Doras na Feasa Festival Team
Doras na Feasa is the non-profit arm of Blueway Art Studio, a new community group formed by Angelina Foster, Rachel Fountain & Emily Rainsford of Blueway Art Studio, Bríd Brophy, Ciara O’Keeffe and Nessa Doran O’Reilly. Their shared interest in climate action has led to several collaborative projects over the last few years. Their current shared project is Future Ancestor Athy, taking place on the 16th May 2026 (click here for details) with invited artists Donna Wright and Cathy Heffernan.
Doras na Feasa uses the arts as a force for change. Rooted in Blueway Art Studio’s climate-focused work, we tap into the River Barrow’s folklore and the Earth Charter’s values to challenge old patterns and spark new behaviours. Through collective storytelling, public art, and creative action, we empower Athy to imagine and build a more just regenerative future.
Doras na Feasa exists to:
- Inspire social change through story, creativity and connection to Ireland’s heritage and culture.
- Collaborate with communities to create meaningful, community-focused artistic projects and experiences that promote reflection and gratitude for future generations.
- Make art accessible to all, encouraging participation across all ages and abilities, and inspire a powerful sense of individual and collective creativity.
- Integrate intentional care for the greater community.
Meet the 2026 team below!
Angelina Foster: Eco-Artist & Creative Visionary
Angelina Foster is a socially engaged eco-artist and the founder of Blueway Art Studio in Narraghmore, Co. Kildare. Established in 2022 with support from Fáilte Ireland, the studio has evolved into a vibrant collaborative hub for climate action, heritage, and participatory arts.
Curating a Sustainable Future
As the lead curator for the Future Ancestor Project and its ambitious eco-festival in Athy, Angelina designs immersive experiences that bridge generational and social divides. Her work focuses on the sensory and emotional power of art to foster deep community connections. Taking inspiration from our land and water stories, her vision is to develop Future Ancestor into a series of smaller projects that connect people, towns, and villages who share responsibility for Berba.
Global Learning, Local Impact
To strengthen the festival’s pedagogical framework, Angelina is specialising in Education for Sustainable Development through the UNESCO – Earth Charter Centre (Costa Rica). Her research focuses on “Place-based water education for all,” specifically applying global values to the local context of the Barrow/Nore SAC (Special Area of Conservation). By creating alternative learning spaces, she aims to challenge existing worldviews and promote environmental stewardship.
Collaborative Growth
Angelina leads a powerhouse team of long-term creative partners. Together, they are transitioning Blueway Art Studio into a Social Enterprise (CLG) for 2026, with support from Doras na Feasa, ensuring their impactful work in the circular economy and heritage continues to thrive.
Meet Emily Rainsford: Visual Artist & Community Mentor
Emily Rainsford is a multidisciplinary visual artist and educator based in Co. Kildare. Her practice—spanning painting, printmaking, sculpture, and artist books—exists at the intersection of art, ecology, and community. Guided by deep listening and an attunement to place, Emily’s work explores the delicate threads of memory, myth, and environmental mystery.
International Recognition & Global Reach
A member of the art collectives Doras na Feasa and Blueway Art Studio, Emily’s work has been exhibited internationally. Her creative contributions are held in prestigious collections, including the National Art Library at the V&A, London, and the Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris.
Community Impact: The “Crann Taca” Project
Emily currently serves as the lead artist and mentor for the Anchor Youth Club, guiding their exploration of the River Barrow and the Earth Charter. Under the working title “Crann Taca” (Support Tree), she empowers young people to use collage and bookmaking to communicate environmental awareness and collective responsibility.
Through hands-on workshops and collaborative reflection, Emily mentors her students as they curate their own exhibitions. By fostering critical thinking and ownership, she helps the next generation express their relationship with the natural world through contemporary art, honoring the river as an anchor for past, present, and future communities.
Nessa Doran O’Reilly: Award-Winning Designer & Circular Economy Leader
Nessa Doran O’Reilly is a distinguished furniture designer and conservation specialist dedicated to the circular economy. As a co-founder of the award-winning Kildare-based enterprise Sam agus Nessa, she blends high-level craftsmanship with a passion for sustainable innovation.
Following a BA from DIT, Nessa earned two Master’s degrees in the UK: MA Furniture Design & Technology and MA Conservation of Furniture and Decorative Arts. Her technical expertise spans cabinet making, welding, kiln glass forming, and both traditional and contemporary upholstery, with a specialised focus on upcycling materials.
A Recognised Expert in Sustainable Media
Nessa has shared her expertise with millions as a featured designer on Channel 4’s Gok’s Fill Your House for Free and the BBC’s Flipping Profit. Beyond the screen, she is a prolific educator, developing restoration and upcycling programs for schools and mentoring diverse groups, including youth in sheltered accommodation.
Driving Ireland’s Circular Economy
As the Furniture Program Manager at the Rediscovery Centre (Ireland’s national centre for the circular economy), Nessa manages skill-building initiatives and public workshops. From leading “Swift Bird Box” projects with the scouts to hosting community repair cafes, she is at the forefront of sustainable creative practice.
The Berba Float Project
Currently, Nessa is collaborating with the Athy Men’s Shed to restore a traditional open-water boat. This project, serving as the first Berba Float for a community water parade, utilises traditional Irish boat-building and conservation techniques. By shifting from sustainability to regenerative circular-economy practices, Nessa helps the community explore local heritage and identity through hands-on restoration.
Rachel Fountain: Painter, Printmaker & Community Spark
Rachel Fountain is a Kildare-based artist whose work lives at the intersection of ecology, collaboration, and collective wellbeing. A graduate of the Limerick School of Art and Design, Rachel’s practice is defined by a deep curiosity for material exploration and the natural world.
Artistry Rooted in Nature
Rachel has been a key collaborator with Blueway Art Studio, contributing to innovative projects like Brigid’s Circles, which explored creative responses to the circular economy. Her expertise in sustainable processes is well-recognised; she has facilitated eco-printing workshops at IMMA’s Earth Rising festival and led natural ink-making sessions for the Future Ancestor Athy pilot festival in 2024.
Cultivating Community & Resilience
Beyond the studio, Rachel is a passionate gardener and member of The Old Garden Community Allotments. She is currently spearheading the development of a community herb and dye garden designed to foster biodiversity and social connection.
Through her artistic practice and volunteer work with Aware, Rachel explores how art and ecology can support positive mental health and resilience. Also serving as our “Canva Supreme Leader,” Rachel brings a unique blend of creative vision and motivational energy to every project.
Bríd Brophy: Community Artist & Traditional Craft Specialist
Bríd Brophy has been a cornerstone of the community arts landscape for over twenty years. Her extensive career is defined by a dedication to fostering rural arts networks, nurturing writers’ groups, and leading impactful collaborative projects that bring people together through creativity.
Master of Traditional Craft
Bríd is a renowned educator in the ancient art of rush-weaving. She regularly facilitates workshops across schools, libraries, and community settings, ensuring that traditional Irish heritage skills are preserved and passed down to future generations. Her hands-on approach makes these heritage techniques accessible and engaging for participants of all ages.
Literary & Collaborative Practice
A prolific voice in the Irish literary scene, Bríd has been a long-term member of the Bealtaine Writers Group at the Irish Writers Centre. Her poetic work is central to the group’s upcoming fourth anthology, set for publication in October 2026.
Within the Doras na Feasa collective, Bríd brings a wealth of experience in community engagement. Her work seamlessly weaves together the threads of heritage, storytelling, and social connection, making her an invaluable mentor and collaborator in our mission to celebrate local identity and creative expression.
