This Next Generation of Irish Designers Recognised with Total Prize Fund of €23,000. Today it was announced that Alison Conneely, a gifted young Irish fashion designer, who draws inspiration from her native Connemara, has won the top prize under this year’s Crafts Council of Ireland Future Makers Awards & Supports programme. The announcement was made at Fallon & Byrne in Dublin, where awards were also presented to 18 other craft makers as chosen by an international selection panel.

Read full Press Release here.

This year at Bloom, the Crafts Council of Ireland will once again present an exciting range of Irish craft experiences including workshops, demonstrations, installations and over 20 retail stands with handmade products from all over Ireland.  At this year’s event, the Crafts Council of Ireland will have more crafts on offer than ever before, with seven craft guilds due to demonstrate at the event. Many of the guilds will offer both adults and children the chance to try their hand at a range of crafts such as basket making, felt making, patchwork, weaving and woodturning. The events are suitable for all ages.

Read full Press Release here.

A multi-disciplinary mini-festival exploring and celebrating craft, design and creativity through experimentation and collaboration; Friday 5th July & Saturday 6th July 2013. Presented by the Crafts Council of Ireland and the National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny, this is a Gathering 2013 event and marks the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of Kilkenny Design Workshops. www.nationalcraftgallery.ie.

Read full Press Release here.

Working in partnership, the two organisations will be rolling out a series of Continuing Professional Development workshops across the eight CEB regions which will focus on developing 'business skills’ in tandem with ‘design and product development skills’. 

Read full Press Release here.

As part of its 2013 programme exploring the legacy of Kilkenny Design Workshops in the 21st Century, the National Craft Gallery is pleased to present two contemporary Nordic exhibitions from Norway and Finland. The exhibitions, with an accompanying seminar, offer an opportunity to explore contemporary Nordic craft and design - and our fascination with the Scandinavian aesthetic - at close quarters.

Read full Press Release here.

Today Arnotts, in association with the Crafts Council of Ireland, launched an installation of craft Imagined, Designed and Made in Ireland as part of the Arnotts Love Irish Design initiative, which will take place in store throughout March and April.

Read full Press Release here.

The Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) in partnership with the National College of Art & Design (NCAD) presents an exhibition of Future Makers award-winning work.

Work by the recipients of the Crafts Council of Ireland’s Future Makers Awards and Supports 2012 will be showcased at an exciting exhibition, which opens on Thursday evening, 7th March at the NCAD Gallery in Dublin. The exhibition is being presented in partnership with the National College of Art and Design and runs until April 5th.

Read full Press Release here.

Claddagh Design wins best product award 2013 for its contemporary take on the Claddagh ring. Other Showcase Award Winners include...
Read full Press Release here.

Showcase 2013, Ireland’s Creative Expo officially opened today, Sunday 20th January with the unveiling of a new feature area of contemporary Irish design for the home and the first in a series of fashion shows featuring Ireland’s leading fashion designers.

• Irish creativity wows trade buyers from Ireland and abroad
• Up to €20 million in sales orders expected over four days
• Highest number of exhibitors in four years
• Substantial increase in interest from buyers, particularly in the UK and US markets

Read full Press Release here.

• Crafts Council of Ireland announces strategy to sustain and develop Ireland’s craft and design sector over the next three years

• Higher awareness levels and positive engagement with Irish craft among consumers paves the way for future growth

• Ireland’s dynamic craft sector contributes almost half a billion euros to the economy, with huge potential for expansion

Plans to sustain and grow the craft and design sector in Ireland were announced today by the Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) in their Strategic Plan 2013 – 2015.  The plan sets out priorities for the development of the sector with a special emphasis on growing sales of Irish craft.

Read full Press Release here.

Showcase, Ireland’s Creative Expo and the country’s largest international trade fair, returns to the RDS this January, attracting buyers from over 17 countries keen to discover exciting and innovative new Irish products. Now in its 37th year, Showcase features over 400 of Ireland’s leading designers, manufacturers and craftspeople delivering high quality products that are often unique to the show. 

Read full Press Release here.

Future Beauty?
An exhibition of work from Irish Craft Portfolio: Critical Selection
National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny, 25 January – 18 March 2013

Future Beauty? is a rare collision of materials, technologies and cultural influences, all linked by the experience of intelligent making. Drawn from twenty six studios and featuring both everyday and extraordinary objects, the show invites us to consider the current shape of craft, art and design in Ireland - and the ways in which the thinking and the objects from these makers may influence our understanding of these interconnected disciplines in the future.

Read full Press Release here.

The Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) has reported that there has been a strong demand for Irish made gifts in the lead up to Christmas. Quality, design and value for money are seen as the key drivers for purchases. Retailers such as Arnotts, Kilkenny Group, Irishdesignshop.com, makersandbrothers.com, Stonechat and Ardmore Pottery and Crafts have reported an increase in sales of Irish made gifts in 2012.

