Gold postboxes celebrate Richard’s Oscar win

RICHARD Baneham’s Oscar win continues to be celebrated this week, with An Post turning post boxes in Ballyfermot and Tallaght gold in his honour.

The Tallaght animator and his colleagues last Sunday picked up the Oscar for Best Visual Effects for their work on Avatar: the Way of Water.

A former student of Ballyfermot College of Further Education, Richard won an Oscar back in 2010 for his visual effects work on the first Avatar movie.

Local communities have been celebrating Richard’s golden two-time Oscar win, including An Post.

Earlier this week, An Post first painted the pillar box outside Ballyfermot College of Further Education gold in celebration of Richie’s achievements.

Richard Baneham collecting his Oscar with his colleagues

“We (An Post) are proud to say we’ve marked Richie Baneham’s Avatar Oscar by painting the postbox at Ballyfermot College of Further Education on Ballyfermot Rd (Convent),” a spokesperson for An Post told The Echo.

“Richie studied Animation in Ballyfermot College of Further Education from 1990 until 1994.

“An Post last turned postboxes gold for our Gold medal winners at the 2021 Paralympics and Olympics.

“Our postboxes have seen everything down through the years but not many get the chance to celebrate a genuine world beater like Richie.”

Today, Thursday, the Old Bawn Road was looking a little glitzier after a postbox close to Richard’s family home was turned gold.

When contacted this afternoon, An Post said: “We’re very happy to be able to turn [the postbox in Tallaght] gold in celebration of what Richie has achieved.

“What Richie has done is worth celebrating”.

The community in Tallaght is welcoming An Post’s tribute to Richard, including Tallaght Community Council (TCC).

The local community council had contacted An Post about the possibility of a golden post box in Tallaght.

According to TCC: “It would be a huge positive symbol and support the Pride of Place in Tallaght.

“There is an old-style post box on the Old Bawn road, close to his family home and both primary and secondary schools.

“It would be seen by thousands on a daily basis and be passed by his parents daily.”

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