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Craft markets, exhibitions and workshops are taking place across Ireland for August Craft Month

Craft markets, exhibitions and workshops are taking place across Ireland for August Craft Month

The Journal4 days ago
IF YOU'VE EVER wanted to try your hand at craft, August is the perfect month to do it.
August Craft Month, a joint venture presented by Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) and Craft NI, offers hundreds of events — including craft workshops, exhibitions, 'meet the maker' events and markets — across the country that are sure to inspire anyone who likes to get creative.
There is a wide array of events that there is something for everyone of all ages available, no matter what kind of craft speaks to you. There are mosaic workshops, you can learn how to sculpt a clay puffin, or if music is your thing, there's even a workshop where you can see how a bodhrán is made.
Attending these workshops gives you the chance to get in touch with your creative side — whether it's channelling your inner-Patrick Swayze at the throwing wheel, making your own suncatcher or simply having fun with your friends as you learn a new skill.
Even if you've never taken up a craft before, learning to work with your hands and make things can enhance your wellbeing and spark the beginnings of a new hobby. If you want to find out what kind of craft inspires you most, you'll definitely want to take part in August Craft Month.
Events across the country will be led by craftspeople, and you can pick up some useful new skills by taking part in workshops, get your creative juices flowing by visiting exhibitions and open studios, or stroll through pop-up shops and find any number of beautiful handcrafted pieces to decorate your home.
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Design & Crafts Council Ireland
/ YouTube
These events are taking place in cities and towns all across Ireland, meaning that no matter where you are, you'll be able to engage with a range of enriching events — including events for all ages.
The entire programme
can
be found online here
. You can search events by location and date, meaning that you can tailor your August Craft Month experience to your own availability. You can also filter by the type of craft that interests you. It's an extensive list, including such disciplines as: ceramics, textiles, jewellery-making, leatherwork, toymaking, glassmaking, soapmaking, candle-making, woodwork and blacksmithing.
stu teehan
stu teehan
Helpfully, you can also filter the programme for the type of event you want to attend, so if you're set on attending a market, you can see the full list of them online and plan your summer accordingly.
As you can probably imagine, many of the events in the schedule are in high demand, so if you want to take part, you should book your spot online and make sure that you don't miss out on the opportunity to awaken your inner craftsperson.
From complete beginners to kids, everyone can get involved in August Craft Month this summer and enjoy an unmissable opportunity to experience, support, learn about, make, see and buy outstanding local craft. August Craft Month supports centuries-long craft traditions across Ireland, helping to keep these traditions alive as they get passed down through generations.
Visit August Craft Month online
to learn more, browse the full programme of events and book yourself in for whatever excites you.
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Craft markets, exhibitions and workshops are taking place across Ireland for August Craft Month
Craft markets, exhibitions and workshops are taking place across Ireland for August Craft Month

The Journal

time4 days ago

  • The Journal

Craft markets, exhibitions and workshops are taking place across Ireland for August Craft Month

IF YOU'VE EVER wanted to try your hand at craft, August is the perfect month to do it. August Craft Month, a joint venture presented by Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) and Craft NI, offers hundreds of events — including craft workshops, exhibitions, 'meet the maker' events and markets — across the country that are sure to inspire anyone who likes to get creative. There is a wide array of events that there is something for everyone of all ages available, no matter what kind of craft speaks to you. There are mosaic workshops, you can learn how to sculpt a clay puffin, or if music is your thing, there's even a workshop where you can see how a bodhrán is made. Attending these workshops gives you the chance to get in touch with your creative side — whether it's channelling your inner-Patrick Swayze at the throwing wheel, making your own suncatcher or simply having fun with your friends as you learn a new skill. Even if you've never taken up a craft before, learning to work with your hands and make things can enhance your wellbeing and spark the beginnings of a new hobby. If you want to find out what kind of craft inspires you most, you'll definitely want to take part in August Craft Month. Events across the country will be led by craftspeople, and you can pick up some useful new skills by taking part in workshops, get your creative juices flowing by visiting exhibitions and open studios, or stroll through pop-up shops and find any number of beautiful handcrafted pieces to decorate your home. Advertisement Design & Crafts Council Ireland / YouTube These events are taking place in cities and towns all across Ireland, meaning that no matter where you are, you'll be able to engage with a range of enriching events — including events for all ages. The entire programme can be found online here . You can search events by location and date, meaning that you can tailor your August Craft Month experience to your own availability. You can also filter by the type of craft that interests you. It's an extensive list, including such disciplines as: ceramics, textiles, jewellery-making, leatherwork, toymaking, glassmaking, soapmaking, candle-making, woodwork and blacksmithing. stu teehan stu teehan Helpfully, you can also filter the programme for the type of event you want to attend, so if you're set on attending a market, you can see the full list of them online and plan your summer accordingly. As you can probably imagine, many of the events in the schedule are in high demand, so if you want to take part, you should book your spot online and make sure that you don't miss out on the opportunity to awaken your inner craftsperson. From complete beginners to kids, everyone can get involved in August Craft Month this summer and enjoy an unmissable opportunity to experience, support, learn about, make, see and buy outstanding local craft. August Craft Month supports centuries-long craft traditions across Ireland, helping to keep these traditions alive as they get passed down through generations. Visit August Craft Month online to learn more, browse the full programme of events and book yourself in for whatever excites you.