Read full Press Release here.

Discover a myriad of gift ideas for family and friends in the Christmas Gift Guide just launched by www.giveirishcraft.com

The Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) is encouraging Irish consumers to give gifts with meaning this Christmas by choosing authentic Irish-made craft and supporting Ireland’s vibrant craft and design sector. Following the launch of their newly updated website www.giveirishcraft.com earlier this month, CCoI has published an accompanying gift guide.

Read full press release here.

At the launch of their newly updated website www.giveirishcraft.com CCoI encouraged Irish consumers to give gifts with meaning this Christmas by choosing authentic Irish-made craft and supporting Ireland’s vibrant craft and design sector.

89% of women perceive Irish craft as an ideal gift according to research by Millward Brown Lansdowne

24% increase in the number of consumers buying Irish craft products, driven by better value and availability

Read full press release here.

Following the success of the first Irish Craft Portfolio exhibition at the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) in Dublin in 2011, the Crafts Council of Ireland and the RHA will present this new exhibition of work from 29th November until 3rd December. This capsule exhibition is curated by Patricia Clyne-Kelly and will include work from 39 makers featured in Irish Craft Portfolio.

Read full press release here.

An exhibition by some of Ireland’s foremost makers and poets opens on 2nd November at the National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny. Out of the Marvellous is an exhibition of work by some of Ireland's foremost makers and poets, co-curated by Maureen Kennelly and Ann Mulrooney.


This show will trace the connections and shared sources of inspiration between both art forms, through selected pairings of poets and makers. Featuring poetry, sound and objects, it seeks to create a moving and immersive environment in which the poetic beauty of both artforms can be enjoyed and appreciated.

Read full press release here.

The Crafts Council of Ireland will create a truly unique Irish space in the middle of London's
East End for the London Design Festival 2012, one of the world's most important annual design events.

Read full press release here.

The RDS National Crafts Competition boasts a prize fund in excess of €28,000 over 20 different categories and is one of Europe’s leading independently adjudicated craft competitions. See full press release for the list of 2012 winners.

Read full press release here.

Craft curated by Angela O’Kelly. This year in the National Craft Gallery, UTENSIL is an exhibition of European applied artists and product designers who present alternative approaches to tableware.

Read full press release here.

Through the Mill showcases ceramic work by emerging craftspeople. An exhibition of work by the 12 graduates of the Crafts Council of Ireland’s renowned Ceramics Skills and Design Course has officially opened at the National Craft Gallery in Kilkenny.

Read full press release here.

On Friday 25th May, the Crafts Council of Ireland Irish Craft Bursary 2012 was awarded to Irish ceramic artist Michael Moore.

The presentation was made by Crafts Council of Ireland Chief Executive Karen Hennessy at the opening of the Between Art and Industry exhibition at the National Craft Gallery in Kilkenny.

Read full press release here.

A gifted young Irish fashion designer whose stunning creations have been worn by singer/song-writer, Lily Allen, has won the top prize under this year's Crafts Council of Ireland Future Makers Awards & Support programme.

Natalie Coleman from Monaghan received the overall Future Makers Award of €5,000 for the distinctive dress designs from her “All the Jewellery I Never Got” collection which is playfully drawn from images of jewellery she has never received.

With a total prize fund of €30,000, the Future Makers Awards & Support reward the next generation of Irish designers, helping them develop an exciting future in the craft and design industry.

Read full press release here.

Big Mountain Productions, in association with the Crafts Council of Ireland, is delighted to announce that production has begun on Craft Master, the BAI co-funded series for RTÉ.

The series is looking for individuals to feature on the show who have foundation skills in the craft disciplines of Basketry, Millinery, Knitting, Furniture or Jewellery.

The second series of this hugely successful programme presented by Sonya Lennon will showcase the work from the very best up-and-coming Irish Craft Makers.

Read full press release here. 

Eight contemporary Irish Makers on display at London's Saatchi Gallery this weekend.

11-14 May 2012, Saatchi Gallery, London

COLLECT is the premier destination for anyone passionate about the very best contemporary craft.



This weekend will see the Craft Council of Ireland’s National Craft Gallery open their latest exhibition at COLLECT – the premier European art fair for contemporary objects. Exceptional work will be presented by eight contemporary Irish makers, working in jewellery, metal, ceramics and glass.

Read full press release here.  

BETWEEN ART & INDUSTRY: a timely exploration of relationships between craft and mass production, National Craft Gallery. 

Exhibition Dates: 25 May – 4 July, 2012
Between Art & Industry at the National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny.

Exhibition Opening: 6pm, Friday May 25, 2012
The exhibition will be opened by economist Finbarr Bradley.

Read full press release here.

Work by Irish ceramic artist Michael Moore will feature in a new exhibition in Heidelberg from 15 April to 26 May 2012 at Galerie Marianne Heller, one of the leading galleries for contemporary ceramic art in Europe.
Read full press release here.

