. Explaining the mural, Solus said that he likes to balance strength and beauty together - hence the ballerina and the boxing gloves, a symbol of overcoming obstacles. ‘I like to think that this mural will uplift each and every one of us and remind us that we are strong women and men and that we shall all overcome our common obstacle in society today and that is COVID 19’. The ballerina wears a hearing aid and the mural is accompanied by the word ‘strong’ in text and ISL Alphabet.

The response from the public to the mural has been heart warming and for Kildare’s Culture Night, we would like to include you as part of the story. 

KILDARE CULTURE NIGHT COMPETITION

1. NAME THE ISL BALLERINA

2. STRIKE A POSE WITH THE ISL BALLERINA

Further details on the ISL Mural Culture Night competition can be found at the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/kildareartsservice/posts/10158442006677017

Please note that the details of events listed above are provided by the relevant Local Authorities.