Revealed: Cork Craft Month's top events and activities
Revealed: Cork Craft Month's top events and activities

Irish Examiner

time25-07-2025

  • Irish Examiner

Revealed: Cork Craft Month's top events and activities

Someone who is passionate about what they're doing will always use the vocabulary of affection in their references. Cork Craft Month's festival director, Ava Hayes, is talking to me about the events' programme across the city and county, from July 31-August 31, so I ask her for her top picks. Such is her care for the event, it's like asking her to pick her favourite child. With good humour, she says, 'My two favourite children are the Emerge graduate exhibition at 46 Grand Parade with 20 new craft makers, and I'm excited to go to Fota House with an exhibition of our long-term makers.' Ava Hayes, festival director, Cork Craft Month. Now in her third year as festival director, Ava's involvement started four years ago when she was appointed curator of the Emerge graduate exhibition showing work from the five Cork art colleges: Crawford College of Art & Design, Coláiste Stiofáin Naofa, St John's Central College, West Cork Campus Skibbereen which is a subsidiary of the Cork College of Commerce, and Kinsale College. Michael Healey (MISH), furniture maker. Ava has since handed over the reins for Emerge and turned her curatorial focus to the two showcase exhibitions which celebrate Cork Craft & Design, the membership organisation which galvanised Cork craft makers to come together and support and market themselves to the public. 'This year is the 20th anniversary of Cork Craft & Design, so we have two showcase events called Echoes of the Makers, showing our members' work. The city-based one takes place in St Peter's, North Main Street, and we have a county location at Fota House," she says. Everything is for sale at the events, and there's something for every budget. In the Cork Craft & Design shop, prices range from €30 to €200 for smaller pieces, which can include ceramics, wood-turned objects and textiles which are easily portable for carrying home. The showcase exhibitions range from €300 to €2,000 and include bigger furniture pieces, so if you're in the market for buying a wedding or house-warming gift, there's a chance to buy something unique with a story behind the making of it. Organisers and crafters at Fota House launching Cork Craft Month 2025. It might be hard to know where to begin when you browse through the brochure online at but if you have a Saturday free, Ava advises you 'start the Cork Craft Month journey with an open heart. Go to the exhibitions at St Peter's and Emerge in the city, and then Fota House to get a flavour. "Take a trip to Kilcoe Studios in Ballydehob for live events and family events. On the way, there's the Green Dot in Clonakilty. You can go to a Meet the Maker workshop event with wood turning or making a pot, where you'll learn about the process from the maker, and you then welcome the pieces into your home.' Such is the success of Cork Craft Month that it has become the template for similar events developing nationwide and the all-Ireland August Craft Month. Furniture maker Fergal O'Leary, one of the early members of Cork Craft & Design, says, 'We have 99 events this year. 80% of them are hands-on workshops with the makers, from Castletownbere to Youghal and up to Newmarket. They're very engaging. You come away with something more than a cup, something that lasts longer in your consciousness.' Fergal also sees public awareness of the value of craft having grown. 'People are more aware of what bang you can get for your buck,' he says. 'The craft category has been strengthened by the proliferation of what's online. It's a different experience. There's quality and depth to craft.' Glassmaker George Duggan, one of the particpants in Cork Craft Month. The permanent Cork Craft & Design shop at St Patrick's Woollen Mills in Douglas and the pop-up shop at Douglas Court Shopping Centre have also contributed to this, he says. 'They're a nice focus and engagement with crafters and the public for events, and they've raised the profile of craft with the help of local enterprise offices, city and county council arts offices, the Department of Trade, Enterprise and Employment and local businesses.' But something else that sets these shops apart is the craft makers' commitment to spending time there talking to the public. 'You see how people want to touch things, the wood, the bowls,' says Fergal. Charlie Mahon, ceramicist. 'It's a personal story for everyone involved, the buyer and the maker. I always say, the maker talks about the process, the customer talks about the piece.'