"The wonderful thing about a show like Block Party is that it challenges our assumptions, and that is potentially a very creative state to be in. It will be interesting to see what it inspires."
Read full press release here.

An exciting new and innovative pilot business venture known as MADE in Kilkenny @ GOODS will take place on the first floor mezzanine of GOODS Department store on High St, Kilkenny.
Read full press release here.

Crafts Council of Ireland urges consumers to continue to support Irish craft enterprises and consider Irish craft when shopping for gifts.
Read full press release here.

Crafts Council of Ireland brings ten jewellery makers to Inhorgenta, Munich, 10th - 13th February 2012.
Read full press release here.

Irish Sculptor Deirdre McLoughlin is to have her first major solo exhibition in Ireland, opening this month at the National Craft Gallery in Kilkenny.
Read full press release here.

Additions include Showcase Fashion 2012, an expanded Creative Island and new products from 350 top companies in craft and design.
Read full press release here.

Ireland's Year of Craft 2011 initiative has given a welcome boost to Ireland's craft industry, and will help to sustain thousands of jobs in the sector into the future, according to the Crafts Council of Ireland. Read full press release here.

Crafts Council of Ireland encourages consumers to choose authentic, Irish made craft over imported brands this Christmas.

CONSUMERS URGED TO GIVE IRISH CRAFT THIS CHRISTMAS – AND HELP SUSTAIN IRISH JOBS

•    Crafts Council of Ireland encourages consumers to choose authentic, Irish made craft over imported brands this Christmas

•    An average spend of €10 by every Irish household on Irish craft would generate €14 million for craft businesses all over the country

•    Beautifully crafted gifts designed and made in Ireland available from €5 – see www.giveirishcraft.com


THE CRAFTS COUNCIL OF IRELAND (CCoI) is appealing to Ireland’s 1.4 million households to Give Irish Craft this Christmas and to spend a minimum of €10 on Irish crafted gifts.

CCoI says that by switching even a portion of their Christmas spend from imported gifts to authentic, Irish designed and made craft, consumers can help sustain and grow the 5,700 jobs in this important creative sector.

According to Brian McGee, Head of Market Development at the Crafts Council of Ireland, Irish designed and made goods represent value for money. Speaking at the launch of the ‘Give Irish Craft’ campaign at the CCoI headquarters in Kilkenny he said: “When you buy Irish craft you are buying something of quality that is unique,” he said. “We are asking shoppers to be extra conscious this year of supporting Irish makers and no matter how small, to make at least one Irish craft purchase. A small effort by everyone will go a long way to helping the sector.”

There are over 1.4 million households in Ireland, and a modest spend per house of just €10 would increase the turnover of Irish craft businesses by €14 million.

The Deloitte Annual Christmas Spending Survey for 2011 shows that consumer spend will drop this Christmas from last year’s average of €1,020 per household to €943. Of this figure, €520 will be spent on gifts.  The survey shows that durability and value for money will be important considerations for Irish consumers when buying gifts this year. 72% of those surveyed indicated that they will focus more on buying less expensive gifts, while 84% will focus more on buying useful gifts.

“Despite the huge financial pressures we are all under, it is clear that people still desire to embrace Christmas,” continued McGee. “The great thing is you don’t have to spend a fortune to buy a piece of Irish craft.  There are beautiful gifts available from as little as €5 so there is something to cater for every budget. By buying authentic Irish craft, you are sharing the wonderful story about the product, and supporting the craftsperson who has dedicated his or her time and skill to creating a gift with meaning.”

The Crafts Council of Ireland’s dedicated website www.giveirishcraft.com directs visitors to a huge choice of distinctive Christmas gift ideas, all Imagined, Designed and Made in Ireland by some of the most talented craftspeople in the country. The selection of gifts includes everything from elegant tableware and homewares to beautiful fashion, accessories and jewellery, all combining on-trend designs, colour and originality.  

The site also features a directory of craft stockists throughout the country.  Almost 120 Irish retail shops are taking part in supporting the Crafts Council of Ireland’s campaign this Christmas, an increase of over 100% on last year. More than 300 Irish designers and craft makers will be represented through in-store point-of-sale material in retail outlets throughout Ireland, combined with an advertising, poster and on-line campaign.  Consumer’s can easily identify genuine Irish craft through the “Imagined, Designed and Made in Ireland” symbol on in-store displays at participating retailers. 

With almost 2,500 clients on its register of craft enterprises, CCoI is the main champion of the craft industry in Ireland, fostering its growth and commercial strength, communicating its unique identity and stimulating quality design, innovation and competitiveness.

“Throughout Year of Craft 2011 we have been encouraging the public to engage with Irish craft and to seek out the fabulous work being produced by the talented craftspeople living and working here in Ireland,” commented Karen Hennessy, Chief Executive of the Crafts Council of Ireland.  “By choosing to support local craft businesses, every consumer can play a part in ensuring that we sustain the 5,770 jobs in the Irish craft sector and provide opportunities for creating further employment into the future.”

