IAYL 07 - Front Section:Layout 1 03/05/2007 23:40 Page 19
ways to sample this tree-lined, hill and vale area is
to meander slowly from workshop to studio seeing
the sights along the way. The Kilkenny Crafts Trail is
the perfect route to follow, directing visitors to a
pleasant mix of craft studios.
Similarly, West Cork is home to 150 professional
craftworkers with studios, workshops and purpose-
built spaces to showcase their trade. Many of these
craftspeople have banded together to produce
Crafted, a wonderfully diverse gift fair exhibiting all
manner of designers. The annual National Craft Fair
and Showcase Ireland, both held in Dublin’s RDS,
Photos: Above: Niabh McGlynn and have a unique ‘story’ behind them. This invites are widely recognised as the country’s largest
Jewellery Design. Bottom (l-r): the consumer to connect with the craft and commercial showcases for craftwork. There are,
Michelle Hannan Ceramics, appreciate it more than a mass-produced item.” however, numerous local fairs and outlets, like
Roger Bennett woodwork, Crafted, coming to the fore around the country,
Thomas Wollen Raku Ceramics. The Crafts Council was founded in 1973 to support including the Castleconnell Craft Fair in County
the crafts and their practitioners. Although a Limerick, the Craft Granary in Tipperary which offers
relatively small organisation in terms of its budget a shop, gallery and workshop programmes, and the
and staff, the level of government financial support award-winning Abbey Mill and House of Craft in
given underlines the value attached by the County Donegal which is the perfect place to find
government to the role of the Council. It is unique Irish contemporary crafts.
estimated that the craft sector generated an annual
turnover of €132m in 2005. However, its real value Irish consumers are becoming more discerning and
is considerably greater when account is taken of its more visually literate in terms of design aesthetics.
contribution to other sectors, notably tourism and In addition, a more affluent society is beginning to
rural development. Three in every four Irish express a greater demand for craft products to meet
craftspeople are located outside urban areas evolving lifestyles – meaning that the sector needs
thereby underlining the contribution of the to be more closely tuned in to consumer preferences
sector to economic and social life outside the and behaviours than it has been in the past.
island of Ireland’s principal cities and towns.
No longer is the Irish craft industry solely made up
Some of Ireland’s finest studio workshops are of tweed and linen – this is an ever-evolving
clustered in the scenic valley of the River Nore in industry that now offers a wealth of unique,
the heart of County Kilkenny and one of the best handcrafted goods for all to enjoy.
mastering the craft 19
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225 |
Page 226 |
Page 227 |
Page 228 |
Page 229 |
Page 230 |
Page 231 |
Page 232 |
Page 233 |
Page 234 |
Page 235 |
Page 236 |
Page 237 |
Page 238 |
Page 239 |
Page 240 |
Page 241