The home interior design trends to tap into now
The home interior design trends to tap into now

Irish Examiner

time24-07-2025

  • Irish Examiner

The home interior design trends to tap into now

If you're talking renovations, upgrades and making the most of what you have, it's good to be in the know— after all, there's nothing spontaneous about a considered design brief. Especially when you have the opportunity to create the ideal layout, knowing the latest design trends and exploring "what's in and what's out" means you can make informed decisions — with the potential to add value to your property. To put you on the front foot, home and design platform Houzz has identified the latest home trends gaining traction… 'Based on insights from the 2025 Emerging Trends Report, there's a growing appetite for indulgent upgrades and bold, expressive design, from luxurious bathroom retreats to colour-drenched interiors, highlights Amanda Pollard, senior editor at Houzz. Here's the lowdown on what's key, and influencing our style choices… Wood-drenched interiors 'From wood beams to wooden floors and everything in between, homeowners are embracing wood; thanks to its timeless appeal and ability to add tone and texture to a space,' underlines Pollard. Indeed, she says searches for wood beams are up significantly, and terms like "oak kitchen" and 'wood kitchen' have also been on the rise. Streamlined oak cabinets, an oak island and wood-toned stools add sophistication to this Nordic-inspired kitchen (Randa Kort Interior Architecture & Design/Laura Rupulo Photography/PA) Wooden wall treatments such as slat walls and panels are trending, adds Pollard, and with the help of 3D floor-plan tools, you can see how to integrate these wall treatments. Randa Kort of Randa Kort Interior Architecture & Design says: 'Incorporating natural wood in less conventional ways, such as wall treatments, can add character and visual interest to any space. 'While some of our clients use natural materials like wood to add warmth, others use it to create a more elevated look and choose interior wood cladding for their projects.' Daylighting As Pollard points out, natural light is a commodity, and trending searches for daylighting features show we're in pursuit of airy, sun-filled spaces. With the positive benefits of enhancing light flow and architectural detail throughout the home, she says searches for skylights, orangeries, and glass wall partitions have been climbing. A skylight and glass doors illuminate this contemporary dining room (Snell David Cambridge LTD/Michael Maynard/PA) James Snell, director of Snell David Cambridge Ltd, says: 'It's important to consider all of the potential avenues, as you seek to maximise the natural light throughout your home.' 'Many [people] don't explore the creative and strategic options to brighten up their spaces, and they're missing out,' notes Snell. 'Adding a skylight, for example, can transform a dark space, and internal glass doors can help light flow from one room to the next.' Wall-to-wall design More and more of us are willing to go bold with our interiors, embracing colour and pattern in the home, suggests Pollard. 'Whether they're using vibrant paint, dramatic texture or layered pattern, they're making a statement with creative wall treatments.' More recently, she says searches for a technique known as "colour drenching" — where a single colour, or closely related set of colours, is applied to all surfaces in a room, including walls, ceilings and woodwork — is trending. This colour-drenched living room showcases a vibrant blue hue (Completion Interior Design & Architecture/Kasia Fiszer/PA) And while some may have previously hesitated from making such bold interior decor choices, Pollard says today's visualisation tools help empower them to be more adventurous. 'As it's easier to visualise how it will all come together.' Gilly Foulds, founder of Completion Interior Design & Architecture, says: 'Bold tones and rich textures infuse personality into a space, and homeowners are taking note. 'Not only that, but these more daring choices help to create a space that's uniquely yours, with a distinct personal touch.' Luxurious bathrooms There's a growing appetite for high-end upgrades, and bathrooms offer an opportunity to introduce luxury into everyday life, outlines Pollard. 'This year, interest in luxurious materials has skyrocketed, with 'onyx tile' searches 1,069% higher than last year, and 'marble bathroom' searches up 51%.' She says trends also reveal a growing interest in features that are both luxurious and practical, such as double vanities and double showers. And consistent with Houzz's 2024 Bathroom Trends report, freestanding baths are among the most sought-after bathroom features, says Pollard. A showstopper for sure, this marble-tiled bathroom with a floating double vanity exudes luxury (Snell David Cambridge LTD/Michael Maynard/PA) 'Whether it's a bespoke walk-in shower or high-end materials, our clients are seeking to elevate their bathroom spaces to invoke a spa-like atmosphere,' highlights Snell. Moreover, he says people are increasingly interested in creating dedicated spaces for relaxation and wellness within their homes. 'And many of them are willing to invest in luxury fixtures and features, to transform their bathrooms into sanctuaries.' Pretty in pink 'From the kitchen to the bathroom, pink is back in a big way,' underlines Pollard. She says soft, plaster-pink hues are particularly popular, due to their versatility and subtle sophistication. Uber cool, a delicate pink tile covers the walls of this contemporary bathroom (Francesco Pierazzi Architects/Gianluca Maver/PA) 'Searches for pink bathrooms, pink kitchens and pink bedrooms are all on the rise, which further speaks to pink's adaptability,' she notes. Francesco Pierazzi of Francesco Pierazzi Architects says: 'Considered a neutral by many, soft pink pairs beautifully with a range of colours and styles. 'Beyond that, the shade has warm undertones, which evokes a sense of calm and tranquillity within the home.'

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