The Crafts Council of Ireland’s dedicated website www.giveirishcraft.com showcases a stunning range of gift ideas for loved ones, family, friends or colleagues including craft designed and made by established names such as Nicholas Mosse, Jerpoint Glass and Alan Ardiff as well as newer craft businesses such as Button & Co., The Handmade Soap Company and Klickity.

Gift suggestions under €10 include:

-         Handcrafted cards by Shirley Hunter from €2.35 to €4.50
-         Handmade Soap Company individual soap bars, €4.50
-         Moth to a Flame pebble candles from €6.99
-         Castle Arch pottery creamer, €10


Gift suggestions between €10 and €20 include:
 
-         Brushed mohair Cushendale Scarf, €16.50
-         McCul boys cotton sweatshirt,  €16
-         Fionn gold and navy line table napkin, €17.50
-         Max Benjamin scented candle,  €18


Gift suggestions between €20 and €30 include:

-         Artysmarty butterfly necklace, €24.95
-         Bunbury chopping board - €25.50
-         Jerpoint Glass festive range glasses - €29.95
-         Lesley Frew flower brooch, €30
-         Garvan de Bruir leather iphone cover, €30


Gift suggestions between €30 and €40 include:

-         Rachel McKnight perspex drop earrings - €34
-         Reaction polished pewter cuff bracelet , €35
-         Mary Neeson white and black angels - €36
-         Orian Pottery green curly stoneware bowl, €37.50
-         Kerry Crafted Glass vase - €38


Gift suggestions between €40 and €50 include:

-         Linda Wilson 1920’s style hat, €40
-         Lynda Gault platter and condiment set – from €45
-         Hanna Hats tweed walking hat, €45
-         Klickity palm lightshade, €49.95
-         Heartworks salvaged slate clock from €50

Full details of participating retail outlets and makers can be found at www.giveirishcraft.com


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Tristan McGrath (5) and Laoise Nolan (7) pictured at the launch of the ‘Give Irish Craft’ campaign at the Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) headquarters in Kilkenny with 11 month-old Millie. Tristan’s top is from Hot Totz, the mugs are from Eden Pottery and the blanket is made by Hanley Woollen Mills.

Media contacts:
Neans McSweeney
MD Media
(086) 2620 355 or

Susan Brindley
Crafts Council of Ireland
(087) 8595 013

RHA TO HOST EXHIBITION OF TOP IRISH CRAFTMAKERS.

Opens: 6pm, Thursday 24th November, 2011
Where: RHA Gallery, Ely Place, Dublin 2
Exhibition Runs: 24 – 28 November, 2011
Online: www.irishcraftportfolio.ie
                                
“In the poetic hands of Joe Hogan, the driftwood collar of a basket sinks as if on the beachy sea-shore into the recess of woven ash...

The sea is in the very glaze of Jack Doherty’s pots…

There is an extraordinary rhythm to the forms of Joseph Walsh’s Enignum chair…”

Professor Simon Olding, Director of the Crafts Study Center, University for the Creative Arts, UK. From Irish Craft Portfolio 2011 Publication.

For the first time, the Crafts Council of Ireland will hold an exhibition at the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) in Dublin. A selection of work from Irish Craft Portfolio 2011 will showcase contemporary work by some of Ireland’s most internationally-recognised makers. The exhibition will be officially opened by art critic Gemma Tipton on Thursday 24th November 24 at 6pm.

“Supporting emerging and established craft makers is a key element of our activities, especially during Year of Craft in Ireland,”said Karen Hennessy, Chief Executive of the Crafts Council of Ireland. “This exciting exhibition which showcases the very best of Irish craft on the national and international stage encourages the accessibility of craft to both collectors and consumers.”

“We are delighted to be showing work in this beautiful and prestigious setting,” said Ciara Garvey, Development Manager, Collector & Tourism Programmes at the Crafts Council of Ireland.   “For many visitors, it may be their first experience of unique, finely crafted objects. We hope that our presence in the RHA will generate a heightened understanding of the outstanding skill and beauty that contemporary fine craft requires.”

Who is involved?
The makers in this exhibition are a selection from Irish Craft Portfolio 2011. The craftwork featured in this year’s edition was chosen by an international selection panel.   All are highly regarded and many are steadily achieving international success.

•    John Lee was recently commissioned to design and make the new Presidential Inauguration Chair. 
•    A piece by Michael McCrory was presented to Queen Elizabeth on her visit to Ireland this year. 
•    Joseph Walsh was very well received at last year’s Design Miami with his “Enignum Canopy Bed” selling for a record price.
•    Many of the exhibitors are in the National Museum of Ireland’s permanent collection thereby sealing their work as both contemporary collectables and future antiques.

