Creative Media Students Win Top Prize at FÍS26 for Myth-Inspired Game Rian Éan
A team of Creative Media students has been awarded First Prize at the FIS26 Graduate Exhibition for their project Rian Éan (Bird Trail), an atmospheric narrative game inspired by Irish culture and mythology.
Hosted by the Department of Creative Arts, Media and Music at DkIT, the FÍS exhibition highlights an exciting and diverse collection of student-led projects created by final-year Creative Media students, that explore the changing connections of technology, design, and narrative.
This year’s winning project explores traditional folklore through a contemporary interactive format, combining storytelling, environment design, and mood-driven gameplay to create an engaging and reflective experience. Developed in Unreal Engine, the game places a strong emphasis on narrative and emotional tone, inviting players to explore a stylised vision of Celtic Ireland.
The project was developed by Milan Štrbík, Nina Kováčiková, and Barbora Sádecká, and was selected by a fantastic industry judging panel including Sarah McCashin (GenetiQ Software), Adam Collins (Ryanair), and Donal Hanks (permanent tsb).
On behalf of her team, Nina Kovacikova said:
“We are very grateful for the support and appreciation we received for our video game Rian Éan. Winning the Best in Show Award was a great surprise and a rewarding experience after the hard work we put into the project.
As a team of international students, the idea for the game came through fascination with Irish mythological and cultural heritage which is present all around Ireland, particularly in the area of County Louth. We were aiming to capture the essence of the Irish myths and legends through visuals, audio, narrative and the use of Irish language throughout the whole game.”
JJ Quinlan, Lecturer in Creative Media, said:
“The FIS26 Creative Media Graduate Exhibition highlights the innovation, creativity, and industry-ready skills of students graduating from Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT). The work stood out for its thoughtful approach to cultural storytelling and its integration of game design, visual design, and narrative within a cohesive creative concept.”
Photo Captions:
Overall winners at Fís 2026: Barbora Sádecká, Nina Kováčiková & Milan Štrbík
Lecturer JJ Quinlan with the judging panel for Fís 2026: Sarah McCashin, GenetiQ Software; JJ Quinlan, DkIT Adam Collins, Ryanair; and Donal Hanks, Permanent TSB.