Other makers represented in this exhibition include: Denis Brown, Jack Doherty, Dunleavy Bespoke, Peter Fulop, Karl Harron, Catherine Keenan, Frances Lambe, Sabrina Meyns, Mandy Parslow and Inga Reed.

What is Irish Craft Portfolio?
Irish Craft Portfolio was established in 2005 by the Crafts Council of Ireland to promote the work of individuals showing excellence in craftsmanship at an international level.

Irish Craft Portfolio:
•    represents contemporary craft created by Irish makers combining the highest quality craftsmanship and design with a consideration of material and technique that sits comfortably on the international stage.
•    has been used as a resource for Irish and international curators in accessing the work of Irish makers for exhibition.
•    is increasingly used by private and state collectors to guide their collecting of contemporary Irish craft.
•    issues a beautiful publication featuring all selected makers.

International Profile for Irish Craft
In the world of fine craft, objects are appreciated, sought after and purchased for major collections worldwide. Experts and collectors attend international fairs and galleries dedicated to showcasing exceptional work. The Crafts Council of Ireland has been engaged in a programme of awareness building and profile-raising regarding contemporary Irish craft for the last number of years. To this end they recently facilitated numerous exhibitions and participated in esteemed international fairs such as SOFA in Chicago and COLLECT in London.

 “Irish Craft Portfolio … a kind of national health check for craft.”
– Prof. Simon Olding.

Further Media Information:
Christine Monk | Irish Arts Publicity |087 675 5329 | christinemonk@eircom.net


Further Media Information on Crafts Council of Ireland:
Susan Brindley | Crafts Council of Ireland |056 779 6152 | susan@ccoi.ie | www.ccoi.ie

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

Year of Craft 2011
The Crafts Council of Ireland and Craft Northern Ireland have designated 2011 as Year of Craft.  The year marks the 40th anniversary of the Crafts Council of Ireland. Year of Craft 2011 celebrates, through a diverse range of dynamic events and programmes, the very best of craft made on the island of Ireland. www.craftinireland.com

About the Crafts Council of Ireland
The Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI), which is headquartered in Kilkenny, is the main champion of the craft industry in Ireland, fostering its growth and commercial strength, communicating its unique identity and stimulating quality design, innovation and competitiveness. CCoI's activities are funded by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation via Enterprise Ireland. CCoI currently has over 70 member organisations and over 2,400 registered clients.  For further information, please visit www.ccoi.ie

The School of Architecture at the University of Limerick (SAUL) with the support of the Faculty of Science and Engineering brings the Cruth Curach Pavilion to the UL campus as part of Design Week 2011.

The School of Architecture at the University of Limerick (SAUL) with the support of the Faculty of Science and Engineering brings the Cruth Curach Pavilion to the UL campus as part of Design Week 2011. The competition-winning design, by Bucholz McEvoy Architects and master boatbuilder Jim Horgan from the Galway School of Boatbuilding, was commissioned by the Crafts Council of Ireland and the Irish Architecture Foundation for Year of Craft 2011. The pavilion has recently been installed in Merrion Square as part of Open House Dublin and at Electric Picnic.

Cruth Curach is a dramatic temporary pavilion based on the construction techniques of currach boats, creating a sheltered exhibition pavilion and performance space that can hold around 40 people. It is mounted on a system of curved rails so that the currachs can twist round and close up tight like a clamshell.

Professor Merritt Bucholz, Head of the School of Architecture at UL, commented that “the competition sought to expand the conception of what architecture and craft are, and what a collaboration between architecture and craft can produce. In the end it is both architecture and craft, and suggests that new forms of collaborations can teach us to build in new ways that are both contemporary and familiar.”

The pavilion will be on campus near the main plaza from Tuesday, 1 November to Friday, 4 November 2011. It will open on Tuesday at 6pm with a discussion entitled “Designed. Crafted. Engineered.” and will be used for a series of short talks and performances on Wednesday lunchtime, Thursday lunchtime and Thursday evening between 6pm–7pm.

For more Design Week events go to:
http://designweeklimerick.weebly.com/events-2011.html

-ends-
For further information contact:
Orla Clancy, Press Officer,
University of Limerick,
orla.clancy@ul.ie Ph 061-202219 / 086-0464860

Further information:

School of Architecture at the University of Limerick (SAUL)
The School of Architecture at the University of Limerick offers a 5-year undergraduate degree in architecture. The objective of the School is to educate architects with a strong set of integrated skills, balanced with a clear understanding of the environment - built, existing and imagined - and vital to professional practice. The Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) has awarded full accreditation to the architecture programme at UL. Studying architecture in an accredited programme is the first step towards becoming a registered professional architect.
The School of Architecture embraces all parts of an architect’s education; it is a place where the study of architecture is undertaken with passion and inventiveness, an open and transparent society of mobile thinkers. The School of Architecture teaches an architecture that is integrated with Environmental and Structural engineering, as disciplines that set us free from the limitations of our own knowledge and help us to achieve a balance with the environment by focusing human abilities.

University of Limerick
The University of Limerick is an independent, internationally focussed University with over 11,600 students and 1,300 faculty and staff. It is a young, energetic and enterprising University with a proud record of innovation in education and excellence in research and scholarship. UL’s mission is to promote and advance learning and knowledge through teaching, research and scholarship in an environment, which encourages innovation and upholds the principles of free enquiry and expression. Particular attention is paid to the generation of knowledge, which is relevant to the needs of Ireland’s continuing socio-economic development.

QS Stars™ - 5 Star Rating for Employability
The University of Limerick was recently awarded a 5-Star rating for Employability by international ratings group, QS Stars™. The University of Limerick was audited in terms of the ‘work-readiness’ of its graduates, employer reputation and the support of its careers service and was awarded a 5-Star rating.

Crafts Council of Ireland
The Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI), which is headquartered in Kilkenny, is the main champion of the craft industry in Ireland, fostering its growth and commercial strength, communicating its unique identity and stimulating quality design, innovation and competitiveness. CCoI's activities are funded by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation via Enterprise Ireland. CCoI currently has over 70 member organisations and almost 2,500 registered clients. For further information, please visit www.ccoi.ie and www.craftinireland.com

Irish Architecture Foundation
The Irish Architecture Foundation's role is to be a vibrant and passionate organisation that excites its audiences about the value of architecture. The IAF believes in the power of architecture to transform lives and considers that the places and spaces where we live
affect our culture and our sense of self. The importance of communicating this to the general public is why the IAF was established in 2005. www.architecturefoundation

The Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) today launched a new digital resource that supports learning through and about craft for children of all ages nationally. The platform www.learncraftdesign.com provides information for teachers at primary and post primary level, and for craftspeople delivering creative education programmes.

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Work by the recipients of the Crafts Council of Ireland’s Future Makers 2011 Awards and Grants will be showcased at an exhibition which opens on Friday 14^th October at the CIT Wandesford Quay Gallery in Cork. The exhibition runs until 4^th November and is being hosted in partnership with CIT Crawford College of Art and Design as part of Year of Craft 2011 activities.  As part of the exhibition the Crafts Council of Ireland and Crawford College of Art and Design will host a ‘Life in the Craft Lane’ Seminar on Thursday, 3^rd November which will highlight the career paths of past and current recipients of Future Makers Awards and Grants. Contact leslie@ccoi.ie re seminar bookings.  

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Last night the winning apprentice was revealed on RTÉ One’s television series ‘Craft Master’. The finale of the six part series culminated in a dramatic twist when not one but two apprentices were crowned ‘Craft Master’ 2011. The winning apprentices Edward Cook (Metal) and Caoimhe Woods (Ceramics) were chosen by a panel, which included Ireland’s top designers, Louise Kennedy and Paul Costelloe.

In speaking to Brian McGee (Head of Market Development at the Crafts Council of Ireland) Paul Costello described Edward Cook’s iron chair as “So important for Irish creativity, you could show it anywhere in the world and people would say “fantastic”. This is unique and this should be what you’re encouraging as the halo, for everybody else to follow”. 

While Louise Kennedy commended Caoimhe Wood’s ceramic heart for following the brief commenting “She could write orders tomorrow, it’s a great piece and the price point is great.”

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Cruth Curach, a dramatic temporary pavilion based on the shape of currach boats, will be installed in
Merrion Square during this weekend’s OPEN HOUSE DUBLIN (Friday 7 October to Sunday 9 October
2011). Cruth Curach will act as a venue for events over the weekend as well as being a stunning
sculptural installation.

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· National consumer campaign launched to promote Irish craft and design

· Upcoming Irish exhibition at prestigious London Design Festival announced

The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland played host to a pop-up lunch today to celebrate and showcase contemporary Irish design. This once-off dining experience took place to launch the Crafts Council of Ireland’s “Celebrating Ireland’s Designer Makers” campaign throughout the month of September. Guests were seated at stunning Irish hand crafted tables adorned with elegant linen, glassware and candles, and dined on food served on exquisite ceramic tableware, all made by craftspeople throughout the country.

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The search for Ireland’s newest craft talent to hit TV screens.

RTÉ One’s widely anticipated new series Craft Master airs each Tuesday at 7pm.

People from a cross section of backgrounds including an organic farmer, a teacher, a financial services worker and a waitress will battle it out for the title of Craft Master 2011 in a new six-part TV series which hits our screens on Tuesday 6th September.

Craft Master, produced by Big Mountain Productions in collaboration with the Crafts Council of Ireland, promises to capture the imagination of the nation as it brings 15 people from varying backgrounds and experience on a creative journey in ceramics, glass blowing, wood turning, textile weaving and metalwork.

The first episode of Craft Master will air at 7 p.m. on RTÉ One Television on Tuesday 6th September. There will be one winner from each week, with the grand final on Tuesday 11th October.

View episode 1 (Glass Blowing) on RTÉ Player if you missed it http://www.rte.ie/player/#!v=1111102
View episode 2 (Ceramcis) on RTÉ Player if you missed it http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1112153
View episode 3 (Textiles) on RTÉ Player if you missed it http://www.rte.ie/player/#!v=1113308
View episode 4 (Wood) on RTÉ Player if you missed it http://www.rte.ie/player/#!v=1114330
View episode 5 (Metal) on RTÉ Player if you missed it http://www.rte.ie/player/#!v=1115378

Read more here: http://www.craftinireland.com/news/article/the-search-for-irelands-newest-craft-talent-to-hit-tv-screens-craft-master/

These are no ordinary currachs; they have been designed and specially hand crafted by architects Bucholz Mc Evoy and Jim Horgan of the Galway School of Boat Building. The five land locked currachs come together to form an intriguing temporary pavilion at Electric Picnic 2011.

It was all hands on deck today as engineers, architects and boat builders arrived in Stradbally to erect the pavilion in the Global Green. Cruth Curach is not only unique because it is constructed using currachs, it also rotates, pivots and moves on horizontal and vertical axes. By day it will be a stunning venue and by night a closed sculptural form which will glow in the dark to help you to navigate your way through the festival site. Over the weekend, Electric Picnic goers can visit to be wowed by the space or attend the many events scheduled. The exciting line-up includes something for everyone:

See the schedule of events here: http://www.craftinireland.com/content/files/R_craftitecture_brooch.pdf

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The exhibition – officially opened by Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD - features the work of 12 graduates of the renowned Jewellery & Goldsmithing Course, many who have made dramatic career changes to become jewellery makers.

The Graduate Exhibition runs for two weeks only. The twelve students emerging from the internationally-renowned, intensive, two-year full time programme have honed their expertise and craft with some of Ireland’s and Europe's most highly skilled silversmiths and goldsmiths.

The graduates feature a former archaeologist, a chef, a Montessori teacher and a court clerk. The group also includes a young woman from Estonia who moved to Blanchardstown in Dublin with her mother nine years ago. (Bios on the 12 graduates at the end of the release)

Unique to the Kilkenny programme is the fact that students work solely in precious metals and have been encouraged to push boundaries in technique and innovative designs.

The course has a 90 per cent employment rate.  Sorcha O’Horain was named as Student of the Course 2011 at the opening of the exhibition. Previously she trained and worked as a Montessori teacher, and was based in the U.S for 12 years.

The Crafts Council of Ireland CEO prize was awarded to Natasha Rollinson from Holywood, Co, Down, while the Crafts Council of Ireland Chairman’s Purchase went to Christina Keogh from Dublin.

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 Grants and Awards presented to Craft Students and Recent Graduates

Thursday 21st April 2011 - The Crafts Council of Ireland announced the winners of over 20 grants and awards at an event held in The Odeon, Harcourt Street this evening.  These included the Crafts Council of Ireland Future Makers Awards and Grants 2011 and the House and Home / Crafts Council of Ireland Student Design Award.

Future Makers Awards and Grants for students and practitioners have a value of over €30,000 and encourage the development of the next generation of craft makers in Ireland by supporting craft students and recent graduates practicing craft.  Through this series of awards and grants, the Crafts Council of Ireland recognises innovation and craftsmanship amongst talented young Irish makers and aims to promote working in craft as an exciting, sustainable and lucrative career choice.  All applications were assessed by international judges ceramicist Barnaby Barford and silversmith and contemporary metalworker Anna Lorenz.

The House and Home / Crafts Council of Ireland Student Design Award was established by House and Home magazine in 2004 to reward young Irish design talent and craftsmanship. Dedicated to promoting commercial design as a viable career choice, each year students are invited to work to a brief to submit an interiors-related product that is contemporary, innovative, functional, affordable, commercial and suitable for commercial production.

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For Immediate Release, Sunday, January 9th, 2011

MORE than €22 million in sales orders are expected over the four days of Showcase 2011, ‘Ireland’s Creative Expo’ which takes place at the RDS in Dublin later this month.
 
350 of the country’s leading designers, manufacturers and craftspeople will be taking part in the most important sales event of the year from Sunday 23rd to Wednesday 26th January.
 
Showcase will attract more than 5,500 retail buyers from Ireland and over 17 countries around the world including North America, continental Europe and Japan, who are seeking out the best of Irish fashion, jewellery, giftware and interiors products.
 
Ireland’s talented designers and craftspeople will unveil their latest innovative products and will be hoping to sign new lucrative contracts for 2011.

Ireland's talented designers and craftspeople will unveil their latest innovative products at Showcase

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Exciting programme of events unveiled for Year of Craft 2011.

The vibrant crafts industry on the island of Ireland is to be celebrated and promoted next year through a wide-ranging calendar of events marking Year of Craft 2011.

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation, Batt O'Keeffe announcing Year of Craft 2011

The Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) and Craft Northern Ireland (Craft NI) have designated 2011 as Year of Craft. The year marks the 40th anniversary of the Crafts Council of Ireland and will be celebrated through a diverse range of dynamic events and programmes at home and abroad to showcase the very best of craft made on the island of Ireland.

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An exhibition showcasing the work of Ireland’s up and coming craftspeople opened today (Thursday Dec 2nd) in The Hunt Museum in Limerick.

The Future Makers exhibition features the work of 12 craftspeople selected from the 23 recipients of the Crafts Council of Ireland’s Future Makers Awards and Grants 2010.

The Crafts Council of Ireland's Future Maker Awards and Grants provide critical support to students and recent graduates of full-time craft based studies to learn, experience, investigate, develop, create and shape the future of Irish craft.

The Awards – which include The Irish Arts Review / Crafts Council of Ireland Emerging Maker Award - have a value of over €30,000.

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More than 120 craft makers from all over Ireland are taking part in this year’s National Crafts & Design Fair which opened at the RDS today (Dec 1^st).

Visitors to the Fair will have the opportunity to see and buy authentic, contemporary gifts from the hands of Irish artisans registered with the Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI).

The makers include a number from the Creative Island “Imagined, Designed, Made in Ireland” collection.

Head of Market Development at the Crafts Council of Ireland, Brian McGee, said the National Crafts & Design Fair will give people a great opportunity to see at first hand the work of talented artisans who create unique products with great artistry and imagination.

He said products Imagined, Designed, Made in Ireland offer people who are looking for a special gift to give for Christmas something with real meaning that will last.

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THE CRAFTS COUNCIL OF IRELAND, (CCoI), today called on Irish families to switch a portion of their spend on gifts this Christmas from big brands to authentic Irish-made craft - a move that could help sustain and grow the 5,700 jobs in the sector. 

· Crafts Council of Ireland unwraps gifts “Imagined, Designed, Made in Ireland” with a dedicated website www.giveirishcraft.com

· Critical that portion of  €650 household spend on Christmas presents goes on Irish craft to sustain and grow jobs in the sector.

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THE NARRATIVE LINE: An Exhibition by contemporary textile artists Bernie Leahy and Alice Kettle. 29th October 2010 – 11th January 2011, National Craft Gallery, Castle Yard, Kilkenny.

“My storytelling with thread concerns longing, searching, questioning, and discovery. With the alchemy of stitch I can reconfigure, redraw and create a narrative line made up of the twisted threads running over and through and around each other.” – Alice Kettle.

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The Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) today (Tues Sept 7th) announced details of its restructured primary schools craft programme aimed at teaching children a wide range of skills.

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Consider crafting your future in textiles, glass, wood, metal or clay

With points for most college courses set to increase this year because of a surge in demand for third-level places, the Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) is reminding Leaving Cert students of the many craft-related career options available to them.

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CCoI supports the first major program of applied arts and craft events for Co. Cork. The Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) today welcomed the launch of the first ever Cork Craft Month, saying it hoped it will be replicated by other counties during August next year. 

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Competition highlights the diversity of the sector, with entries from both craft enthusiasts and professionals.
The Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) has congratulated the winners in this year’s RDS National Crafts Competition which were announced today (Friday July 30th).

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Craft Programme curated by Angela O’Kelly

www.kilkennyarts.ie

After the highly successful introduction of craft as a programme strand at last year’s Kilkenny Arts Festival, this year’s line-up of events at the National Craft Gallery explores some brand new directions in craft.

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Graduate Exhibition 2010 at the National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny

The graduates of the Crafts Council of Ireland’s acclaimed Ceramic Skills & Design Course will showcase their work at the Graduate Exhibition 2010 which takes place at the National Craft Gallery, Castle Yard, Kilkenny from 23rd – 30th July 2010. 

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Irish Craft Industry worth almost a half a billion euro annually. A plan to develop and grow craft in Ireland was unveiled today by the Crafts Council of Ireland in a new, three-year, strategic plan.

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The craft demonstrations organised by the Crafts Council of Ireland in conjunction with eight member craft guilds at this year’s Bloom festival once again proved to be extremely popular with both children and adults.

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A solo exhibition of new work by Frances Lambe, a Dundalk based ceramicist at the National Craft Gallery, Kilkenny.

“If objects, and particularly handmade objects, have not received the attention that they deserve, it is not because they have become irrelevant and meaningless in the world in which we live. It is because, of all cultural phenomena, they imply a complexity that exists beyond language and beyond theory, thus beyond the reach of those who are confined by language and theory.” – Eleanor Flegg.

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The Crafts Council of Ireland’s National Craft Gallery made a huge impact at COLLECT 2010, the annual fair for contemporary craft at London’s Saatchi Gallery last week, it was announced today. 

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Cutting edge ceramics work from this highly regarded course. A wonderful opportunity to discover the stars of tomorrow.

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